The Northern flicker is a migratory woodpecker that has uniquely adapted to gather food on the ground rather than in trees, and are colored differently, even under their wings, from most of our local Will County woodpeckers. They are common in the western hemisphere and can be found deep in forests or open fields with few trees. Northern flickers mainly feed on insects found in trees, but they can also dig for insects in the soil with their curved bills and long, barbed tongu

Blue Jays can be loud, aggressive and sometimes threatening to smaller birds. They eat insects, seeds, grains and love acorns. The pigment in their feathers is melanin, but we perceive them as blue due to light scattering. Blue Jays belong to the Corvidae family, which are considered to be among the most intelligent birds in the world. They use vocalizations and body language to communicate with other birds. Blue jays also collect paint chips as a source of calcium in the spr

As temperatures drop, bison grow their own thick, woolly fur coats and thick skin to protect them from the cold. They can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and can run up to 40 miles per hour. Their fur acts as an insulator, trapping their body heat without melting the snow on their back. Since bison are herbivores, they use their head and shoulders to plow through the snow to eat tough, winter grass. They slow down their metabolism to minimize energy and generate internal heat by dig

Once near extinction, Canada geese are everywhere in Will County and are known for their “V” flight, honking, and lawn presence. Goslings quickly learn from their parents and form brood gangs with other goslings. Geese mate for life and share parenting roles. They lose their flight feathers while molting and can become feisty for protection. Canada geese love grass, seeds, and corn. Many stay year-round thanks to safe lawns and unfrozen ponds.

Though they look like ducks, pied-billed grebes are their own group of water birds. Their name indicates a few features where “pied” describes its two colors and “grebe” describes the bird’s feet placement. Rather than webbed feet, pied-billed grebes have lobed feet that act like three-pronged paddles. They are stealthy swimmers and can sink without a trace. They will eat their own feathers to filter out any hard, sharp exoskeleton parts that can potentially damage their inte

There are two types of animal gift giving: nuptial and non-nuptial. Nuptial gifts are tokens given when wooing a mate or someone special. Spiders, Gentoo penguins, and birds are all known for leaving nuptial gifts. Non-nuptial gifts are those given for fun, to say thanks, or to build relationships. Animals who are known for their non-nuptial gifts are crows, bonobos, and dolphins. Whether it be a paperclip, a pebble, or food, animals give gifts to express gratitude, love, and

Wild turkeys are different than domesticated turkeys we feast on for Thanksgiving. Though almost on the brink of extinction in the early 1900s, successful reintroduction efforts helped their population grow. Wild turkeys can fly short distances and have between 5,000 to 6,000 feathers. Only males can gobble, but all wild turkeys use many different vocalizations. It is a tall tale that Benjamin Franklin would have preferred the wild turkey to be America’s national bird rather

Northern short-tailed shrews are not rodents. Though they are the largest shrew in Illinois and the most common shrew in North America, it is rare to see one. They spend most of their time underground digging tunnels and scrounging for food all day all year round. Their powerful snouts, strong claws, and sensitive whiskers make them great diggers and hunters. They are one of only a few venomous mammals with toxic saliva can and release a foul-smelling odor to protect themselv