Photo Caption: Tender shoots rise above charred stubble following a prescribed burn at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles. Prescribed Burns April 20, 2018 They’ve been common sights over the past several weeks: Billowing plumes of smoke erupting above our local parks and preserves. But instead of destruction, these fast-disappearing clouds signal restoration and […]
Good Natured
Photo Caption: Killdeer are named for the sound of their call, but also can be identified by their distinctive markings and behaviors. Killdeer April 13, 2018 “Kill-deer!” “Kill-deer! Kill-deer! Kill-deer!” Yep, there’s no doubt. The killdeer have returned. These medium-sized birds, members of the plover family, are famous for their namesake call – and for […]
Good Natured
Photo Caption: The American woodcock, Scolopax minor, goes by many names–including timberdoodle, mudbat and bogsucker–that indicate the bird’s habitat preference of woodlands near moist fields. (Photo credit: AcrylicArtist at MorgueFile.com) The American Woodcock April 6, 2018 Thursday evening it was business as usual at Hickory Knolls. I was heading out toward the picnic shelter to set […]
Good Natured
Photo Caption: Roberta Samson and Tyson Jenkins work to free a great horned owl that had gotten tangled in a soccer goal at James O. Breen Community Park in St. Charles. Photo supplied by Amy Luppino. Excitement on the Soccer Field March 30, 2018 I’ll be the first to admit, soccer has not played a big […]
Good Natured
Photo Caption: A Blanding’s turtle at Hickory Knolls displays alert eyes and a relaxed body posture, both signs of reptile contentment. The New Blanding’s Turtle Pond March 23, 2018 People laugh when I say this, but you really can tell when a reptile is content. Its body posture, for example, is relaxed but not limp. […]
Good Natured
Photo Caption: The tiger salamander on the left displays a tail of normal length. The salamander on the right is in the process of regenerating its tail following an infection. Look closely to see the newly formed tip peeking out at the end. The Salamander and the New Tail March 16, 2018 It’s come to my […]
Good Natured
Photo Caption: Balloons, whether let go by accident or as part of an organized release, quickly transition from colorful orbs of whimsy to ugly litter. Litter waiting to land March 9, 2018 One fine spring day in 1970-something, when I was in fourth grade, our teacher gave us a writing assignment. We were learning about geography, […]
Good Natured
Photo Caption: Although they are members of the woodpecker family, northern flickers differ from their cousins in various ways. Flickers prefer to forage on the ground and, as shown here, often perch instead of clinging to the sides of trees. They also have some of the longest tongues in bird-dom. Northern Flickers March 2, 2018 […]
Good Natured
Photo Caption: Here lies Accipiter cooperii, a Cooper’s hawk, likely an unintended victim of poison baits consumed by rodents. The unfortunate animal was brought to Hickory Knolls after having been found in a St. Charles yard. The Poison Food Chain February 23, 2018 Chances are, even if you’re not a naturalist, you’re probably acquainted with […]
Good Natured
Photo Caption: Remarkable in many respects yet poorly adapted to winter, the Virginia opossum will often forego its nocturnal nature to forage at birdfeeders and other free food sources on all but the coldest of days. Opossums February 16, 2018 Let’s take a moment, shall we, to add up the many fine qualities of Didelphis virginiana, […]
Good Natured