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The black-crowned night heron is a short, stocky, mostly nocturnal wetland bird. Once common in Illinois, it’s now endangered in the state due to habitat loss. These herons hunt at night, except during breeding season where they hunt during the say. They breed in colonies and care for their young together. Though rare locally, they live on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. A large colony now lives at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, helping scientists learn how to p

As spring commences, turtles begin to emerge from winter brumation. Isle a la Cache lagoon is a great place to spot species like painted turtles, snapping turtles, red-eared sliders and map turtles. Walk quietly and use binoculars to see them basking in the sun. Watch for nesting turtles crossing roads in May and June during breeding season. Rare Blanding’s turtles, with bright yellow necks, can also be seen at Isle a la Cache Museum. It's always a good day when you see a tur

Eastern chipmunks are small ground squirrels found in eastern North America’s forests. Active during the day, they don’t fully hibernate but rest in burrows and emerge to forage on milder winter days. They use their cheek pouches to carry food and store it in underground caches. Chipmunks eat fruits, seeds, insects and more. They communicate with high-pitched calls and prefer to stay near their burrows to avoid predators.

Spotted turtles are tiny, hand-sized turtles with yellow spots on their top shell. They live in the eastern U.S.’s wetlands, including parts of Illinois. They eat insects, frogs and plants, and often bring their food into water to eat. These turtles like to bask on logs but hide from extreme heat. Spotted turtles are endangered in Illinois, so if you see one in spring, you’re lucky – just be careful as they may cross roads, especially during mating season.

Harpy eagles, relatives of bald eagles, are large birds found in the rainforests of South America. Known for their sharp talons and powerful wings, they are apex predators that hunt animals like monkeys and sloths. They mate for life and raise one chick every few years. Harpy eagles are Panama’s national bird, the symbol of biodiversity in Ecuador and the Colombian Air force’s emblem. Now vulnerable due to habitat loss and hunting, conservation efforts aim to protect them.

A spring hike at McKinley Woods — Frederick’s Grove offers a slow-paced, sensory-rich experience full of wildflowers, birds and scenic views. The 1.35-mile Trail of the Old Oaks includes steep inclines and muddy spots, so boots are recommended. For a gentler route, try the Upland Trail. Visit nearby Kerry Sheridan Grove and Four Rivers Environmental Education Center for more trails, river views and interactive nature exhibits.

Our view of nature has changed over time. Once thought endless, wildlife began disappearing in the 1800s. Laws like the Lacey Act and Bald Eagle Protection Act helped, but the 1973 Endangered Species Act became a key tool to protect and recover species. It prevents harm to listed species and their habitats. Thanks to it, animals like the bald eagle made a comeback. The work continues to protect wildlife for future generations.

No paint? Make your own with dirt and water. Mix until it’s the right texture, then use paper, rocks, or sidewalks as your canvas. Try painting with your hands, sticks, or other objects. Compare mud from different places and see how it changes when it dries. When you’re done, just rinse it away and start again. Let nature be your art supply this spring.

Heather Van Zyl set a goal to become best friends with a trail by visiting Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve weekly. Her first spring visits revealed fallen leaves, budding wildflowers like spring beauty and hepatica, and rare harbingers of spring blooms. She also noticed signs of deer and heard birds calling. By returning regularly, she hopes to witness seasonal changes and encourages others to connect with a special outdoor space too.

“April showers bring May flowers” isn’t fully accurate. In Will County, June is usually the rainiest month, not April. Flowers can bloom as early as mid-March, and the saying dates back to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. While April rain helps wake up the soil after winter, it’s not the top month for rainfall. Still, spring rains play a key role in helping flowers grow. Try tracking rainfall and watching nature change throughout the season.

Beavers shape their environment by building dams and lodges, creating wetlands that support diverse wildlife, filter water, and reduce fire risk. Their construction slows water flow, enriches soil, and provides food and shelter for many species. Beavers’ work benefits ecosystems and even humans.

Bobcats are the only wild cats in Illinois and are often confused with Canada lynx due to their similar appearance. Both have bobbed tails and ear tufts, but lynx have longer back legs, larger furry paws, and lighter coats. Bobcats are more widespread and eat a variety of prey, while lynx mostly eat snowshoe hares. Two other lynx species include the Eurasian lynx, found in Europe and Asia, and the rare Spanish, found only in Spain and Portugal.

American badgers live in northern Illinois and are known for their bold facial stripes and expert digging skills. They are mostly nocturnal, solitary, and live in underground burrows. They hunt small mammals and sometimes team up with coyotes to catch prey. Though not true hibernators, they enter torpor in winter, staying underground on cold days. Their strong sense of smell and digging abilities make them skilled hunters and survivors in the wild.

Watch pinecones open and close with this simple experiment. Soak a pinecone in water and see its scales slowly close to protect seeds. In dry weather they open to release seeds. Try warm water or use an oven to test how heat affects the process. Female cones grow at the top and hold seeds while soft male cones grow lower and produce pollen. All conifers including spruce fir and hemlock grow cones not just pines.

Animals use camouflage to blend into their surroundings and avoid predators. In this activity, you play a bird hunting insects made from colored paper dots on a paper leaf. After picking 10 bugs, you observe which colors were easier to spot. Changing the color of the leaf shows how camouflage helps some bugs stay hidden. This demonstrates how camouflage helps animals survive by making them harder to see.

Illinois is home to red and gray foxes. While red foxes are usually rusty red, their color can vary, but they always have a white-tipped tail.Gray foxes have black-tipped tails and can climb trees. Red foxes are larger, with longer legs and slit-shaped eyes. Both species are omnivores, eat rodents, and face few predators. Though similar, they belong to different genera. Red foxes are more common in northern Illinois, while gray foxes prefer southern forests.

Trees communicate underground using a fungal network called the mycorrhizal network. Through it, they share signals and nutrients with each other, warn of danger, and support young trees. Fungi benefit by receiving sugars from trees. Older “mother trees” help younger ones grow and even pass on nutrients when dying. This hidden network shows how forests quietly work together to thrive.

Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve offers scenic trails, great birding and the iconic big bridge on the Plum Creek Greenway Trail. A 2.34 mile round trip hike from the campground leads through forests and prairies with wildlife sightings along the way. The 267 foot bridge spans a 40 foot ravine and provides beautiful views. In winter, enjoy sledding, ice skating at Snapper Pond and indoor exhibits at Plum Creek Nature Center, which is open Wednesday through Sunday.

Barn owls have heart-shaped faces and ghostly white feathers and are skilled nocturnal hunters found in fields and barns. Known for their eerie screech, they rely on incredible hearing to locate prey. Unlike most owls, they nest in buildings and often stay year-round. As natural habitats shrink, people can help by building nest boxes if they live near open land and give the owls space and privacy.

Trumpeter swans are the largest waterfowl in the world, weighing up to 35 pounds with a wingspan over 6 feet. Named for their trumpet-like calls, they use sound and foot slaps to communicate. They need long “runways” to take flight and incubate eggs using their feet. Once nearly extinct, they’ve made a strong comeback thanks to conservation. Though no longer endangered, they face risks like habitat loss and collisions with power lines.