January 8, 2016 Barred owls likely are here to stay Who doesn’t love a nice surprise? A batch of homemade peppermint bark, fragrant and tasty, pops up on your desk. A five-dollar bill, wet but still perfectly good, wondrously appears inside the washing machine. A barred owl, uncommon in our area, shows up in a
Barred Owl, Bird, Fly, OwlDecember 25, 2015 The Cedar Waxwings Crapulence. It’s a word you don’t hear very often but one that, especially at this festive time of year, is particularly appropriate. Crapulence means to become sick from overindulgence in food and drink. Over the years I’ve had my share of crapulent escapades, especially at functions with buffets. (Helloo
Bird, Cedar Waxwings, FlyCanada geese, you may have noticed, are everywhere these days. With the summer breeding season over, these ubiquitous waterfowl are back in their flocks—a great winter survival strategy—and are teeming about cornfields, athletic fields and other grassy expanses. They’re also paddling around local wetlands and other water bodies, and in general making themselves hard to
Bird, Canada Geese, Fly, Geese
Tick tock, tick tock, Merrily sings the clock. It’s time for work, it’s time for play And so it sings throughout the day Tick tock, tick tock, Merrily sings the clock. This English nursery rhyme was a part of my early elementary education, and maybe yours too. But believe it or not, it may be
Bird, Fly, Woodpecker
If you’ve ever visited Hickory Knolls during the months of May, June or July, you’ve probably noticed a certain bubbliness in the air, a constant, cheerful chatter that surrounds the nature center and garden plots. Long-time residents will recognize the sound as a distinguishing feature of this area, one that dates back to the days
Bird, Fly, Purple Martin
February 27, 2015 Bird Tracks Good Natured readers Stephanie Frisque and John Kowal of Batavia shared this photo of two young hummingbirds, alive and well, thanks to some quick thinking…and duct tape. Mythbusters, the TV show that debunks rumors, legends and pseudo-scientific claims, once did an episode on the many uses of duct tape. To
Bird, Fly, Frisque Hummers, Hummingbird
June 5, 2015 Wood Thrush The wood thrush’s scientific name, Hylocichla mustelina, is derived from the Greek words for woodland, thrush and weasel—the last word perhaps referring to the bird’s reddish brown coloration. Look, and listen, for wood thrushes in habitat that includes mature trees, leaf litter for foraging, and a nearby source of fresh
Bird, Fly, Wood Thursh
May 7, 2015 Robins Nests Sheltered from the wind and rain, and out of reach of predators, female American robin, Turdus migratorius, incubates her brood atop a custom-built pie plate platform. When we humans build our homes, we want them to be solid, safe and secure. They are our primary means of shelter from the
Bird, Fly, Nest, Robin
February 27, 2015 Bird Tracks Good Natured reader Vanessa Quillinan spotted this birdy “snow angel” last year while snowshoeing at Corron Farm in Campton Township. Judging by the size of the wingspan, as well as other clues at the scene, Vanessa guessed that the print was made by a hawk. Anyone who’s ever kept a
Animal Tracks, Bird, Tracks
December 26, 2014 Starling European starlings molt in fall, replacing old feathers with new ones that have bright white tips. Over time, these ends wear off, and by spring the birds have attained a breeding plumage that is dark and iridescent. Photo supplied by Bob Andrini, Kane County Audubon. Depending on how your holiday season
Bird, Fly, Starling