Actually a buttercup, this early bloomer a sure sign of transition in the delicate balance of nature
Nature Rambles: Marsh Marigold springing up
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Marsh Marigold springing up
Nature Rambles
Nature Rambles: Chemicals trespass — some things are in the air
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Chemicals trespass — some things are in the air
Herbicides and pesticides like Dicamba and 2,4-D are cross-contaminating neighboring crops and surrounding plant life. And we do not know what long-term effect this will have on our landscape
Nature Rambles: Ancient branches swirl into our past and future
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Ancient branches swirl into our past and future
If left to its own devises, the old oak, which spans 10 generations, could easily outlive several more. Perhaps the fact that it is still standing says something about an improvement in our environmental ethics.
Nature Rambles: The view from the hill flows on for forever
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: The view from the hill flows on for forever
The final resting area of a historic pony truss bridge is a very interesting travel wayside: It now sits at the top of two separate watersheds. … Rain falling east of the bridge will wind its way to the Illinois River through Crow Creek south of Henry. Rain falling west will meander to the Illinois via the Spoon River near Havana.
Fluddle follow: Farmers finding productive uses for wetlands
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Fluddle follow: Farmers finding productive uses for wetlands
This film captured the recent efforts by farmers are deciding to restore wetlands as part of a new way of managing their agricultural operations. Their restored wetlands are quickly becoming oasis for migratory birds, aquatic invertebrates, and amphibians
Nature Rambles: Help fight bird mortality through the looking glass
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Help fight bird mortality through the looking glass
Visible barriers, reducing reflection can help save some of billions of birds crashing into windows
Nature Rambles: ‘Fluddle Stompers’ flock to unique puddle ponds
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: ‘Fluddle Stompers’ flock to unique puddle ponds
If there is ample rain to create fluddles, many of the shorebirds {sandpipers, plovers, and their kin) will drop into these fleeting pools to feed during the day.
Nature Rambles: There’s more than meteors lighting up our night sky
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: There’s more than meteors lighting up our night sky
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
Nature Rambles: Savor our summer’s symphony; it’s ensemble is quite unique
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Savor our summer’s symphony; it’s ensemble is quite unique
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.
Nature Rambles: Irresistibly radiant fragrance of flowers from milkweeds sure sign of early summer season
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles: Irresistibly radiant fragrance of flowers from milkweeds sure sign of early summer season
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…