60-second reads

Robins eat more than just worms. In spring and summer, they eat worms, insects, and snails. In fall and winter, they switch to fruits and sometimes eat small animals like shrews or snakes. Worms are a favorite despite being hard to find. Robins have excellent vision and can spot worms as they move or surface in the soil.

Skunk cabbage is one of the first plants to appear in late winter or early spring, sometimes as early as February. It creates its own heat, allowing it to grow through snow and ice. The first part to appear is the dark purple flower bud. Its name comes from the strong odor the plant gives off, which smells like a skunk. This scent isn’t just for show—it helps attract insects that pollinate the flowers so the plant can reproduce.

The eastern milksnake is Illinois’ state snake, common in the northern third of the state. Brown with black-bordered blotches, it grows 24 to 43 inches long. Despite its name, it doesn’t drink milk; farmers once wrongly thought it did because it was found in barns. Milksnakes are carnivores, eating amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, and small mammals. Illinois also has the red milksnake, found in the southern two-thirds of the state.

Frost is a thin ice layer forming on surfaces at or below 32°F, often seen on grass and cars after clear, calm nights. It can form even if air temperatures are above freezing because ground-level air can be colder. The most common frost, radiation frost or hoarfrost, happens when water vapor turns directly into ice. Frost usually melts or evaporates after sunrise as the sun warms the surfaces.

The moon looks different each night because sunlight illuminates it from different angles. Every 29½ days, it appears full when Earth is between the moon and sun. As the moon grows brighter, it is waxing; after the full moon, it wanes as it gets darker. Though some believe the full moon affects behavior, science has not proven this.

Sandhill cranes are one of the oldest bird species on Earth, with fossils dating back 2.5 million years. They stand up to 4 feet tall with a wingspan over 5 feet. In Illinois, they are mostly seen during spring and fall migrations, though some breed here in summer. Their loud call can be heard from up to 2.5 miles away.

Illinois is home to both red and gray foxes. Gray foxes are smaller, have gray fur with rusty red markings, and are most common in southern Illinois and near major rivers. They live in wooded areas and can climb trees. As omnivores, they mostly eat rabbits but also consume mice, insects, fruit and plants. Gray foxes breed in winter, and their young, born in spring, stay with their parents until about 4 months old.

Shooting stars are actually meteors, which are space rocks burning as they fall through Earth’s atmosphere. If a rock survives the fall and lands, it is called a meteorite. When Earth passes through a comet’s debris, we get a meteor shower. Major showers include the Perseids, Orionids, Geminids, and Lyrids. To see them best, go to a dark area away from city lights, let your eyes adjust, and watch the sky.