Is That Big Turtle Native, Or Not?
Does it have a domed carapace? Do its feet lack webs? If so, chances are good you’ve found a turtle in need of rescue. Pictured…
Read MoreDoes it have a domed carapace? Do its feet lack webs? If so, chances are good you’ve found a turtle in need of rescue. Pictured…
Read MoreTJ the tortoise, at 75 lbs. and still growing, faced homelessness when he outgrew the enclosure at his former residence. He is now “employed” at…
Read MoreDing Dong, a pet sulcata tortoise, took himself on a little walkabout recently when a gate was accidentally left open. Sulcatas, also known as African…
Read MoreThe eastern or common mole, also known as Scalopus aquaticus, does not live in water, though its large front feet do an admirable job of…
Read MoreThe eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus, gets its scientific name from its tyrant-like approach to territory defense, which can include defensive strikes at squirrels, crows and…
Read MoreThink you’re seeing monarchs mating? Look again! These two butterflies are viceroys, distinguished from monarchs by the dark line across the hindwing and by a…
Read MoreThis interesting artifact is the cast skin, or exoskeleton, of a dragonfly nymph that has emerged from the water and molted into adulthood. Well, it’s…
Read MoreHello World! After spending somewhere between two and five years underground, this cicada sheds its hard outer covering one more time in preparation for its…
Read MoreThis fledgling chimney swift was among a group of seven rescued swifts that recently joined a Geneva, IL, flock. Soon these birds and thousands of…
Read MoreThis young Cooper’s hawk can be identified by its immature plumage—a brown back, white breast with crisp brown streaks—as well as its light-colored eyes. Adult…
Read MoreTo find sufficient food and avoid getting eaten, spider hatchlings need to disperse quickly. They often take to the air, making use of silken strands,…
Read MoreRandy Ratsnake gives another jaw-dropping performance, using an amazing set of mandibular adaptations to swallow his meal. No unhinging, detaching or dislocating required!
Read MoreEuropean praying mantises can vary widely in color, from light tan to green, but the ‘bullseye’ on the inner surface of the front leg is…
Read MoreWith assistance from wildlife biologists from the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, American kestrel chicks in the Kane County nest box program are weighed,…
Read MoreAmerican Kestrels are small falcons that favor grasslands and other areas with low vegetation. These colorful birds, sometimes mistaken for mourning doves, survey their hunting grounds from prominent posts like tall poles and utility lines. Good Natured: American Kestrels! Part One July 15, 2022 Well, it happened again the other day. There I was, sitting
Read MoreMeasuring right around 4 mm, or just over 1/8 in. in length, the polished or ‘spotless’ lady beetle is one of our area’s native ladybug…
Read MoreTwo long-horned beetles found themselves attracted to the light, and each other, on a recent summer night. Good Natured: Late-night Love with Long-horned Beetles July 1, 2022 The other night, even though I was dog tired, I stepped outside for a bit of fresh air before bed. It’s a simple exercise, one I take part
Read MoreThis insect’s genus name, Phengodes, can be traced to the Greek word for light-and with good reason. Phengodes larvae and adult females glow continuously ‘with…
Read MoreA male giant water bug broods a clutch of +/- 100 eggs on his back.
Read MoreAs shown in this stock photo, the male common yellowthroat bears unmistakable plumage that includes a black mask trimmed on top with white. A denizen…
Read MoreThe tail-like bracts protruding from the cones of the Douglas fir serve as a handy identification trait, as well as a subject for folklore.
Read MoreCurly and colorful, the opening leaf buds of the shagbark hickory sometimes are mistaken for exotic flowers in bloom.
Read MoreDescribed as bigger than a robin but smaller than a crow, the Virginia rail is a marsh inhabitant that is considered uncommon in our area.
Read MoreA killdeer warns a potential threat away from her nest by displaying the orange bands on her tail. She as well as her mate will…
Read MoreFox sparrows in our area display a wash of ‘foxy’ reddish brown and are noted for their larger size and vigorous feeding methods.
Read MoreA common loon, on its way to its northern breeding grounds, stopped to rest and feed for a few days at the pond at Delnor…
Read MoreIn spring male tree swallows, identified by their iridescent blue backs, arrive on their breeding territories about a week ahead of the females, which have…
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