Arctic breed of hawk’s brief stop in area just in time to be included in our bird count
Nature Rambles
Nature Rambles: Slow-moving story of steadfast prairie
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Slow-moving story of steadfast prairie
By mid-November, it has surrendered its surface life. The goldenrods are gone, the asters spent, the monarchs long departed. But beneath mat of grasses lies a dense web of roots and fungi, holding the soil together and storing life for spring.
Nature Rambles: Happy OAKtober!
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Happy OAKtober!
Oaks are one of the most diverse trees in North America. The “keystone species” is a plentiful food producer. Acorns are packed with nutrition for birds and mammals, while their leaves are prime food for insects — 900 species of butterflies and moths alone. Insect activity brings in insect eaters and fuel the migration of songbirds in the spring and fall.
Nature Rambles: Mighty migration of the Monarch
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Mighty migration of the Monarch
Wings of wonder: Fourth-generation of this marvelous butterfly travels 3,000 miles from the North back to Mexico
Nature Rambles: This little light of mine means many things as it shines
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: This little light of mine means many things as it shines
As daily sunshine decreases this summer, it signals some species — like swallows — to get started with their seasonal migrations
Nature Rambles: Subshrubs, Leadplant case in point
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Subshrubs, Leadplant case in point
Unique species’ symbiotic relationship with Earth creates cross between shrub and herbaceous plant
Nature Rambles: Prickly nature of our pretty cactus here in Illinois
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Prickly nature of our pretty cactus here in Illinois
Look for beautiful blooms of Prickly Pear, but beware: Be very, very careful handling the plant
Nature Rambles: Fishing for Trout Lillies
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Fishing for Trout Lillies
Early bloomers — that is, if they do — attract bevy of bees to their colorful dog-toothed violet
Mike Miller: Endangered Species need our help
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Mike Miller: Endangered Species need our help
A call to action to combat administration as it tries to rescind ‘harm’ in Endangered Species Act analysis. It would totally guts the ESA by saying it is OK to destroy entire ecosystems that endangered species depend upon for their livelihood.
Nature Rambles: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza spreading in animals
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza spreading in animals
Take care: HPAI virus strains are now a part of ‘our new normal.’ We will need to adapt our agricultural practices to meet this new challenge. We can only hope that wild bird populations will build some type of immunity, or that the virus evolves to be less lethal to its host.