While many animals hibernate in winter, bald eagles begin nesting. In northern Illinois, pairs start building or fixing nests in November or December. Eggs are laid in February and hatch after 35 days. Both parents take turns incubating eggs using a special brood patch. Nesting in winter helps eggs stay warm and times fledging with peak food availability in late spring. Other birds like owls also lay eggs in late winter or early spring.

The white-breasted nuthatch is a small bird known for hopping headfirst down trees. Males have black caps and females have gray. Their sharp beaks act like hatchets to crack nuts and hunt insects in bark. They stash seeds for later and may hide them with bark or snow. Common in Illinois year round, they love sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet. Try hanging a feeder near a tree to attract them.

Squirrels are common Illinois mammals, active year-round and known for burying nuts in fall. Tree squirrels like gray, fox and red squirrels are joined by ground squirrels and chipmunks in the squirrel family. Their teeth never stop growing, so they must chew often. Squirrels cache food, sometimes using fake holes to outsmart thieves. They run in zigzags to escape predators and can survive falls from any height by spreading out to glide and slow their descent.

Make milk dance with this fun science experiment. Add drops of food coloring to a bowl of whole milk then touch the surface with a cotton swab dipped in dish soap. Watch the colors swirl and move as the soap breaks the surface tension. Try using cookie cutters for fun shapes.

Snow is perfect for creative fun like building snow people or snow animals. Start by rolling and stacking snowballs, then decorate using nature or household items. Try sculpting animals from real life or imagination, adding details with sticks or leaves. Dress warmly and take breaks to stay safe. Enjoy the magic of winter and let your creativity shine outdoors.

Several blue birds live in northern Illinois, including the blue jay, eastern bluebird and indigo bunting. Blue jays are larger forest birds with crests and bold markings. Eastern bluebirds are smaller grassland birds with red-orange chests. Indigo buntings are bright blue, with females a muted brown. While all are blue, each has unique traits. Blue jays stay year-round, while some bluebirds migrate. Other blue jays and bluebirds live in different U.S. regions.

Wood frogs can freeze solid in winter and survive, then thaw in spring and resume life like nothing happened. Found in forests across the U.S. and Canada, they lay eggs in vernal pools. When cold hits, their bodies produce glucose that protects their cells during freezing. In spring, they thaw and return to the pools to breed. This freeze-thaw ability lets them survive harsh winters, even in Alaska.

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.