Good Natured

Up, Up and Away! Spiders Go Ballooning

To find sufficient food and avoid getting eaten, spider hatchlings need to disperse quickly. They often take to the air, making use of silken strands,…

The Truth About Snake Jaws

Randy Ratsnake gives another jaw-dropping performance, using an amazing set of mandibular adaptations to swallow his meal. No unhinging, detaching or dislocating required!

Losing My Religiosa

European praying mantises can vary widely in color, from light tan to green, but the ‘bullseye’ on the inner surface of the front leg is…

American Kestrels: Part Two

With assistance from wildlife biologists from the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, American kestrel chicks in the Kane County nest box program are weighed,…

American 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

Can You Spot a Spotless Lady Beetle?

Measuring 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…

Late-night Love with Long-horned Beetles

Two 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

Old Friends Karen, Phengodes and Neotibicen

This 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…

Papa’s Back Is Home to 100 Wee Ones

A male giant water bug broods a clutch of +/- 100 eggs on his back.

Ducks Make a Splash

Mama Duck Luna takes her ducky family for a swim at Swanson Pool.

Common Yellowthroat

As shown in this stock photo, the male common yellowthroat bears unmistakable plumage that includes a black mask trimmed on top with white. A denizen…

Douglas Fir & the Mouse Tail Cones

The tail-like bracts protruding from the cones of the Douglas fir serve as a handy identification trait, as well as a subject for folklore.

Shagbark Hickory

Curly and colorful, the opening leaf buds of the shagbark hickory sometimes are mistaken for exotic flowers in bloom.

Virginia Rail

Described as bigger than a robin but smaller than a crow, the Virginia rail is a marsh inhabitant that is considered uncommon in our area.

Bird Flu

A chickadee gathers insects, including a caterpillar and a crane fly, to feed itself and its brood. Native plants and reduced pesticide use can help…

The Killdeer – An Amazing Mom!

A killdeer warns a potential threat away from her nest by displaying the orange bands on her tail. She as well as her mate will…

Hepatica

Named after its leaves, which resemble the liver, hepatica can be found in rich deciduous woodlands throughout our area.

Fox Sparrows

Fox sparrows in our area display a wash of ‘foxy’ reddish brown and are noted for their larger size and vigorous feeding methods.

Common Loon

A common loon, on its way to its northern breeding grounds, stopped to rest and feed for a few days at the pond at Delnor…

Tree Swallows

In spring male tree swallows, identified by their iridescent blue backs, arrive on their breeding territories about a week ahead of the females, which have…

Pussy Willow

Named for the gray buds of its male flowers, our native pussy willow is an important source of pollen and nectar for early spring insects.

Skunk Cabbage

Skunk cabbage in bloom. Later in spring the plant will unfurl its large leaves that, yes, are just as stinky as its flowers. Meanwhile the…

Turtle Courtship

Courtship in the turtle world can include many behaviors, including the fluttering of the foreclaws in a display known as titillation.

Head Banging Curiosity

Knock on wood: Instead of singing to declare their territory, woodpeckers drum on trees and other resonant surfaces. Several structural adaptations protect the birds’ brains…

How Much Salt?

More salt doesn’t mean more melting power. Chloride from excess salt infiltrates our streams and groundwater and puts aquatic life and freshwater resources at risk.

Nature Snack Time

Voles can be differentiated from mice by their rounded, chunky bodies and short tails. Roughly the shape of a small baked potato, they are a…

Buttons

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, freshwater mussels were harvested from many local waterways to supply material for a booming button industry. But as…

Goldeneyes

The bright yellow eyes of the male goldeneye aren’t the only things to look for in this distinctive species. Watch for animated courtship displays as…

Jumping Spiders

With large eyes and fuzzy bodies, jumping spiders frequently are referred to as the ‘teddy bears’ of the spider world. About 350 species occur throughout…

Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers

Although the last undisputed sighting dates to 1944, some experts still question whether the ivory-billed woodpecker, shown here as a taxidermy mount, should be declared…

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