As you wait for shooting stars, you notice other lights in the night sky. Planes fly overhead on their 30,000-foot flight path. Their blinking lights stand out against the pinpoints of starlight. Higher in the heavens, Starlink satellites reflect the sunlight from their orbit some 340 miles above the Earth surface
As evening progresses, you really notice just how different the north woods is from central Illinois. A summer day in central Illinois ends with a progression of insect songs starting with numerous species of cicadas giving way to katydid songs and tree crickets that will sing through the night. In the north woods, the darkness is silent.
The best place to experience July in Illinois is a pathway that winds through a prairie. The forest pathways have had their quick burst of spring, and now are slumbering through a shady respite. They will have their season of…
The fragile and mysterious Lady’s Slipper orchid is truly a treasure from heaven in every intrepid encounter
Central Illinois has long been a refuge for healthy populations of Red-headed Woodpeckers. Our plentiful oak woodlands and rich river valleys have long been home to this colorful species. With its bright red hood and black and white body, it…
April is the month when the forest floor comes alive with new growth. In Illinois forests, the ground layer comes alive while the tree tops still slumber. The amount of daylight steadily increases throughout the month as spring takes over…
March is one of those months that can seem to last forever. It can be a month where a waning winter reawakens, followed by a summer-like day of promise. From a weather perspective, it’s all over the place. The record…
This year marks the 35th year that I have had the opportunity to be involved with annual winter Bald Eagle counts along the Illinois River. Surveys provide a snapshot of Bald Eagle numbers on a particular day across the state.…
At 123 years old, the National Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the longest running citizen science project in existence. Its roots date back to 1900, when ornithologist Frank Chapman suggested that people should go out at Christmas and count…
The first time I can remember being exposed to the Illinois prairie was more than 40 years ago on a hike led by Hal Gardner at Jubilee College State Park. It was part of a “Prairie Day” event to build…
