Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District You’d think I’d know when to leave well enough alone. But no… Even though the number of phone calls and emails I’ve received regarding woodpeckers has now surpassed the number of calls I get about rodents—the
Bird, Fly, Woodpecker
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Although the word “hairy” isn’t itself inherently bad, it’s often used to describe something that is less than ideal. A hairy situation typically is one that’s turned treacherous. A hairy problem can be tricky to solve.
Bird, Fly, Hairy WoodpeckerPam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District The holidays are just around the corner, and with them come plans for parties large and small. If you’re hosting a bash, chances are you’ve got a pretty good idea of who might be showing up,
Birds, Fly, Winter BirdsPam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Turkey vultures are the sorts of birds that command attention. For one, they’re vultures—dark-feathered and hunchbacked, they look vaguely creepy even under the best of circumstances. For another, they’re big—their 6-ft. wingspan rivals that of the
Birds, Fly, Turkey VulturePam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Working as a park safety officer for the St. Charles Park District, patrolling our public lands late into the night, Tim Timberlake has had plenty of close encounters. But only recently did he come across a
Fly, Northern Flying Squirrel, Rodentia
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Certain signs of fall are unmistakable. The changing colors of the leaves, the moving masses of migratory geese. And the persistent, almost petulant, calls of young red-tailed hawks being asked—actually, more like told—to leave the family
Bird, Fly, Red Tailed Hawk
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District With the grand opening of our Hickory Knolls Discovery Center just around the corner, the park district’s Naturalist Department has been working some pretty long days lately. But you won’t catch me complaining. For one thing,
Bird, Fly, Robins
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Whether you’re a veteran birder or brand-new to the pursuit, or even if you barely give any bird a second glance, I’ll bet at one time or another you’ve uttered the statement, “Oh, it’s a sparrow.”
Bird, Fly, Sparrows
I don’t know how you spent your Friday morning, but I spent mine stalking redheads. No, I wasn’t camped out in front of Conan O’Brien’s place, nor was I trying to catch a glimpse of the little bit of red Ron Howard has left. Nope, I was lurking along the banks of the Fox River
Bird, Fly, Redhead Ducks
Poor Sam Peabody… Peabody… Peabody. I don’t know Mr. Peabody, and have no idea of what events may have led to his present condition of “poor” (or, according to some, “old”) but one thing’s for sure. This guy is The Man, at least as far as talk among the white-throated sparrows is concerned. Bird vocalizations
Bird, Fly, White Throated Sparrow