A male red-bellied woodpecker takes advantage of the free buffet at the Hickory Knolls birdfeeders. Offering a variety of seeds, in a variety of feeder styles–tube, platform, hopper, suet–will in turn attract a variety of species. Choosing Birdseed November 24, 2017 November typically is the time folks send out invitations for holiday gatherings, be they
Bird, Birdseed, Feed, Fly
White-throated sparrows can be identified by their distinctive song, or by the following field marks: A striped head and bright white patch under the throat, along with a streaky or smudgy gray breast. White-throated Sparrow November 3, 2017 Poor Sam Peabody… Peabody… Peabody. I don’t know Mr. Peabody and have no idea of what events
Bird, Fly, White Throated Sparrow
Double-crested cormorants sit low in the water, a trait that helps distinguish them from other waterfowl. The species has seen a number of ups and downs and previously was listed as endangered in Illinois, but today enjoys healthy population numbers. (Photo credit: Steve Hillebrand/USFWS) Double-Crested Cormorants, Part 2 July 28, 2017 Last week when we
Bird, Comorant, Fly
A little creepy and a little kooky, double-crested cormorants are an increasingly common sight along the Fox River as well as assorted local ponds. Here a juvenile, identified by its lighter plumage, sunning on a warm day. Double-Crested Cormorants, Part 1 July 21, 2017 “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They’re altogether ooky…”
Bird, Comorant, Fly
Those tiny specks flying in V formation actually are a flock of sandhill cranes migrating. This time of year, to find sandhill cranes, all you have to do is stop, look and listen. Stop, Look and Listen March 31, 2017 A while back, someone showed me a Facebook quiz titled Which Dr. Seuss Character Are
Bird, Easter Kingbird, Fly
I don’t know if you noticed or not, but we’re in the middle of an irruption. Not an eruption as in,”Kaboom!” Nor an interruption as in, “Psst…” or “Ahem.” But an irruption, as in the ecology term meaning a sudden increase in a species’ population—in this case, red-breasted nuthatches, Sitta canadensis. I wish I could
Bird, Fly, Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch
Editor’s note: The following is a column that originally ran in January 2009: The conversation lasted late into the evening. A tiny sliver of a moon rose up, the stars came out … and still the participants persisted. They sounded determined, though more than a little repetitious: “Who’s awake? Me too!” “Wh-who’s awake? Me too!”
Bird, Great Horned Owl, Owl
When you think of nuts – the kind that grow on trees – it’s hard to not think of squirrels. They are, after all, the most highly touted nut-gatherers in these parts, collecting the trees’ bounty almost as quickly as it falls. In fact, squirrels will even chew off acorn-laden branches to make the harvest
Bird, Blue Jay, Fly
A few weeks ago I came as close as I’ve ever come to getting my Naturalist Card revoked. Right there on Route 47, a little south of Plank Road, with the sun high in the sky and a hint of a breeze in the air, I had to admit to the biggest gaffe I’ve ever
Bird, Roadkill, Turkey Vulture
