Don – Discover-Nature

Camels

Camels, known as the “ships of the desert” for the many unique attributes that allow them to live in a harsh environment, originated 40 million years ago in North America, but are no longer found there. Today, there are three recognized species, the dromedary camel, Camelus dromedarius, living in North Africa, the Middle East and western India; the domesticated Bactrian camel, Camelus bactrianus, living across central Asia, and the wild Bactrian camel, Camelus ferus, living in the deserts of northwest China and southwest Mongolia. Wild dromedary camels are extinct, and the population of wild Bactrian camels is critically endangered with less than 700 individuals competing with livestock for food and clean water.

^{Dromedary camel distribution map by EBKWiki, Nov 2024; Wild Bactrian camel distribution map by Oona Räisänen & IUCN, Nov 2010; Bactrian camel distribution map by EBKWiki, Nov 2024}

Camels at shoulder height are about seven feet tall, with a life expectancy of 40-50 years. Bactrian camels are much heavier and stockier, weighing up to 2,200 pounds, almost twice as much as a dromedary camel. Camels range from tan to dark brown in color with heavy, thick fur. They do not have hooves, but walk on two toes, widely split apart. Dromedary camels have a wide, soft pad of skin covering their toes, while Bactrian camels have a firmer foot, and both types of feet work effectively to keep camels from sinking into the sand. Both legs on one side move together allowing them to cover long distances and achieve short bursts of speed up to 40mph. When facing into the wind, camels use their double row of eyelashes, the hair covering their ears, and the ability to completely close their nostrils as protection from blowing sands.

^{Bactrian camel by J.Patrick Fischer, Dec 2011; Dromedary camel by Agadez, Mar 2008; Wild Bactrian camel by Paul Korecky, Sep 2017}

Camels are well-suited to their desert environment, having several adaptations for water conservation and the ability to go long periods without drinking. They can live 4-5 days in severe heat before dehydration becomes a problem. If temperatures are mild, the animal is not working, and it is getting sufficient water from its food sources, a camel can survive up to 10 months without drinking, allowing them to forage deep into the desert.

^{Dromedary camel kneeling by jjmusgrove, Feb 2023}

Camels need to drink once every ten days. They can lose up to 30% of their body weight in dehydration without discomfort. They are able to reduce urinary output by 80% when needed, and feces are always dry. When water is available, they can drink 25 to 30 gallons in a few minutes. Excess water is stored in their red blood cells. A camel’s hump is used to store fat, which can be reabsorbed for energy when food is scarce. Camels are able to adjust their internal body temperature by 10 or more degrees throughout the day. Being able to raise its internal temperature as the environment gets hotter allows the animal to tolerate the heat without the need to sweat, something they rarely do. Thick wool coats protect them from direct sunlight and heat. Even in a reclining position, their folded legs prevent the body from touching the hot surface and allow cool air to pass underneath.

^{Dromedary calf suckling mothers milk by Garrondo, Dec 2004}

Camels reach full size at about seven years old, but they are old enough to breed at three to four years old. One adult male with several females and young form a stable family group. Babies are born after a 13-14 month gestation period and weigh about 80 pounds at birth; they are able to walk within 30 minutes of being born. Their mother produces nine pounds of milk per day, and calves are dependent on her milk for 12-18 months. Camels are primarily herbivorous, consuming a wide variety of vegetation including plants with thorns and dry plants that other livestock will not touch. Their upper lip is split in two, with each side able to move independently, allowing them to easily grasp many types of vegetation. Their feeding habits help keep fast growing plants in check, and seeds consumed by camels moving great distances are widely spread over the desert.

^{Camel caravan entering Timbuctu by RAS News & Events}

Camels have a naturally docile disposition and humans have been domesticating them for over 10,000 years. Many desert cultures are dependent upon these bonds. Modern forms of transportation have replaced some aspects of the human-camel relationship, but camels are still bred as pack animals and for milk, meat, hair, and camel racing. Dromedary camels account for about 95% of the world camel population; and as pack animals, they can carry 200 pounds for 30 miles. Camel hair is often used to make textiles including clothing, tents, and bedding. Outer guard hairs are waterproof, while soft inner hair is used for premium goods. Camel milk is a staple for drinking, but is just as often used to make yogurt, cheese, and ice cream. Their meat is rich in protein, vitamins, and essential nutrients.

Camels have some of the most unique adaptations found in the animal world, allowing them to survive comfortably in a very harsh habitat. You can learn more and see camels at most zoos.

The High Life, animal species

In the last blog, we investigated the conditions and constraints of living at high altitudes, generally above 10,000 feet. A few physiological adaptations listed included enhanced breathing and blood supply to get more oxygen to the body, internal temperature regulation allowing some mammals to adjust to a colder environment, and smaller plants requiring less moisture and having a short growing season.

^{Common springtail, Orchesella cincta, by Mvuijlst, Feb 2009}

^{Springtail, Isotoma caerulea, by Andy Murray, Jul 2014}

The Himalayan jumping spider, Euophrys omnisuperstes, is generally found above 22,000 feet, living among rock crevices and feeding on stray insects blown upward by rising mountain winds. The spider also feeds on springtails, Collembola, once considered an insect but now classified as a free-ranging hexapod. These tiny organisms have antifreeze compounds in their blood, enabling them to live in higher, colder habitats.

Reptiles from four lizard species have been found living in higher elevations. Two species of iguana in the genus Liolaemus live in Bolivia; a third iguana species, Liolaemus tacnae, lives in Peru; and an Asian lizard, Phrynocephalus erythrurus, lives on the Tibetan plateau. All were found between 16,000 feet and 18,000 feet, but very little is known about them since these areas are difficult to access for study.

^{Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos, by Giles Laurent, Dec 2021; Andean condor, Vultur gryphus, by Bastihitzi, May 2013; Alpine chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus, by Jim Higham, 2008}

Birds can be found living near mountain tops year-round. The Alpine chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus, lives in social flocks from the Alps to the Himalayas. Standing 15″ high with a 30″ wingspan, they have black feathers with distinct yellow beaks and red legs. They eat insects and berries in summer, but have become well-adapted to scavenging in winter, especially around ski resorts. The Andean condor, Vultur gryphus, another social bird, roosts on cliffs and outcrops above 16,000 feet. The steep terrain provides additional protection from potential predators. Golden eagles, Aquila chrysaetos, are found world-wide in many habitats. In the mountains, they hunt marmot, hare, and young goats at lower elevations, but nest in eyries, large cliff-hugging nests at higher elevations. With wingspans up to seven feet, they can dive at speeds of up to 150mph over unsuspecting prey.

^{Left top to bottom: Common crane, Grus grus, by Savithri Singh, Feb 2020; Whooper swan,Cygnus cygnus, by KyoichiNarukami, Japan, Jan 2012; Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus, by J.M.Garg, India, Mar 2000; Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Gyps rueppellii, by Lip Kee, Kenya, Aug 2008}

High altitude bird species with physiological adaptations for breathing and blood supply include those whose migration routes take them over the world’s highest mountain ranges. Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Gyps rueppellii, with an 8-foot wingspan, has been observed at altitudes exceeding 36,000 feet over the Ethiopian Highlands of Central Africa. The common crane, Grus grus, lives across eastern Europe and northern Asia, migrating over the Alps to Africa, India and southern China. The bar-headed goose, Anser indicus, and the whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus, both live in south Asia and migrate over the Alps to central and sub-Arctic Asia to breed.

^{Above: Large-eared pika, Ochotona macrotis,}
^{by Karunakar Rayker, Ladakh India, Feb 2008}

^{Right: Snow leopard, Panthera uncia, by Vassil, Aug 2007}

The heights of the Himalayas support mammals that can concentrate their hemoglobin and allow the blood to carry more oxygen, avoiding issues with hypoxia, a shortage of usable oxygen in the body. Species with this physiological adaptation include large-eared pika, Ochotona macrotis, living above 7,700 feet up to 20,000 feet; wild yak, Bos mutus, which have larger heart and lungs than domesticated yaks; and the snow leopard, Panthera uncia, living above 3,000 feet up to 18,000 feet. The snow leopard has short, heavily furred limbs and a long, heavy tail for use as a blanket. Its large nasal cavity and strong chest allows more oxygen to be taken in with each breath.

^{Ethiopian wolf, Canis simensis, by Charles J. Sharp, Ethiopia, Dec 2017; Mountain goat, Oreamnos americanus, by Darklich14, Colorado, Aug 2009; Tibetan argali, Ovis ammon, by DonArnold, Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, Mar 2026; Guanaco, Lama guanicoe, by Charles J. Sharp, Chile, Oct 2025; Yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse, Phyllotis xanthopygus, drawing by Charles Darwin, 1832}

Mountain goats, Oreamnos americanus, can climb steep cliff faces with hooves that grip ledges and rock surfaces in the Rocky Mountains. The yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse, Phyllotis xanthopygus, feeds on grains, seeds, roots, and insects in the Andean Mountains of Chile, living at altitudes to 22,000 feet. Guanaco, Lama guanicoe, a member of the camel family, lives in the Andes up to 13,000 feet and has about four times as many red blood cells as a human does. The Ethiopian wolf, Canis simensis, is an endangered species living up to 15,000 feet in central Africa with populations fragmented by pressure from human farming activities. Tibetan argali, Ovis ammon, is a wild sheep found in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia up to 19,000 feet. The ewes and lambs prefer steep, treacherous slopes as protection against predators.

Scientists continue to study species in these habitats to learn more about their specific adaptations and survival abilities in a harsh environment. You can learn more by visiting zoos or nature museums near you to investigate these fascinating species.

The High Life

Mountainous regions with high altitude habitats, generally defined as those found above 10,000 feet, are found in only a few places around the world. They include the Tibetan plateau and Himalayas in Asia, the Andean Altiplano in South America, the Ethiopian Highlands of Central Africa, the Rocky Mountains in western North America, and the Haleakala Mountains of Hawaii. High altitude regions have common characteristics that provide an array of challenges for the plant and animal species that live there.

_{Ethiopian Highlands by Martino’s doodles}

Air is composed of several gases including oxygen which makes up a consistent 21% of it. Barometric pressure is a measurement of the weight of the atmosphere above, and with more weight pressing down, air molecules are more compacted together. As one ascends, the pressure decreases with the result being that the air is thinner, less compacted, breathing becomes more difficult with less oxygen entering the lungs for every breath taken. About 3% of available oxygen is lost for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain. At 10,000 feet, there is 30% less oxygen available to breathe.

_{Haleakala Mountains by Kent Buckingham, Jul 2005}

As one ascends, along with thinning atmosphere, the temperature decreases by 4^◦Ffor every 1,000 feet, and may decrease even faster in drier air. At 10,000 feet, the average temperature is 40^◦F lower than at sea level in the same region, resulting in cool summers and frigid winters. Snow may cover these areas for much of the year, but many higher mountain peaks are too dry for snow. Vegetation is shorter, smaller in size, and slower growing. The tree-line defines a point where tress cannot survive the lower temperatures and general lack of moisture of higher altitudes.

_{Rocky Mountain National Park by Jim & Robin, Aug 2012}

When animals or humans who normally live in lower altitudes venture higher, they often experience acclimatization issues – changes in bodily functions that occur for short periods while at a higher altitude. As an example, one may experience difficulty breathing as air becomes thinner, and this strain eases after several minutes or hours. However, these changes occur every time a person ascends to those elevations. Permanent changes, which we call physiological adaptation, are known in relatively few animal species.

_{The Canapa Lagoon on the Andean Altiplano by Elias Rovielo, Feb 2019}

Physiological adaptations in birds include altered hemoglobin genes, allowing more oxygen to be carried in each molecule of blood. Birds optimize the process of getting oxygen into their blood as air moves across breathing surfaces during both inhalation and exhalation. High altitude fliers have larger hearts providing increased blood volumes for every heartbeat. In addition, they have more capillaries than other bird species, so oxygen-rich blood has to travel a shorter distance in the body to reach muscles, increasing the ability to maintain energy and movement in an efficient manner.

Mammals create their own body heat and maintain a consistent internal temperature through regulation of heat gained from burning calories and heat lost through layers of hair to the external environment. Many species living permanently in higher altitudes are able to decrease their body temperature for long periods, making it easier to adjust to a colder environment. Some species have a higher percentage of fat cells containing carbohydrates that can be called upon for extra energy for short periods.

_{The Tibetan Plateau by Tony Phillips, Aug 2006}

Typical plant life in these regions consist of grasses, sedges, lichens, and mosses. These are adapted to low temperatures, dry conditions, high ultraviolet radiation, and a short growing season. Mosses are found at the highest levels, growing above 21,000 feet on Mt. Everest. The flowering plant Arenaria bryophylla, a sandwort, lives above 20,000 feet.

In our next blog, we will take a look at the animal species that call these regions home, but you can check out mountain region displays at your favorite nature museum including the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum.

Spring Migration

Meteorological spring starts Sunday, and we are already starting to hear the calls of early migratory birds, heading north from southern wintering grounds, working to establish territory their among the best nesting sites available.

Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, singing by Rhododendrites, May 2023

Some birds, including red-winged blackbirds, Agelaius phoeniceus, get their cue to start spring migration as temperatures get warmer. These species head to prairies, forests, and wetlands to claim a location they can protect, call for a mate, and establish a nesting site with good protection and food sources. Other birds, including many warbler species, return in spring when daylight hours lengthen. Generally flying at night, they use star positions and the Earth’s magnet field to guide them. If nights are stormy or heavily overcast, early morning may find hundreds of them waiting in fields for clear skies. Birds may also stop for a day or two in areas located on the southern shores of any large body of water to rest and feed before crossing.

Red-winged blackbird, *Agelaius phoeniceus,* flock at sunset by Jerry Segraves

Bird species around the world generally follow established flyways, established routes over specific locations between their southern and northern territories. Many migration routes do not follow a straight path. Some species have historical stopover or feeding locations that provide a rest point along the way. Other species may not be able to cross a mountain range; or a large body of water can act as a barrier for land birds, but may be a required food source for wetland birds.

Arctic tern, *Sterna paradisaea*, adult & juvenile by Charles J Sharp, Aug 2025

Arctic tern, *Sterna paradisaea*, in flight by Charles J Sharp, Aug 2025

Long distance migration routes are most common for birds wintering in subtropical and tropical areas and breeding in the northern hemisphere. Long migrations in the southern hemisphere are far less common because there is less land near the South Pole to support breeding activities. The record holder for migration distance is the Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea, overwintering in Antarctica and breeding in Arctic locations, a round trip between 30,000 and 55,000 miles. Some shorter migrations are between upper and lower altitudes in mountainous regions.

Penguin migration map by Fred Cooke
& Jenni Bruce, Aug 2011

Dusky grouse male, *Dendragapus obscurus*, displaying by US NPS

Most birds migrate in flocks, which reduces the energy needed to fly long distances and provides added protection against predators. Penguins migrate without flying. Most penguin species swim between locations, covering up to 1,000 miles round trip. A few species cover long distances on foot, including dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus, in the Rocky Mountains which walk from lower to higher elevations. However, a flock may encounter unfavorable weather or flying conditions that causes a large number of birds to stall in one location, introducing other risks including depleted food sources and predation by land-based animals.

At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, we host a nature walk every other week to observe changes in our campus including the birds that are moving through the area. There are many birding groups worldwide that provide opportunities to observe and learn about migratory birds in every location. Consider joining a group, or take your own bird walk as we have clear days and warming temperatures and see who’s on the move in your area.

Red Panda

The red panda, Ailurus fulgens, a small mammal closely related to weasels and raccoons, is found in the Himalayan and Tibetan mountain ranges of Nepal, Bhutan, and southern China. There are two subspecies, the Himalayan red panda and the Chinese red panda, differentiated by slight skull and color variations. They were isolated almost 200,000 years ago by glaciation in the Brahmaputra River Valley.

Red pandas live in steeply sloped, heavily forested areas where bamboo grows in dense thickets and there is easy access to water. Their habitat ranges in altitude from 6,500 feet to over 14,000 feet, in a temperate area with average temperatures in the upper sixties (Fahrenheit). These mountain ranges contain many protected pockets of forest, interconnected with wildlife corridors through unprotected country. Some areas overlap habitat where the Giant Panda lives, and the two species must share the bamboo in these locations.

_{Red panda, Ailurus fulgens, by Pixabay 27707, Sep 2015}

_{Red panda, Ailurus fulgrens, climbing at Taronga Zoo, by Charles Wong}

The red panda has a round head with a short snout and white fringed, triangular ears. Adults are 24″ long and weigh about 15 pounds. Their fur is dense, reddish-brown and covered with dark guard hairs. A black belly and legs, with a white muzzle and alternating red and buff rings along an 18″ tail, ensures that the red panda is well camouflaged in a forested area covered in red moss and white lichen. They have five curved claws on each foot that can be partially retracted in addition to flexible joints in their pelvis and hind limbs and an elongated wrist bone ending in a false thumb. All of these adaptations allow for a great range of motion when climbing and moving about the forest.

_{Red panda, Ailurus fulgens, mom and newborn by Rainer Halama, Jul 2013}

Red panda, Ailurus fulgens, twittering

The red panda lives in solitude, except during mating season in late winter when they cautiously seek out mates, resting and feeding near one another for short periods. Mating occurs on the ground, and gestation lasts 13 weeks, but can be prolonged up to 24 weeks at the discretion of the mother. The female selects a den site, building a nest of sticks, leaves, grass, and moss. Litters are between 1 and 4 babies weighing only 3 to 4 ounces at birth. Babies are born covered in fur for warmth, but blind for their first 18 days. They depend on their mother for everything for three to five months, and will not leave home until a year has passed.

_{Red panda, Ailurus fulgrens, sunbathing by Su-May, Sep 2011}

_{Red panda, Ailurus fulgrens, Conservation of energy by Tina R Tiller}

Red pandas move easily through the trees as well as over open ground. Trees next to bamboo stands provide places to sit higher up and eat, but the forest also provides shelter, an escape route from potential predators, and branches to sunbathe on in colder weather. If temperatures become too bitter, red pandas can lower their metabolic rates, curl into a tight ball, and sleep for a few hours to conserve warmth and energy. Bamboo makes up a large part of their diet, but it is supplemented with fruits, flowers, eggs, small mammals and birds. They prefer to eat early in the morning and late in the afternoon, while intermittently sleeping during the remaining hours.

_{Chinese red panda, Ailurus fulgens, named Kinta at Nogeyama Zoo, by Toshihiro Gamo}

Red pandas are on the endangered species list with decreasing populations near 10,000 in the wild. Their primary predators include leopards and jackals, which they can escape from using their climbing skills and agility through rocky and forested areas. But their main threat comes from poachers who prize their fur and bushy tails for the hat making industry and habitat destruction and land development that is steadily cutting large forests into small, isolated acreages. Red pandas have been well studied and are a favorite species at many zoos. Consider getting out this year to see them and learn more at a zoo near you.

Tracks In The Snow, pt.2

In the last blog we explored many of the characteristics of tracking. In this blog, we’ll explore tracks, eating patterns, and scat from animals that are active in northern Illinois throughout our winters. Many of these species live elsewhere, as well, and the information here can be applied to other species with the same characteristics as those in Illinois.

White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, domesticated horse, and bison, Bison bison, can all be found and observed in many urban and agricultural areas of northern Illinois. These hoofed mammals all walk on their toes, making a deep print of two toenails split down the center. The pointed end faces the direction the animal was traveling.

^{White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, by mirceax, Getty Images}

^{Deer tracks by florathexplora, Mar 2008}

^{Bison, Bison bison, grazing by belfasteileen, Getty Images}

Hoofed species in this area are all browsers and grazers. Browsers feed on leaves, fruit, and soft shoots of woody plants. One browser in this area, the white-tailed deer, leaves a distinct bite pattern exhibiting a ragged tear from the lower teeth and a clean cut from the upper teeth. Deer also use their lower teeth to scrape away soft bark from trees such as cherry, apple, willow, and sumac. Grazers feed on grass and lower-growing vegetation. These species include horses and bison which bite grass off close to the ground.

^{Rabbit tracks by Lorianne DiSabato, Jan 2025}

^{Squirrel tracks in snow by Tracy Rolling, Feb 2010}

Rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks all move with a hopping motion. The smaller front feet land first and the larger hind feet land immediately in front of the front feet. Squirrels and chipmunks have five toes on the hind feet and four toes on their front feet. Rabbits have furred feet, effectively hiding the distinct toes, and their tracks appear as a large oblong hind foot in front of a much shorter front foot. The spacing of the tracks indicates of how fast the animal was moving.

Eastern cottontail rabbits, Sylvilagus floridanus, have teeth on both the upper and lower jaw, leaving a clean, forty-five degree angle cut a few inches off the ground. They prefer sumac, maple, apple and oak. Other signs that may be present where rabbits have eaten are scat piles. Their scat is small ovals that come out one at a time, so a pile of scat indicates that the rabbit stayed in that one spot for an extended period of time. Squirrels and chipmunks both have continuously growing incisors that leave distinct, small parallel grooves on the ends of woody shoots they have chewed.

^{Perching bird tracks in snow by Jim Forest, Feb 2017}

^{Webbed trails, Raritan River Bank by joiseyshowaa, Jan 2009}

Woodpecker tracks show two toes pointing in each direction. Perching birds have one toe pointing backwards and three toes pointing forwards. Larger birds of prey such as hawks and owls may have tracks that are blurred indicating feathers covering their toes. Waterfowl, including ducks and geese, will make flattened tracks showing webbing between their toes.

^{Owl wing prints and attack point by Chris Fournier, Dec 2013}

Many larger hawks and owls in our area hunt by soaring on wind drafts while scanning the ground below for prey. When a mouse or other small animal is found, the predator will dive from overhead to snatch up the prey or pin it to the ground before killing it, then possibly taking the prey to another location to eat. Wing marks and depressions in snowy areas are clear indications of an attack.

^{Raccoon tracks by August Ride, Jan 2018}

^{Opossum track by Phil Myers, Univ of Mich, Ann-Arbor, Feb 2009}

The North American raccoon, Procyon lotor, and Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana, have alternating prints. Raccoons leave a round print with five long toes that distinctly resembles a human footprint. Opossums also have five toes, but the outer one is opposable, like our thumb, and leaves a distinctive print with four toes pointing forward and one pointing to one side. You may also observe a wavy line between the opossum tracks as it drags its tail along.

Canines and felines have padded feet. Clues to the specie’s identity come from observations of the general shape of the imprint, how many toes there are, if there are claw marks at the ends of the toes, and the general pattern left by the trail of prints. Canines including dog, red fox, Vulpes vulpes, and coyote, Canis latrans, walk on their four front toes. Each footprint will show a back pad, a small pad behind each toe, and a claw mark in front of each toe. The overall imprint will be longer than it is wide. Red fox trails exhibit direct registration, with the hind foot stepping directly into the track left by the front foot but other canine species show indirect registration with front and hind tracks slightly separated.

^{Coyote tracks in snow by David Merwin, Mar 2007}

^{Bobcat track by Frank D Lospalluto, Feb 2016}

Felines include domesticated cats and bobcats, Lynx rufus. These animals have similar prints from walking on their four front toes, but a feline track shows the back pad and four toe pads in a circular impression, and no claw marks because they withdraw their claws when walking.

When observing tracks, keep in mind these points: whether hind feet and front feet are different, how many toes are showing, are there claw marks, is there webbing, feathers, or fur between toes, which foot is in front, and the shape of the print. Consider a tracking field guide or a visit to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum or a natural history museum near you for more information.

Tracks In The Snow

As a naturalist and observer, a person can spend a lot of time and effort trying to get close to wild animals, while most animals are trying hard to remain hidden from our view. With the arrival of winter, observing animals directly becomes even more difficult. Many stay hidden in nests and burrows, out of the wind and weather. Others stay out of sight during the day when predators are able to more easily spot prey against a snowy, white backdrop, and only come out during the night to find food.

^{Deer hiding from photographer in winter woodland, by Nicolo Bonazzi, 2016}

^{Eastern chipmunk makes an easy target for a sharp eyed predator, by Tom Murray, Feb 2021}

When an animal does move around, it will often leave tracks in the snow and mud, providing clues for us to study. Who made the track? Where did the animal come from or go to? Were they walking, searching for food, exploring shelter, or running, possibly from a predator? Observing individual prints or groups of prints taken as an overall pattern in the habitats where they were made can reveal interesting facts about each one.

Field guides are an excellent source of information to supplement observations, and you should get to know the following six terms. A track is an imprint of one foot whereas a trail is many tracks strung out in a pattern. Direct registration, made by a fox, occurs when only one imprint is visible because the animal places its hind feet directly into the track left by the fore feet. Indirect registration, made by a domesticated dog, is when the hind footprint appears just outside the fore footprint. An alternating pattern made by a raccoon shows the left hind footprint next to the right front footprint and vice versa. A hopping or bounding pattern from a rabbit shows front feet and hind feet together, with the hind feet appearing in front of the set of four prints.

^{Clockwise from upper left: Bird track by Sharon James, Jan 2013; A trail of tracks by Denise Kitagawa, Feb 2018; Direct registration: Red fox tracks, by Kent Kanouse, Dec 2013; Indirect registration: Dog tracks in snow, by Jeanne Fox, Dec 2007; Alternating pattern: Raccoon prints in the snow, by Andrew, Mar 2017; Hopping pattern: Rabbit tracks in snow, by Ann, May 2019}

There are four general types of tracks made from feet. Birds leave small, hopping, four-toed prints with either one toe pointing backwards and three toes pointing forwards, or in the case of woodpeckers, two toes pointing in each direction. Hoofed animals including deer, horses, and sheep have larger, two-toed prints. Animals with padded feet including dogs and cats leave a print showing four or five toes in front of a large back pad. A non-descript category includes all of the tracks for animals that do not have feet or are not using their feet when the track is made. Naturalists may also observe imprints in the snow or mud from other body parts. These may include feather markings from tails or wings, wavy lines from dragging tails, or packed down areas from dragging bellies.

^{Bird tracks in snow by zenjazzygeek, Mar 2016}

^{Hoofed animal track by florathexplora, May 2008}

^{Padded tracks from bobcat by Placeuvm, Jun 2007}

^{Wing swoop in snow, by Drew Brayshaw, May 2008}

In addition to tracks, other evidence provides information on what the particular animal was doing at that spot. Scat is often distinctive for each animal, and the contents can show what the animal has been eating. This will give us further clues to provide species identification, the size of the animal, and where it might be finding its food. Toothmarks or claw marks on nearby vegetation can help to indicate a specific species. Be sure to observe individual footprints, the overall trail of imprints, and the type of terrain and vegetation in the area. Also note how wet or dry the snow or mud is, as this may make prints easier or harder to distinguish details.

Tracking can be a rewarding activity, providing many clues to help identify animals active in your area and what they are doing during this time of the year. Next time, we will take a more in-depth look at some of the animals in the winter habitats of northern Illinois.

Books & Blogs

It is the start of another winter here at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, and outside activities are slowing down, making this an excellent time to catch up on the exploration of natural history from the comfort of an easy chair. Let’s take a look at books that have been recently published plus a variety of blog sites, that provide information and activities.

Close To Home, by Thor Hanson, provides a look into the neighborhoods that the author lives in and walks through every day. He says we miss seeing many of nature’s aspects each time we leave our homes because it is all so familiar or not immediately visible to us. This book reminded me of how exciting it is to lose track of time and simply explore.

In our second selection, How Can I Help? by Douglas Tallamy, another backyard naturalist, he answers a series of questions to help us use our nature observations to take better care of our own environments. Tallamy advocates that each of us can contribute to a healthier worldwide natural environment by understanding more about our everyday actions.

The Everyday Naturalist by Rebecca Lexa focuses on how we can develop our identification skills for plants and animals. It is not a field guide, but rather a tool to help us recognize many different aspects of our observations and how to use that information along with specific id guides to identify plants and animals.

Night Magic by Leigh Ann Henion focuses on the species and happenings in the natural world after dark, a time with which most of us are not familiar. With our attention focused on improving our observational skills, we can learn to see and hear many of the wonders of nature in the night.

Everyday Environment, a blog/podcast from the University of Illinois Extension features a variety of environmental topics covering species identification, unique traits of Illinois wildlife, locations to explore and what to look for in each, and opportunities for interaction with your environment.

The website for Homegrown National Park offers information on using native plants, opportunities to get involved in conservation, a blog with entries about sustaining the natural environment in your backyard, and a blog/podcast section of environmental topics just for kids. Consider adding the native plant areas you have an impact on to their Biodiversity Map.

Several websites offer information about getting to know our wildlife species, but two of my favorites are Bug Guide and The Orianne Society. Bug Guide concentrates on insects and spiders and related species. The site offers a field guide section, an opportunity to post pictures to be identified, and a forum covering several discussion topics from naturalists throughout North America. The Orianne Society is a worldwide conservation organization concerned with reptiles and amphibians and their habitats. Lots of great photography and information accompany articles on various species. A blog and newsletter are available that cover diverse scientific topics for specific species and their homes.

Check out these resources over the coming cold months and fill in some downtime with a learning opportunity. Consider a visit to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum or a nature center near you to learn more about your own environment or one of the many other nature topics available.

Books can be found at most local libraries or bookstores. Blogs and websites are located at:

University of Illinois Everyday Environment https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/everyday-environment-podcast

Homegrown National Park https://homegrownnationalpark.org/

Bug Guide https://bugguide.net/node/view/15740

The Orianne Society https://www.oriannesociety.org/?v=f69b47f43ce4

Seaside

Shorelines of oceans, seas, and large bodies of water around the world are habitats for plants and animals that thrive in challenging conditions. Tides occur twice each day when water levels rise over a six hour period to cover large areas before receding to leave those same areas open to the air until the next tide starts to move inland again.

^{Nearshore habitat zones by King County, WA;} ^{Littoral Zones by US Government}

Shoreline habitat has been classified into zones often known by many different names. The intertidal zone is the area affected by changing temperature and salinity conditions as water moves in and out with each tide. The subtidal zone is the lowest and is exposed to air only during extreme spring tides or storms. The backshore zone is the highest and is exposed to water only during extreme spring tides or storms.

^{Starfish & anemone in tidal pool by Jonathan Levy}

^{Sea urchin in tidal pool, Bahia de Banderas by Jim Hoffman, Mar 2017}

Many species of animals live in each zone and are adapted to living completely submerged as well as completely uncovered by water for several hours each day. They handle the change in temperature and salinity with exposure to air or water. Tidal pools may keep some animals submerged for far longer periods. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, and salinity change far less for these organisms.

Bryozoans by John Turnbull, Sep 2021; Sea anemone by Barb Ignatius; Squat lobster, Glathea rostrata, by FWC Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, Aug 2013

Some species can be found in every zone in the ecosystem, but many are anchored to rocks or dug into the bottom. Species may prefer one zone, but get washed into another zone by wave action. Many organisms have tough outer surfaces to put up with battering waves and exposure to sun and wind. All of the occupants are subject to a wide range of predators from those that move on dry land to underwater hunters. Let’s take a look at a few of the creatures able to live in these ever-changing conditions.

The sea anemone clings to rocks and protects itself by drawing in its tentacles to become a jelly-like blob. The squat lobster can be found under stones along the shoreline. Its tail is fan-shaped and facilitates quick escapes when the animal is threatened by pulling the lobster through the water with powerful strokes. Bryozoans are small filter feeding organisms protected by a hard exoskeleton that the animal can withdraw into for protection.

^{Dog whelk, Nassarius livescens, by Budak, Dec 2016}

A mollusk called a dog whelk is a stealth predator often found on rocky surfaces. It uses its tongue to drill through the shells of other mollusks, where it squirts a digestive juice into the prey’s shell which kills and partially digests the prey. The dog whelk then uses its tongue to suck up the soupy meal. The starfish is another fierce predator. It wraps its arms around a shellfish and pulls it apart. Upon opening the shell, the starfish pushes its stomach out of itself and into the prey’s open shell where it empties its digestive juices inside, and similar to the dog whelk, creates a tasty, soupy, meal.

Sea urchins can be found clinging to hard surfaces where they feed on algae and other small, encrusted animals. Fan worms look like a leathery tube among underwater rocky crags. Several feathery tentacles fan out into the water to filter out microorganisms flowing by.

Shorelines create a habitat that is constantly changing with tides moving in and out, inconsistent weather conditions, and a large variety of flora and fauna coming and going. Learn more about this fascinating habitat at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum or a natural history museum near you.

^{Botanical beach at Port Renfrew by James Wheeler; Feather Boa kelp in the surf by Kqedquest, May 2007; Rocky intertidal zone in Oregon by Minustide, May 2015}

Forest Floor

Two main types of forests grow in the regions between the tropics and the poles, deciduous forest and coniferous forest. A majority of energy from sunlight is captured by the canopy vegetation, with little leftover to reach the forest floor. And yet, the lowest level of the forest has an abundance of food and organisms.

Deciduous species are mainly hardwoods including oak, birch, maple, ash, beech, and hickory. These trees have leaves that are broad and flat, designed to catch sunlight. Conifer forests are made up mostly of softwood tree species from the pine and fir families. Most conifers have leaves that are long, thin, and needle-like, a compact form of leaf that is often waxy and designed to withstand the rigors of an environment that is cold and dry for long periods.

^{Green ash tree leaf in summer & autumn by Alain de Maximy}

Chlorophyll is a chemical that is synthesized by plants and gives leaves and needles their characteristic green color. Plants use chlorophyll to absorb energy from sunlight and use that energy to power the process of photosynthesis which creates carbohydrates, providing food for the rest of the plant. Senescence, the process that occurs when a plant stops making chlorophyll, happens as seasons change and day length shortens while temperatures fall. As chlorophyll is removed, leaves and needles lose their green hues and show their underlying colors of browns, reds, and oranges even as they die and fall to the forest floor.

^{Black beetle on forest floor by Undefined, Getty Images; Forest floor fungi cluster in Autumn woods by Vladimir Srajber, Pexels; Springtail on fallen log by Henrik L, Getty Images; Lush moss covering the forest floor by Doina Gherban}

Fallen leaves create a thick layer of litter, broken down by a rich variety of decomposers including mosses, fungi, insects, and other invertebrates. Decaying vegetation releases nutrients back into the soil to be used once more as food for other forest plants. The annual leaf fall adds an estimated 2,600 pounds of vegetation per acre back into forest habitats worldwide.

In deciduous forests, all of the leaves typically fall in late autumn opening up the forest floor to sunlight in early spring. A group of plants known as spring ephemerals take advantage of this sunlight to quickly flower, bloom, and reproduce before leaves re-appear and shade once more rules the forest floor. In conifer forests, where shade is ever-present, flora is restricted to shade-loving species such as ferns and fungi. In addition, fir and pine tree needles are high in acid content and their leaf litter is only broken down by a relatively few fungi species over long periods of time.

All forest floors are rich with many organisms present throughout the year. Invertebrates including insects, fungi, and small mammals spend their entire lives living in the leaf litter. Detritus from leaf fall provides food and nutrients throughout the year to the plants and other organisms living in these wonderful habitats. As you walk the forests, no matter what the season, think about all of the life going on around you each day on the rich woodland floor.

Bird Beaks

Beaks or bills? Two interchangeable words naming the horny part of the jaw of a bird. They have numerous uses including gathering food, feeding, preening, and display, and are often used for functions that would be accomplished by arms and hands on other animal species. Let’s take a closer look at their structure and how birds use them for feeding.

Beaks come in a variety of sizes, and most are proportionate to the size of the bird’s head. Two or more of the bones comprising the lower jaw in birds are often fused together, increasing the strength of the overall structure. Birds do not have teeth, allowing the jaw bones to be lightweight, making it easier for a bird to hold its head out in front of its body while flying.

^{Barn owl, Tyto alba, skull showing fused jaw bones by Didier Descouens, Jul 2010}

Beaks are made from bone covered with keratin, a structural protein providing strength and rigidity. Yet beaks have some flexibility which adds to their dexterity when in use. The inner surface of the keratin layer is constantly growing while the outer surface is equally being worn away by use. Both upper and lower jaws are jointed where they attach to the skull, allowing for extended movements including the ability of a bird to open its jaws wider than most other animal species.

^{Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus, by Craig Adam, Feb 2013; Red-headed woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, by Mark Moschell, May 2016; Evening grosbeak, Hesperiphona vespertina, by Fishhawk, Feb 2021}

A beak is specialized for every species depending on diet and food gathering methods. Cone-shaped beaks, found among cardinals, grosbeaks, and finches, can trap, cut, and crush seeds. Scoop-shaped beaks allow skimmers, spoonbills, and pelicans to slide their lower jaw under slippery prey, then catch and hold onto it . Beaks tipped with a chisel-like point are used by woodpeckers probing into crevices in hard materials. Along with a reinforced skull, keratin reinforces the beak’s toughness, standing up to repeated hammering and prying movements.

^{From upper left: Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea, by Dave Wendelken, Jul 2023; Pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, by Edward Anderton, Jun 2012; Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilocus colubris, by Mark Moschell, Jun 2019; Great-horned owl, Bubo virgianus, by Kevin Milazzo, Feb 2021}

Narrow tweezer-like beaks, used by gnatcatchers, warblers, and wrens, stab or seize small insects from branches. Wider and flatter tweezer-shaped beaks on purple martins and flycatchers can snatch an insect in flight. Long, slender beaks on hummingbirds are made for sucking nectar from the deep recesses of long, tubular flowers as well as catching tiny insects, such as fruit flies. Sharply pointed, hooked beaks are used by eagles, owls, hawks and shrikes to stab prey and hold on while pulling the meat apart into mouthful-sized chunks.

Many beaks serve more than one feeding function, as species change their diet from one type of food to another as seasons change. Tongues are an important addition to the mouth, manipulating food items for beaks to be more effective. Different sizes and colors of beaks convey information to other individuals about a birds sex and maturity level. This essential body part provides birds with many of the same capabilities as other animal species. Come to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, or a nature center near you, to learn more about the many adaptations of birds.

^{Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis, by Sergey Yeliseev, Nov 2013}

American Asters

As we enter early autumn, it is late in the growing season for the central United States, and many insect species are still actively looking for pollen and nectar as they get ready for winter. Migrating birds and species that overwinter here are also seeking daily meals. Fall flowering plant species are much fewer in number than summer blooming species, but include varieties of American asters, Symphyotrichum spp.; goldenrod, Solidago spp.; black-eyed Susans, Rudbeckia spp.; coneflower, Echinacea spp.; sedum, Sedum spp.; and anise hyssop, Agastache spp.

^{American Aster by Andrew McKinlay, Aug 2013; Anise hyssop by Steve Guttman, Oct 2011; Black-eyed Susan by Jodi Grundig, Aug 2009; Coneflower by Bonnie Leer, Jul 2008; Goldenrod by Cathy Baird, Aug 2013; Sedum by Eleanor Martin, Jul 2009}

In this blog, we take a look at American asters, which make up a genus of over 100 species of perennial plants, all of which are native to North America. Asters like full or partial sun and reach heights of between one and six feet. They display a variety of colors from white to blue to purple. They do best in wet soils. Asters are often grown in pots or used in borders, as well as being found in a variety of wild habitats including forests, savannas, prairies, and wetlands.

^{American painted lady on Pacific aster by TJ Gehling, Oct 2023; Gulf fritillary on white aster by Vicki DeLoach, Ot 2012; Leaf cutter bee, Megachile spp, on New England aster, by GreenRavenPhotography, Sep 2016; Metallic green bee on white aster by Jacqui Trump, Oct 2021; Pecks skipper, Polites peckius, on smooth blue aster, Symphyotrichum laeve, by Tom Potterfield, Sep 2016}

These asters are an excellent source of nectar and pollen sought by both long-tongued and short-tongued bees, butterflies, wasps, and beetles. All parts of the plant are edible, although some species may contain mild toxins, making the animal eating it ill. Leaves and stems are eaten by grouse, turkey, chipmunks, mice, and deer. The abundant seeds are available long after most other flower seeds have been consumed or buried. Large quantities of seeds are eaten by migrating bird species including dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis; indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea; American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea; and American goldfinch, Spinus tristis.

^{American goldfinch, Spinus tristis, by F Delventhal, Jul 2022; American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea, by Tom Benson, Nov 2018; Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis, by Stan Lupo, Mat 2020; Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea, by Mitchell McConnell, Apr 2013}

Asters are sometimes referred to as a keystone species. Keystone species can be either plants or animals that are essential to maintaining the health and functions of the entire ecosystem to which they belong. The introduction or loss of a keystone species may significantly affect an entire ecosystem in either positive or negative ways. Populations of other organisms may be altered, habitat changes can be observed, and biodiversity can rapidly change. American asters, along with the other late blooming flower species, are an important food source late in the growing season for maintaining a healthy population of pollinators, migrating birds, and over-wintering wildlife.

To learn more about seasonal changes and how our native species are adapted to handle these conditions, consider a visit to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum or a nature center near you.

Sounds of the Season

It is late summer, heading into fall, and now is the time of year that the afternoons and evenings grow noisier. Some of the loudest species we hear throughout the year are currently active, calling to maintain contact with family members, to warn of impending threats, or to seek mates.

Singing insects are out at all times of the day and night. Crickets, katydids, grasshoppers, and cicadas four insect families active from late afternoon through the nighttime hours. These species all produce calls using a process known as stridulation. The edge at the base of a front wing, called a scraper, is rubbed across the base of the opposite wing, which has a bumpy surface called a file. This movement can produce buzzing or chirping sounds as well as melodic tones.

^{Annual cicada, Neotibicen spp., by Tony Cheng, Sep 2013}

Annual cicadas, Neotibicen spp., are a large insect averaging two inches in size with brown, green, or black bodies and white undersides. Adult males find spots among the branches of trees and woody shrubs where they can hang out and call for a mate. Calls can be heard throughout the day as a loud buzzing for several seconds that slowly fades to silence. Cicadas get louder with warmer temperatures towards late afternoon but cease all calling as dusk settles.

^{Common true katydid, Pterophylla camellifolia, male & female by TJWalker, U of FL}

^{Grey bush cricket, Gryllidae spp., by LHG Creative Photography, Jul 2010}

^{Grasshopper by Peter Miller, Nov 2020}

Katydids, Pterophylla camellifolia, are well-camouflaged with long, green wings that look much like the leaves of the plants they hide in. Despite their appearance, katydids along with crickets, from the family Gryllidae, and grasshoppers, from the family Acrididae, cannot fly. Katydids choose to occupy branches in tall trees, while crickets and grasshoppers prefer lower vegetation, including tall ground cover, from which to call for a mate. These insects will call well into the night on warm summer evenings, but quickly fade away once temperatures start to drop.

^{Common true katydid male, Pterophylla camellifolia, Carter County, MO, OSF-online}

^{Jumping bush cricket, Hapithus saltator, two calling by Daniel Parker, Sep 2023}

Many of these calls are among the loudest made by wildlife. A sound chamber, made by bowing out the wings from the body to create a hollow space, serves to amplify the sound. From the high-pitched melodic notes of the katydid to the chirping of crickets and grasshoppers, these calls can resonate and carry long distances.

^{Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, by Frank Lambert, Dec 2016}

^{Eastern Screech Owl, Megascops asio, by Paul Driver, Sep 2023}

Against this background, we may also hear night birds, especially owls. In northern Illinois, great horned owls, Bubo virginianus, produces a series of low-pitched hoots to warn off territorial invader, call to a young one, or attract a mate. Eastern screech owl calls, Megascops asio, utter a long trill, lasting three to six seconds. Owl’s calls are easy to recognize and can be heard over long distances, making them an effective method of communication in the dark.

^{Coyote, Canis latrans, by Paul Marvin, Apr 2012}

^{Northern Raccoon, Procyon lotor, by Paul Driver, Sep 2010}

Other sounds that you may hear at night include coyotes, Canis latrans, using yips and barks to maintain contact with other individuals, or by young when begging for food. Long, drawn out howling is used to mark territorial boundaries and is often heard in response to emergency vehicle sirens, which we think are perceived as threats by coyote populations. Raccoons, Procyon lotor, are another species that is very active during the late nighttime hours approaching dawn. If they are close by, you may hear purring or chittering sounds used between adults and their young. Whether alone or in a group, when they are startled, raccoons will aggressively defend themselves and other family members emitting loud barking noises. Screams and growls between fighting individuals are often heard.

Late summer evenings can be quiet and slow or full of noises and events. Taking time to walk or sit quietly in your own backyards and listen can be a rewarding experience. Come to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum or visit your local nature center to learn more about wild nights in your area.

^{Clockwise: Coyote, Canis latrans, by Paul Marvin, Apr 2012; Eastern screech owl-red morph, Megascops asio, by Laura M, Feb 2023; Great-horned owl, Bubo virginianus, by Don Miller, Jul 2016; Raccoon, Procyon lotor, by Alex ONeal, Aug 2010; Raccoon, Procyon lotor, by Ellya Selhub, Jan 2006}

Start of an Academic Year

And things have simply been quite busy around the museum resulting in my missing a blog opportunity this week. However, I will be back on schedule starting in September with more information, stories, and updates. Thank you to all of my readers for your comments and support.

Squirrels of Illinois

Squirrels are members of the family Rodentia, along with about 40% of all mammals species including mice, rats, voles, beavers, muskrats, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Rodents are characterized by the two front teeth on both the upper and lower jaws that grow continuously their entire lives.

^{Note incisors on left strike against each other to remain sharp; Molars grow in back of mouth}

^{Rodent dental system by V. Leche, professor Stockholm hogskola}

^{Guinea pig incisors by Morbakka, Oct 2024}

Squirrels in Illinois can be found in forested areas as well as urban communities. They all use their long tails for balance when climbing trees or resting on branches as well as running along branches, wires, and tops of walls. Squirrels are excellent climbers and can jump up to ten feet. They are able to gnaw and chew through almost any non-metal material.

^{Grey squirrel jumping to a fence top by AJ, Nov 2017}

Most species are solitary dwellers, but not territorial, able to live on their own, but in close association with other squirrels, rarely fighting for territory, food, or mates. They breed twice each year, once in winter and once in early summer. Two to four young are typically born and can fend for themselves after about two months. The young will often stay with the mother until the next litter is born.

Squirrels use tree cavities for raising young and for protection from predators, but most of the time they live in nests built of twigs and leaves high up in a tree. Nests are normally located near readily available water. They eat a variety of foods including nuts, berries, acorns, fruit, buds, fungi, seeds, and insects.

^{Fox squirrel by Corey Seeman, Jan 2023}

^{Fox squirrel by Corey Seeman, Jan 2020}

The fox squirrel, Sciurus niger, is the largest species in Illinois at about 22″ in length and weighing up to two pounds. Their fur is reddish-brown, with lighter shades on ears, bellies, and tail edges. They are common in urban areas, but are often found where there are no gray squirrels. Fox squirrels are most active in the early morning and late evening and are excellent swimmers.

^{Grey squirrel by Zoblinski,}
^{Getty Images}

^{Leucistic (white) grey squirrel}
^{by Pete Weiler, Pexels}

^{Melinistic (black) grey squirrel}
^{by Tom GV, Getty Images}

The Eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, is slightly smaller at about 18″ long and weighs about a pound. They have short, gray fur, but are often subject to genetic variations that result in different colored fur. Common variants in Illinois include melanistic or black squirrels, leucistic or white squirrels, and albino squirrels. Eastern gray squirrels are abundant in urban areas and large forested tracks. However, there are very few forests left in Illinois to support these animals.

^{Red squirrel by Christopher Defalco, Pexels}

Red squirrels, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, are small, about a foot long, weighing about a half pound. They have reddish-brown backs with white bellies and a dark orange stripe down their back in summertime. Red squirrels are found only in the northeast quarter of the state in large forested areas. They are diurnal, active in early morning and late evening.

^{Southern flying squirrel by EEI_Tony, Getty Images}

The Southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans, is the smallest species at about nine inches, weighing only two ounces. They have gray-red-brown backs with white bellies and are nocturnal, making them difficult to observe. Flying squirrels have large eyes to see better at night and a long, flattened tail that is used as a rudder when airborne. A flap of skin runs between the front and back legs on either side of their body and is stretched taut when their legs are spread, providing the ability to jump from a high place and glide down to a lower place. Unlike other squirrel species, flying squirrels share a communal nest during most of the year.

^{Northern flying squirrel by Dopeyden, Getty Images______While this is not the species found in Illinois, flight patterns are very similar…}

Squirrels play an important part in forest and urban tree regeneration. They bury acorns and other nuts in warmer months for winter food stores, but usually bury many more than they actually consume. The remainder are left to germinate, resulting in many new trees each year. Squirrels are fun to observe and can provide enjoyment and an opportunity to learn about wildlife behaviors. Come down to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum or a nature center near you to learn more about these amazing animals.

Venomous Snakes Of Illinois

There are 40 snake species native to Illinois, and they are found in all types of habitat from woodlands and prairies to wetlands and urban areas. Of these, four species are venomous. A venomous snake is one that uses a chemical toxin to kill its prey. This internally developed chemical is delivered through a pair of hollow fangs in the upper jaw of the mouth. When the snake opens its mouth, the fangs drop down and venom is injected into the prey as the snake bites. The snake will then release the prey, waiting for the venom to kill it before swallowing the prey whole. Juveniles will inject less venom, but with the same potency as adults.

^{Pit viper Fang and Jaw Structure drawn by M Moran at Encyclopedia Britannica}

Venomous snakes in Illinois are all pit vipers, a sub-family of the Viperidae family of snakes. The pit, a large opening between the eye and the nostril, just above the upper lip, can detect heat given off by warm-blooded prey species. Their elliptically-shaped eyes is another characteristic that helps to identify venomous snakes.

^{Close-up of elliptical eye on Copperhead by Mark Dumont, Jun 2011}

^{Close-up of pit above upper lip on pit vipers, by Scott Ballard, IDNR}

Illinois venomous snakes are non-aggressive in nature, but will bite if cornered, harassed, or stepped on. Bites are usually not fatal in humans, but they can be quite painful, often resulting in swelling and possible infection. Vomiting, nausea, and tissue or nerve damage may also result. Anyone that is bitten should seek immediate medical attention.

^{Eastern Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix, by Peter Paplanus, Aug 2018}

^{Eastern Copperhead close-up, Agkistrodon contortrix, by Peter Paplanus, Apr 2021}

The Eastern Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix, lives in the southern third of Illinois on wooded hillsides, river bluffs with sandstone or limestone outcroppings, and along forest edges. During the hot summer months, they may also feed on the abundant rodent populations in meadows or near abandoned buildings. The copperhead is about four feet in length and has a light brown back with one to two dozen reddish-brown colored hourglass-shaped markings along the back. The top of their head is a brighter red-brown.

^{Northern Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus, by Virginia State Park Service, May 2016}

^{Northern Cottonmouth flashing white, Agkistrodon piscivorus, by Peter Paplanus, Aug 2022}

The Northern Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus, resides in far southern parts of Illinois, living in swamps, sloughs, and oxbow lakes. At five feet in length, this heavy-bodied snake is a uniform charcoal or dark olive color, with dark crossbands and a tan to gray belly. When disturbed, its response is to face its attacker and open its mouth widely, displaying the bright white interior, earning the name of cottonmouth.

^{Timber rattlesnake close-up, Crotalus horridus, by Peter Paplanus, Apr 2023}

^{Timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, by Peter Paplanus, Apr 2023}

Timber rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus, live in both southern and northern areas along the Mississippi River and Illinois River valleys. Usually found in heavy timber with rock outcrops or bluffs, this snake, up to six feet long, is marked by two dozen black crossbars down a gray-green-yellow back. Its belly is light-colored with dark edges, and it shows a dark strip behind each eye. Timber rattlesnakes will hunt in any areas where there is a large rodent population. They are listed as threatened since we have seen sharp declines in the populations in recent years.

^{Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus, by Peter Paplanus, Apr 2021}

^{Massasauga Rattlesnake close-up, Sistrurus catenatus, by Peter Paplanus, Apr 2021}

The Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus, is found in small numbers scattered across the state, mainly in prairie wetlands and river floodplains. Listed as endangered in the United States, it has become quite rare in Illinois with only a couple sightings annually for the past several years. Massasaugas are about two feet in length, with a gray to light brown back and 30-40 dark, bow-tie shaped markings. Four to seven darker rings cover the tail. Their main prey is small rodents.

Venomous snakes have small ranges, staying close to home for hunting and mating. Their main predators include humans, birds of prey, and other snakes. Many have been killed by people with an unfounded fear of these creatures. Although they play a major role in controlling rodent populations, there has been little concern shown over loss of habitat due to draining of wetlands and other urban development. Plan a visit to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum or a nature center near you to learn more about these mysterious, yet wonderous species.

Greene Valley Trail

As the heat abated a little bit, we decided to take a hike at the DuPage County Greene Valley Forest Preserve in Naperville, Illinois, this past weekend. On the east side, in the central part of the preserve, a 2.25 mile trail loops from the south parking lot to the Southern DuPage County Regional Trail and the Valley Trail. Trails are well-marked, wide limestone paths, with plenty of room for walkers and bicycles.

We found a pleasant, open vista that was great for birdwatchers and prairie enthusiasts alike. The Valley Trail runs alongside the east branch of the DuPage River, which makes it attractive to bird species, although there is no view of the river for hikers. While it was an overcast day making bird identification difficult, we were able to observe those seen below:

^{Birds pictured above in clockwise order: Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, by Mshake, Getty Images; Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, by Robert Jakubowski, Pexels; Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia, by BrianEKushner, Getty Images; Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas, by BrianEKushner, Getty Images; Field sparrow, Spizella pusilla, by Mr Jamsey, Getty Images Signature; Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis, by SKHoward, Getty Images Signature}

Vegetation varies greatly, providing good protection for many of the small mammals plus lots of perches for birds. Many plant varieties could be seen and identified without leaving the trails, including those pictured below.

Black raspberry, Rubus occidentalis; Edible in season
Climbing prairie rose, Rosa setigera; Pollinator species for bees
Common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca; Pollinator species supporting more than 450 species of insects
Cup plant, Silphium perfoliatum; Leaf wraps around the stem forming a water holding cup
Eastern Black Walnut, Juglans nigra; It is allelopathic, releasing chemicals from its roots that may give the tree some advantage over its nearest competitors for food and nutrients
Elderberry, Sambucus sp.; Sambucus is Greek for an ancient wind instrument sounding as a whistle
Grey headed coneflower, Ratibida pinnata; Perennial attractive to Butterflies & birds
Hemp dogbane, Apocynum cannabinum; All parts of the plant are toxic, possibly fatal
Joe Pye weed, Eutrochium sp; Considered medicinal by early American cultures
Northern red oak, Quercus rubra; Acorns need a minimum 3-month exposure to near freezing temperatures to germinate
Sumac, Rhus sp.; Prized as a spice from the cashew & mango tree families
Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia; Flowering vine in the grape family
Grey poplar, Populus x canescens; Cross between white poplar and Aspen
Wild bergamot, Monarda fistulosa; Considered medicinal in use as a tea for colds

^{Scroll through pictures above using the left & right arrows}

The area supported plenty of small mammals such as rabbit, shrew, deer, coyote, and both gray and fox squirrels. We saw lots of pollinators including bees, moths, butterflies, and dragonflies. Greene Valley Forest Preserve offers a wide range of hiking trails, a scenic overlook, camping and picnicking facilities, a model airplane field, and many events, including night sky observations throughout the year. Consider catching some of the amazing sights in natural areas near you.

^{Fauna pictured above in clockwise order: Coyote, Canis latrans, by Esteban Arango, pexels; Galls on grape leaves; White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, by Stefonlinton, Getty Images Signature; White cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae, by Bejan Adrian, Pexels; Shrew by CreativeNature_nl, Getty Images; Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus, by Brian Forsyth, Pexels}

Heat Effects

The midwestern United States is experiencing a heat dome this week. This is the result of a high pressure system hundreds of miles across and moving very slowly. Air in the upper atmosphere of a heat dome is already warm, but is still cooler than the air below, and cooler sir sinks towards the Earth’s surface. As the air moves downward, it compresses air molecules together releasing heat, making the lower layers even hotter and drying out the area as moisture evaporates. With little or no moisture, no clouds form to relieve the heat and dry conditions.

^{Heat Dome over Eastern US by National Weather Service, Jun 26 2025}

Humans have a variety of ways to cope with high heat including being less active, drinking plenty of fluids, and remaining in shady or air-conditioned areas. Wildlife still has to get food and water every day and may have fewer opportunities available to them to avoid the high heat. Let’s look at how the heat is affecting a few of the backyard species common in the Midwest.

^{Photinus pyralis, Big Dipper firefly by Terry Priest}

Fireflies are cold-blooded, or ectothermic, and prefer warm and humid areas. They come out in the early evening and as their bodies warm, they become more active, flying and flashing more frequently, communicating with other fireflies to find a mate. Eggs are laid soon after mating, but these will perish if they do not remain hydrated. Turning off outdoor lighting for a few hours in the evening and maintaining taller, well-watered vegetation will help fireflies during hot and dry conditions.

^{American Toad by Brad Carlson, Mar 2012; and Bullfrog at Waterfall Place by DonArnold, 2022}

Frogs and toads are also ectothermic and require heat from the environment to live. Species worldwide, including American toads and bullfrogs in our area, find temperatures in the 70s to be ideal. As temperatures move into the mid-80s, these species and others are prone to dehydration and heat stress. In addition, they normally look for shady and humid areas to regulate their body temperatures, but the lack of moisture in a heat dome does not make those niches easy to locate. Maintaining shady, well-watered areas of the garden provides refuge for many amphibian species.

^{Cardinal looking to stay in the shade by Don Arnold, 2023}

Birds are often affected by extreme heat. Most birds have lower body temperatures than the outside air. This allows birds to easily dissipate heat from high energy activities, such as flight. Once the outside air gets above a hundred degrees, birds cannot lose heat to the atmosphere and become severely compromised by heat and dehydration. Rapid open-mouthed breathing, changing eating times to early or late in the day, sitting with wings outstretched, or exhibiting poor balance are all signs of heat stress in birds. Providing shady, undisturbed areas and readily available water sources gives birds the opportunity to move around less and stay hydrated.

Wild animals have to deal with weather extremes just as we do. Come to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum or a nature center near you to learn more about providing opportunities for wildlife to survive heat, drought, and other environmental conditions.

White, Yellow, Green?

Polar bears, Ursus maritimus, live in the Arctic and are heavily dependent on the ice floes where they hunt, breed, and spend a majority of their lives, making them the only bear to be classified as a marine mammal. They are strong swimmers and are able to maintain a steady 6 mph swim speed for several hours, crossing long distances between ice floes. Polar bears are a relatively new species, having branched off from the brown bear family about 150,000 years ago. Their close family relationship enables them to breed with brown bears, and grizzly / polar bear cubs have been observed, although not often.

^{Polar bear, Ursus maritimus, walking on}
^{sea ice by vladsilver, Getty Images Pro}

^{Polar bear, Ursus maritimus, swimming in}
^{Arctic Ocean by FrankHildebrand, Getty Images Signature}

Many other marine animals inhabit the world of ice including the polar bear’s favorite prey: seals coming out of the water over the edge of an ice floe. Bears often wait at these locations for a chance to grab a seal with heavy, sharp claws. But seals are wary and slippery, and bears do not often capture them, losing 9 out of every 10 they hunt. Their white fur should help to conceal them against a background of snow and ice. But as you look at the following pictures, are they really white or yellow or tan or even green?

^{Polar bear in white by}
^{dagsjo, Getty Images Signature}

^{Polar bear in yellow by}
^{ekvals, Getty Images Signature}

^{Polar bear in green by}
^{Asten, Sep 2006}

A polar bear’s fur has a top layer of guard hairs and a bottom layer called the undercoat. Guard hairs are much longer and completely cover the undercoat. Both hair types are transparent with no pigment of any color. The guard hairs are hollow tubes filled with air that scatter visible light into all the different wavelengths of the spectrum. When we see a structure scattering light, it appears to be white. However, polar bears rarely look completely white, except in the spring after their annual molt when they shed their old fur and grow a new coat.

Most of the time, polar bear coats are shades of yellow or tan, possibly with some darker colors. Oils rubbed off from their prey, including fat from seal and whale bodies, tinge the fur in shades of light yellow or tan. When they are on land, constant contact with dirt and other environmental elements may add darker colors to their fur. Polar bears work hard to keep their fur clean and in good condition. When combined with a thick layer of fat on the inside of their skin, it is the best insulation against the outside environment where they live. Clean fur also provides good camouflage when stalking prey. They may roll in snow or wash off in the ocean to clean their fur.

^{Rolling in the snow by webguzs, Getty Images}

Bears that live in captivity, outside the Arctic, may display shades of green in their fur. Algae growing in warmer waters of captive environments gets inside the guard hair tubes, which make an ideal environment for it to grow. Neither saltwater nor extremely cold water, both found in Arctic environments, support the growth of algae. A long soak in saltwater is a popular restorative cure for bears in zoos.

^{Polar bear bathing at the zoo by iSailorr, Getty Images}

Come to see our polar bear at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum to learn more fascinating facts about this iconic species. For information or to make a reservation, please click here: Visit JSNM

Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum Updates

The Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum will be open all summer, and you can find our current hours or make a reservation by using the QR code below or accessing our website at ben.edu/museum. We continue to create new exhibits and resources for visitors. Many of these resources are highlighted below…

The Discovery Box Loan Program provides specimens and educational materials covering a wide range of species and nature topics. This summer we are updating and adding duplicate boxes for many topics. We are also a repository for IDNR Resource Trunks. New boxes recently added share information on birds and insects.

Nature Rx wellness walks are offered every semester for anyone who would like to learn about and enjoy nature as we find it in the woods and areas around Lake Benedictine on the west side of campus. Come out to enjoy a 45 minute walk, narrated by an Illinois master naturalist, and see what is in bloom or who is inhabiting our woods today!

Nature Doodlers, the museum’s own nature journaling club, meets once a month at the museum at 10:00am on the last Saturday of the month. We have a 30-minute presentation on the monthly topic with time for discussion and practice afterwards. Draw from subject specimens in our collections, or take it outside on campus. A beginner’s nature journaling kit is free for all newcomers, but feel free to bring your own supplies. In June we are exploring plants, leaves, and basic botany, while in July we will be observing insects, arachnids and other arthropods. Come on out to learn, observe, and record your observations.

Next weekend, the museum director and volunteers will be out at the Morton Arboretum’s annual Nature Play for All Weekend. Bring your family out to hike and explore seeds, pond life, art, and more in the Arboretum’s Children’s Garden.

There will be more events coming throughout the year including our annual Life In The Pond turtle day in September and Creepy Critters – a Halloween wildlife celebration in October. More changes are also coming to our website, Discover-Nature.org with additional resource pages and museum information. You can sign up for our bi-monthly blog at https://discover-nature.org/

Sounds of Spring

Thunder and heavy rain, soft rain and light wind, birds in the early morning, frogs in the evening, and maybe a coyote howl deep into the night are some of the sounds of spring. As cold temperatures ease into summer highs, walks through natural areas tend to be filled with many sights as well as opportunities to learn by being quiet and listening closely.

Calls and songs are used by many species for a variety of purposes. Thousands of birds are migrating through the area, especially on clear evenings, and calls help to keep birds together and establish who is the flight leader. Year-round species are re-establishing territories, using calls to warn intruders to stay away or warn family members of approaching threats. Frog species in particular are calling during evenings to find a mate, lay eggs, and begin the establishment of the next generation.

There are dozens of species active at this time of year, and as we have been taking nature walks on campus the last few days, here are some of the wildlife we are listening to (click on each picture to hear their call)…

^{Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata, Mirceax, Getty Images}

Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata, by Valerie Heemstra, 2024

^{Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, by KenCanning, Getty Images Signature}

Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, by Thomas Ryder Payne, 2022

^{Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum, by Irving A. Gaffney, Getty Images}

Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum, by Christopher McPherson, 2021

^{Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis, by Carol Hamilton, Getty Images}

Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis, by Lance A.M. Benner2017

^{Northern Parula, Setophaga americana, by Neil Bowman, Getty Images}

Northern Parula, Setophaga americana, by Richard E. Webster, 2023

^{Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, by Irving A. Gaffney, Getty Images}

Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, by David Tattersley, 2023

^{Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius, Mirceax, Getty Images}

Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius, by Thomas Magarian, 2024

^{Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata, by Miguel Opacic, Getty Images}

Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata, Sue Riffe, 2024

Bird songs have a structure and rhythm, and are repeated often to attract a mate, ward off rivals, or bond with a family member. Other calls give warning that danger is near, keep flocks together in flight, or create a pair bond, often between mother and chick.

Frogs and toads are mating and laying eggs in area ponds. Each species has its own distinctive call, used by the males to attract a mate, warn of potential danger, establish a territory, or to signal distress. Frog species being heard around campus at this time include the following (click on each picture to hear their call)…

^{American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus, by Mshake, Getty Images}

American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus, by Thomas Margarian, 2024

^{Boreal chorus frog, Pseudacris maculata, by Derwyn, Getty Images}

Boreal chorus frog, Pseudacris maculata, by Thomas Margarian, 2016

^{Spring peeper, Pseudacris crucifer by HuntImages, Getty Images Signature}

Spring peeper, Pseudacris crucifer by Paul Marvin, 2012

^{Northern Leopard Frog, Lithobates pipiens, by Jennifer Seeman, Getty Images}

Northern Leopard Frog, Lithobates pipiens, by Paul Marvin, 2015

Sometimes, coyote can be heard when walking in woodlands around campus late in the evening. There are a lot of different calls used by these canines to provide information to other individuals. You can listen below to a bark used to indicate a threat, a social call establishing an individual’s location, a begging call from a young one, and a howl audible over long distances to announce one’s presence. Other calls may include a woof to signal a low intensity threat, a yip to claim territory, a growl to threaten another animal, and a whine or yelp to show subservience to a more dominant individual.

^{Coyote, Canis latrans, barking by TakenPix, Getty Images}

Coyote, Canis latrans, bark by Paul Marvin, 2018

^{Coyote, Canis latrans, begging, by Keith Szafranski, Getty Images Signature}

Coyote, Canis latrans, begging call by Matthew L. Brady, 2025

^{Coyote, Canis latrans, social interaction by Michel Viard, Getty Images}

Coyote, Canis latrans, social call by Flor Sangermano, 2023

^{Coyote, Canis latrans, howling, by Keith Szafranski, Getty Images Signature}

Coyote, Canis latrans, howl by Paul Marvin, 2012

Additional wildlife sounds can be heard on campus around Lake Benedictine or in nearby forest preserves. Get out for a walk and be sure to listen throughout the day for bird species, and into the evening hours for frogs, toads, and coyotes.

Natives In Bloom

Spring has arrived in northern Illinois with warming temperatures and spring rains. At this time of year, we can observe many of the early ephemerals in bloom. Many of these species only bloom for a short period before the flowers are gone, but the plants continue to grow and put forth fruits and seeds before dying back altogether until next spring. Let’s take a look at what is blooming right now in our area.

^{Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, by DonArnold, 2025}

^{Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, colony by DonArnold, 2025}

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, is one of the earliest plants to bloom as soon as warmer temperatures stabilize. It is a perennial that grows up to a foot tall. Each leaf unfolds to reveal a single white flower with bright yellow anthers. Each flower blooms for only one to two days, and the entire colony of plants last about two weeks.

^{Sharp-lobed hepatica, Hepatica nobilis acuta, by DonArnold, 2025}

Sharp-lobed hepatica, Hepatica nobilis acuta, a member of the buttercup family, reaches only a few inches in height. Flowers are white, pink, or blue, clustered in tufts of several blooms. They like woodlands and rocky bluffs, and flowers persist for two to three weeks.

^{Celandine poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum, by DonArnold, 2025}

Celandine poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum, is a taller plant between 12″ and 18″ in height. Each stem bursts forth in two to four golden yellow flowers. If cut open, the sap is an orangish-yellow color. After about three weeks, flowers die back and an inch long, ovoid seed capsule grows for several weeks before releasing numerous seeds upon splitting open.

^{Virginia bluebells, Mertensia virginica, by DonArnold, 2021}

Virginia bluebells, Mertensia virginica, stands tall at one to two feet. Pale pink or blue flower buds open to light blue tubular flowers. Blooms last about three weeks and make a dazzling display when plants are observed clustered over a large space in many shaded woodlands throughout the area.

^{Shooting Star, Dodecatheon meadia, by DonArnold, 2025}

Shooting star, Dodecatheon meadia, is a group of 17 subspecies of flowering plants found throughout North America and Siberia. Standing up to 18″ tall, a cluster of eight to twenty purple, pink, or white flowers with yellow stamens hang from the top of each stalk.

^{Spring Beauty, Claytonia virginica, by DonArnold, 2021}

Spring beauty flowers, Claytonia virginica, open on warm, sunny days but remain closed when clouds or cool breezes are present. They bloom for one to two months in late spring and like dappled sunlit areas. White blooms with pink lining give off a pleasant floral scent.

^{White trout lily, Erythronium albidum by DonArnold, 2021}

^{White Trout Lily bloom, Erythronium albidum, by DonArnold, 2021}

White trout lily, Erythronium albidum, grows in large patches of four to six inch high plants with bright white blooms that stand out among dark green leaves mottled with brown markings. The flower nods from a short stalk and blooms for about two weeks in late spring.

^{Cutleaf toothwort, Cardamine concatenata, by DonArnold, 2021}

Cutleaf toothwort, Cardamine concatenata, stands about ten inches tall with large-lobed, toothed leaves. Many small white flowers with yellow anthers bloom above the leaves for about two weeks.

^{Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum, by DonArnold, 2021}

Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum, stands up to eighteen inches tall. Infertile plants produce one leaf on a single stalk. Fertile plants have two leaves on petioles branching from the stalk, with a nodding flower growing from the juncture of the petioles. Flowers are pale white with a yellow or greenish middle.

^{Prairie trillium, Trillium recurvatum recurvatum, by Karly Tuminello}

^{Large-flowered trillium, Trillium grandiflorum, by СССР, May 2019}

Trillium grows in prairie and woodland habitats. There are seven recognized species, and two of the ones that you are most likely to observe in our area are large-flowered trillium, Trillium grandiflorum, and prairie trillium, Trillium recurvatum recurvatum. Large-flowered trillium is declining in population, preferring swamps or wet soil areas, which are also declining as development expands and destroys these habitats. Prairie trillium prefers open woodlands dominated by oak, hickory, and maple species. All species of trillium are notable for their structure consisting of three leaves and flowers with three petals.

^{Dutchmans Breeches, Dicentra cucullaria, by DonArnold, 2025}

^{Dutchmans Breeches, Dicentra cucullaria, by DonArnold, 2021}

Dutchman’s breeches, Dicentra cucullaria, stands about six inches tall, with a white flower shaped like a pair of pants hung upside-down from a pedicel. These plants are found in undisturbed woodlands, especially along ledges and ravines throughout Illinois.

^{Eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, by Greg Hume, Apr 2005}

^{Eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, buds up close by Greg Hume, Apr 2005}

Eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, is a small tree or large shrub, growing up to thirty feet high. The bark is dark and smooth, and twigs are slender with a zig-zag appearance. Flowers bloom in mid to late spring and form small, vivid rose-colored bunches.

^{Serviceberry, Amalanchier sp, by DonArnold, 2025}

Amalanchier is a genus that includes about two dozen varieties of small trees or shrubs. These are known by several different common names including shadwood, serviceberry, sugarplum, saskatoon, and others. They bloom for short periods in late spring, displaying clusters of four to twenty white flowers. Small red berries grow in mid to late summer, but do not last long since they are a favorite food source for both birds and small mammals.

Getting out for a walk to your favorite prairie or woodland habitat over the next few weeks will provide the opportunity to observe many of these plants while they are in bloom, including our own woodland trail around Lake Benedictine here at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum.

Great Horned Owls

The great-horned owl, Bubo virginianus, is native to much of the Americas, including most of North America and Central America and about half of South America. It is the second heaviest owl in North America, right behind the snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus, weighing up to five-and-a-half pounds with a wingspan between three and five feet.

^{Great-horned owl, Bubo virginianus, by Andy Reago&Chrissy McClareen, Aug 2012}

^{Range and distribution of Great-Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus by BirdLife International, 2014}

Feathers cover the entire body, including their feet, and are varying shades of browns and grays. Their backs and heads are mottled or barred in several patches. This coloration, especially when coupled with mostly nocturnal activities, provides excellent camouflage. Their ‘horns’ are actually feathers sticking upwards on either side of their heads. These are called plumicorns, but their function is not well understood. The feather structure of the wing allows owls to fly silently and includes a serrated leading edge to disrupt turbulence and softer feathers behind to help deaden sound.

^{Great horned owl plumicorns by Jean-pol Grandmont, Aug 2013}

^{Great horned owl wing structure by Peter K. Burian, Aug 2015}

The owl’s ears are covered by feathers, but are not symmetrical with one being higher on the side of the head than the other. This arrangement provides the owl with the ability to triangulate sounds and precisely locate prey in the dark or when prey is hidden, such as when an animal is moving about under a layer of snow. Their flattened face, shaped as a round disc, also helps to direct sound to their ears. Like all owls, their eyes are fixed in the sockets, but the bird can swivel its head almost 180° to either side allowing it to see in all directions.

^{Great horned owl talons by Curtis Bouvier, May 2010}

Great horned owls hunt from a perch, observing the area below them before diving swiftly and silently from far above. Their diet consists of small mammals, birds, amphibians, and a variety of snakes. Their talons are powerful and deadly, with a grip comparable to much larger birds such as golden eagles. Most prey is killed by being pierced or crushed in the talons. Owls may hunt and kill for more than their immediate needs and will cache their kills for future meals.

Great horned owls are not migratory. When an owl is ready to mate, courtship occurs in late fall and pairs mate for life, establishing a territory together in which they will live their entire lives. Most territorial defense is through hooting at a transgressor, but rare physical confrontations have been observed. If an owl cannot establish its own territory, it will live in silence among the fringes of other territories.

^{Great-horned owl juveniles, Bubo virginianus, by Alan Vernon, Jun 2010}

^{Great horned owl female & juvenile on nest by John Kees, Apr 2012}

Males are responsible for picking a nest site, almost always taking over a nest constructed by another species. Mated pairs breed once every two to three years, laying from one to six eggs. Egg laying occurs between late February and early April. The female alone incubates the eggs, never leaving the nest, while the male hunts and brings her food. After about 33 days, the eggs hatch. Young owls will start to fly after seven weeks, but take a full month or more to become proficient.

^{Great horned owl calling, Bubo virginianus, by Michael & Katie LaTour, Jan 2019 (at 0:02, 0:10)}

^{Great-horned owl pair calling by Bushman, Dec 2013 (at 0:18, 0:41, 0:51, 1:22)}

Owls are more often heard than seen. Although the females are larger than males, females have a smaller voice box and thus a higher pitched hooting call ending with a slight rising note. Juveniles can make hissing or screeching sounds and are often misidentified as barn owls, Tyto furcata.

You can learn more about these magnificent birds at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum. Make a reservation to come see us by visiting our website at: https://ben.edu/campus-links/jurica-suchy-nature-museum/ (click on Register to Visit the Museum).

Fancy Hair

Hair is a structure that is unique to mammals, growing from small organs called follicles found just under the outer layer of skin. Hair can be modified into different forms providing insulation, camouflage, signaling, sensing movement, and for use in defense.

^{A scanning electron microscope image of human hair showing keratin layers, by CSIRO, Oct 2008}

The hair shaft extends above the surface of the skin. It is formed from layers of a protein called keratin. When bundled together, the layers form strong and hardened strands. There are more than 50 types of keratin that together form hair, nails, outer skin layers, claws, hooves, horns, plates, and baleen. Many keratin proteins are combined with varying amounts of an amino acid called cysteine, that provides additional strength and hardness. Let’s investigate some forms of hair that help keep mammals protected.

Left: Armadillo scutes encapsulating their body by DonArnold, 2025; upper right: Armadillo showing arrangement of scutes and plates covering their body by DonArnold, 2025; lower right: Southern three-banded Armadillo, rolled into a ball, by MiraianeDL, Getty Images

An armadillo has a tough shell encasing the sides and upper parts of its body. The shell is composed of solid pieces covering hips and shoulders and bony plates in between. The entire shell is covered with scutes, small scale-like structures made from hair flattened into a tough, leathery layer protecting the outside of the shell. The bands form a flexible pattern that allow the animal to move quickly with very few of the softer body parts exposed. The three-banded armadillo of South America can roll up into an almost impenetrable ball with only the scutes exposed.

^{Pangolin searching for ants by 2630ben, Getty Images}

^{Pangolin lies rolled into a ball by Khlongwangchao, Getty Images}

The pangolin looks similar to an armadillo, and although they are not related, they do possess similar features. Pangolins can also roll up into a tight ball. Their tail, covered with sharp-edged scutes can be left outside the ball and used to lash out against potential predators. However, being smaller animals, this form of defense provides almost no protection against their greatest threat – humans. They are the most trafficked mammal in the world, hunted for their meat which is served as a delicacy in many parts of the world. Their scutes are also in high demand by cultures for medicine and by leather goods industries.

Mammalian spines and quills are two other structures formed from hair. Quills have a hardened outer covering, and a soft, spongy core, and are found in porcupines, echidnas, and some rodents. Spines also have a hard outer covering of keratin, but consist of solid layers of hair inside. Both structures are generally straight and rigid, and may be sharply pointed, with or without a barb at the end.

Porcupines have quills with sharp tips and a backward facing barb near their ends. Porcupines cannot shoot a quill at an attacker, but if the attacker comes into contact with any of the quills, their sharp ends easily penetrate skin. Quills are brittle and often break off after being embedded, and the barb makes them difficult to remove, resulting in a painful experience for an aggressor that gets too close.

^{Hedgehog rolled into a ball by Tchara, Getty Images}

Hedgehogs are known for their spines, which are all the same length, not barbed, and do not come out easily. They are more like prickles, providing a pointed reminder to an aggressor not to get too close. A hedgehog can roll into a ball with all of the spines projecting outwards, making it very difficult to grab or bite the animal without being pricked any number of times.

^{Echidna, aka Spiny Anteater, by DonArnold, 2025}

At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, you can learn about these defense tactics, as well as those of other species and how they provide for their own safety. Make a reservation to come see us by visiting our website at: https://ben.edu/campus-links/jurica-suchy-nature-museum/ (click on Register to Visit the Museum)

Pamir Wildlife

The Pamir Mountains form the western edge of the Tibetan Plateau. A pamir is a high-altitude valley or plateau surrounded by mountains. Many valleys in this range exceed 14,000 feet in altitude, and peaks reach well above 20,000 feet, making these some of the highest mountains on the Euroasian continent. The area contains the major center of glaciation in this part of the world, and all of the nearby mountain ranges are still being forced upwards by movement of the Indian-Australian tectonic plate pushing northward under the continent.

^{Pamir Knot, Hindu Kush satellite image by Jeff Schmaltz, NASA}

^{Pamir Mountains by Amanov Dmitry, Jun 2014}

Wildlife in the Pamir region is well-adapted for high altitudes, long, cold winters, and short growing seasons. Mountain people use the land for grazing large herds of domesticated sheep and yaks, but grazing space must also be shared with wild sheep, wild yaks, dozens of bird species, over 700,000 insect species, and many large predators. Let’s look at a few of the more notable species.

^{Himalayan vulture, Gyps himalayensis, on Rupin Pass trail by SahanaM, Oct 2018}

^{Himalayan vulture, Gyps himalayensis, by OK-Photography, Getty Images}

The Himalayan vulture, Gyps himalayensis, inhabits the pamirs up to 18,000 feet. These birds easily soar on warm thermal updrafts, but are not capable of long distance flight. They are often found basking in the sun on high, rocky perches. Traveling in large flocks, they follow grazing herds, keeping watch for dead animals. They can be aggressive to most other predators at a kill site, but give way to snow leopards, wolves, and cinereous vultures. The biggest threat to current populations is from drug overdoses of diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug that has been heavily used to treat injury in domesticated herds.

^{Herd of Marco Polo sheep in the Tien Shan mountains, by okyela, Getty Images}

^{Marco Polo sheep, taken at Berlin Zoo by Cloudtail, Aug 2018}

The Marco Polo sheep, Ovis ammon polii, is the largest sheep in the world, with large, spiral horns reaching six feet in length, with spans up to five feet across. They feed in the early morning and spend the remainder of the day basking quietly in sunny grassland. Their feet and hooves provide sure footing among sharp ridges and loose scree, and they spend nights sleeping among large boulders for protection. As the climate has warmed, there has been a loss of snowpack, resulting in less available fresh water for drinking and growing thick grasslands. These factors are driving the sheep to lower altitudes where they are more susceptible to predators including gray wolves, red fox, and brown bear.

^{Snow leopard, Panthera uncia, by Irbis1983}

^{Snow leopard, Panthera uncia, by Bernard Landgraf, Jan 2005}

Snow leopards, Panthera uncia, have seen a steady decline with a current population of fewer than 10,000. Their thick fur, gray/white with black rosettes, provides great warmth in colder altitudes, but is prized by poachers, who constitute their main threat. They are solitary animals, active for several brief periods daily, and dependent on healthy populations of ibex and sheep to eat. Powerful legs and furred paws enable them to pursue prey, in any weather, across rocky mountain terrain. After making a kill, they move the carcass to a protected area to eat. At one time, these predators were hardly ever seen, but overgrazing has caused humans to move domesticated animals into areas where snow leopards normally hunt, providing more opportunities for these predators to be killed by protective herdsmen.

^{Wild yak, Bos mutus, by Adarsh Thakuri, Jun 2008}

^{Wild yak, Bos mutus, by the Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica}

Wild yak, Bos mutus, can live in extreme conditions at altitudes up to 20,000 feet. They are large animals standing 6′ tall, weighing 1500 pounds, with black horns spanning six feet. Black, long, fine hair hangs all the way down to their feet, providing warmth for the body and legs. Yaks are very social, forming large herds of several hundred animals. They graze in two groups, with the females typically found about 300′ higher in altitude than the males. Females with young often keep to high, steep slopes where predators, including wolves and bears, are less prone to roam. Wild yaks readily hybridized with domesticated species, resulting in a natural spread of the gene pool.

^{Apollo swallowtail butterfly, Parnassius apollo, by Hectonichus, 2007}

^{Clouded Apollo swallowtail butterfly, Parnassius apollo, by Zeynel Cebeci, Adana Turkey, May 2016}

Butterflies are another common inhabitant of high-altitude mountain regions, particularly from the genus Parnassius, known as the snow Apollo swallowtail family. They are color adapted with dark bodies and wing bases that readily absorb heat from the sun providing a source of quick energy. Their normal ranges are found above 14,000 feet, and they are active for only 2-3 months annually, during the short summer season. Dozens of species have been identified with many having very small populations, numbering only a few hundred individuals. Poaching for collectors remains their main threat.

At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, we have many of these and other species on display in our mountain region diorama. Consider a visit to learn more about the wildlife of high-mountain plateaus worldwide.

^{High-altitude species from around the world on display at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum include: Marco Polo argali sheep, Alaskan brown bear, bighorn sheep varieties, mountain goat.}

Bird Song

As spring approaches, many bird species will be migrating across the country from warm winter sites back to summer nesting areas to mate and raise young. For many bird watchers, a favorite activity is to identify birds by their songs. Songbirds have an organ called the syrinx that produces the lyrical notes we can listen to. Birds may produce one or more notes at a time creating complex calls and melodies. Some of these songs are used to attract a mate, or to identify itself to another family member, or as calls of warning about any approaching danger. Night traveling species may use calls to keep the flock together while flying, but most calls are heard throughout daylight hours.

In the upper Midwest, in prairie and wetland areas, the first migrators in early March will include ruby-crowned kinglets, blue-winged teals, loggerhead shrikes, upland sandpipers, and eastern bluebirds. As night time temperatures become warmer and stable, summer tanagers, Baltimore orioles, and up to 35 warbler species will begin moving through this area. Some species to watch for in northern Illinois are American white pelicans, common loons, Northern pintail ducks, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers.

You can find many excellent observation spots in your area by searching online for “spring birding hotspots in your area”. Another favorite forecasting site to follow migrating bird groups is the University of Cornell’s BirdCast Project website.

American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, by Manjith Kainickara, Nov 2010

Call from a young chick by Andrew Spencer, XC36292

Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula, by Tony Castro, May 2013

Alarm call by Joost van Bruggen, XC864040

Call by Gus Mueller, May 2007

Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors , by Alan D. Wilson

Call by Jonathon Jongsma

Common loon, Gavia immer, by John Picken, Jul 2011

Tremolo call by Darwin Long, Apr 2006

Eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis, by Sandysphotos2009, Apr 2010

Call by Jonathon Jongsma, Jun 2011

Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus, by Jeffrey Gammon, Dec 2020

Alarm call by Bobby Wilcox, XC418584

Call by Ed Pandolfino, XC455607

Northern pintail, Anas acuta, by J.M. Garg, Jun 2007

Call by Paul Driver, Feb 2012

Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, by Mdf, 2005

Begging call by José Dellacasa Bravo, XC946741

Nocturnal flight call by David Tattersley, XC811994

Pair contact call by Richard E. Webster, XC971465

Ruby-crowned kinglet, Regulus calendula, by Tony Castro, Jun 2019

Call by Christian Kerihuel, XC814137

Sandhill crane, Grus canadensis, by Jeffery Gammon, Jan 2017

Call by National Park Service, Jan 2004

Left: Summer Tanager female, Piranga rubra, by Gonzalo Zepeda Martinez, Jan 2016

Right: Summer Tanager male, Piranga rubra, by Charles J. Sharp, Feb 2023

Call by Lance A. M. Benner, XC426315

Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda, by Johnath, Jun 2010

Call by Andrew Spencer, XC104334

Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius, by Rhododendrites, Feb 2021

Call by G. McGrane, 2006

At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, our nature journaling club, Nature-Doodlers, will be meeting on March 29th, 10am, at the museum to learn about bird observations, drawing and recording our sightings. Make a reservation to come out to this free event by clicking on the QR Code below:

Salamanders

Salamanders are in the order of amphibians named Caudata, which includes mudpuppies, newts, and sirens. There are about 760 species of salamanders worldwide and 121 species are endangered. With the exception of a few in the Amazon basin, they are found only in the northern hemisphere. They live in habitats that provide sufficient humidity levels to keep their skin moist, from sea level to nearly 15,000 feet in altitude.

^{Northern zig-zag salamander, Plethodon dorsalis, by John P Clare, 2016}

^{Marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum, by Jupiterimages, PhotoImages}

The smallest species are lungless salamanders of southern Mexico, growing to an inch in length. The largest species are the Chinese great salamanders, about six feet in length. They are often mistaken for lizards, having smooth or bumpy skin, but can be easily identified by their total lack of scales. All salamanders have a tail which is rounded in terrestrial species but slightly flattened and often crested in aquatic species. Most salamanders are grey, brown, or white, but a few terrestrial species are brightly colored. Cave dwelling salamanders often lack all pigment and appear pinkish-white in daylight.

^{* Western lesser siren, Siren intermedia nettingi, by Peter Paplanus, 2013}

^{Long-tailed salamander, Eurycea longicauda longicauda, by Meghan Alessi, Getty Images}

Salamanders, other than cave-dwellers, tend to have well-developed eyes. Research shows they are very attuned to differentiating brightness, but cannot see colors. Their eyes are large and provide nearly 360 degrees of view. Salamanders have no external ears, but can detect vibrations received through their jaw bones. Although some species can emit small squeaks, salamanders have no vocal chords or voice box and do not use vocal communications. Their sense of smell is well-developed and plays an important part in locating prey and mates.

^{* Hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis}
^{alleganiensis, by Jason Ondreicka, Getty Images}

^{Cave salamander, Eurycea lucifuga, by Alfred Crabtree, 2012}

Salamanders may have functional lungs, non-functioning lungs, or no lungs. All species have the ability to exchange gases directly through their skin and the membranes inside their mouth and throat, but this also requires that the skin remain moist at all times. Terrestrial salamanders depend on moisture found in deep leaf litter, holes in trees in temperate zones, or moisture collected in bromeliads growing on trees in tropical zones.

^{Four-toed salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum,}
^{by Jason Ondreicka, Getty Images}

Salamanders have three sets of glands located under the skin, covering their entire body. Mucous glands secrete a sticky liquid that is spread over their body keeping the skin from drying out. When salamanders are in the water, the mucous acts as a lubricant, enhancing their swimming ability. A second set, called the granular glands, produce toxins and odors unique to each species that helps to deter predators and attract mates. A third set of glands is a mixture of the first two, doing a little bit of the work of each.

^{Small-mouthed salamander, Ambystoma texanum,}
^{by Jupiterimages, PhotoImages}

^{Tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum, by John P Clare, 2013}

Salamanders are not as noticeable as many other species. They prefer secrecy and out-of-the-way hiding places. Most species are active at dusk and into the nighttime. All salamanders are carnivorous, feeding on small crustaceans, insects, spiders, and their favorite food – worms. Predators include snakes, lizards, fish, birds, and small mammals. Salamanders defend themselves by exhibiting threatening poses and emitting toxins, many with a bad odor. As a last defense, they may voluntarily lose their tails to a predator, a trait known as autotomy. A new tail can be grown within a few weeks.

Salamanders are easy to care for and their habitats are easily duplicated making them widely distributed in the pet trade and for use in laboratories. Additional conservation impacts come from habitat fragmentation, or habitat degradation, or habitat loss due to draining of wetlands and forest clearing.

^{Northern slimy salamander, Plethodon}
^{glutinosus glutinosus,}
^{by Jason Ondreicka, Getty Images}

^{Red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus cinereus, by Steve Byland, Getty Images}

In Illinois, we have 20 species of salamanders, pictured throughout this blog. Seventeen are terrestrial and three are aquatic (*). Consider coming to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum or a nature museum near you to learn more about salamanders in your area.

Spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, by Louisianatreefarmer, Getty Images
Blue-spotted salamander, Ambystoma laterale, by Jason Ondreicka, Getty Images
Central newt, Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis, by Andrew DuBois, 2016
Dusky salamander, Desmognathus fuscus conanti, by Jason Ondreicka, Getty Images
* Mud puppy, Necturus maculosus maculosus, by Andrew Hoffman, 2010
Three-toed salamander, Amphiuma tridactylum, by Peter Paplanus, 2016
Southern two-lined salamander, Eurycea cirrigera, by Peter Paplanus, 2021
Mole salamander, Ambystoma talpoideum, by Andrew DuBois, 2016
Dark-sided salamander, Eurycea longicauda melanopleura, by Andrew Hoffman, 2010

Books, Blogs, and Pods

It is mid-January and here at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, the outside temperatures are hovering around zero, making this an excellent time of the year to curl up under an afghan, with a cup of hot tea and explore natural history from the comfort of home. Below are a few book and blog suggestions, some old and some new, but all are entertaining opportunities to learn from.

The Backyard Bird Chronicles, by Amy Tan, was just published in 2024, and it is a wonderful look into the daily lives of birds and the species they interact with. Many of Tan’s journal pages are reproduced throughout this volume where she shares an insightful array of observations of bird behavior. She has a drawing or two on each page to capture the central action and includes notes on what she is watching, while adding questions to her journal that can be reread to learn more. She also includes many of her beautiful and intricate watercolor paintings of birds.

Handbook of Nature Study, written by Anna Botsford Comstock over a hundred years ago, was first published in 1911. She writes in the style used by many teachers: stating a lesson goal, a suggested method to teach the information, and a list of well thought-out questions that help direct the student. I found it easy to add several of my own questions and answers to the basic information presented in each lesson. The book begins with a detailed discussion on tools and nature journals that can be used in the field. Comstock covers a wide range of natural history topics including all of the major plant and animal groups, geology, climate, weather, and the night skies.

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, by Edith Holden, was written in 1906. It is a delightful account of Holden’s observations of plants, animals, and general nature taken while walking or riding in the areas surrounding her home in the English countryside. Holden’s watercolor drawings are beautiful with bright colors and exquisite details. In the back of her journal, she lists the plants and birds from her observations, with not only the common name in use at the time, but also the genus and species. While not a book meant for fieldwork, it provides pleasant reading for many evenings.

Books are wonderful, and I have hundreds more in our collection, but blogs and podcasts can also provide a wealth of information and learning opportunities and are quite easy to access. There are many to choose from (and thank you to all of my readers!) –here are a few of my favorites.

Tuesdays In The Tallgrass, by Cindy Crosby, is a weekly trip through the prairies and meadows of northern Illinois. Crosby stewards several prairies including the Schulenberg Prairie, Nachusa Grasslands, and her own backyard. She takes the reader along on her travels in these sites and many more natural areas through her photos. Relating her observations of the weekly changes, her blog provides a wonderful chronicle of what is happening over time in an area encompassing both wild and urban communities. https://tuesdaysinthetallgrass.wordpress.com/

The podcast, A Way To Garden, by organic gardener Margaret Roach, presents information on how to care for and enjoy a garden, learning about its inhabitants and other parts of nature that a garden provides habitat for. Each podcast is an interview with an expert on a chosen topic. Some of her past podcasts include handling invasives with Daniel Weitoish of Cornell Botanic Gardens, birds in winter with David Sibley, and journaling bird observations with Joan E. Strassmann. The podcast can be read or listened to, taking a look at nature through the perspective of a gardener, with lively and entertaining discussions. https://awaytogarden.com/

A Botanist’s Field Notes, by Andrew Hipp, takes us along on his periodic walks through some of the natural areas in northern Illinois. His experience and knowledge of the plants in this region is profound, and it shows in the depth and detail of each entry. Hipp includes his observations of the flora and fauna encountered during every season of the year, and he provides a wonderful insight into the ecology encompassed by each short walk. https://botanistsfieldnotes.com/

The blogs I have shared are all quite entertaining, easy to learn from, packed with detail, and short enough to comfortably browse in a limited amount of time or spend an entire evening by reading/listening to additional topics. The books I highlighted are some of my favorites, easy to read as a whole story or to pick individual entries from and enjoy a free hour. While the weather here in northern Illinois is keeping most of us indoors at times, we can find some fun ways to learn.

Bear Bones

^{Grizzly Bear Ursus arctos, by Don Arnold, JSNM 2025}

As in many other natural history museums, the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum displays mounts of animals or their parts including bones, skulls, teeth, pelts, claws, and feathers. Osteology is the study of bones in order to understand their structure and function, and how they relate to an animal’s lifestyle. At our museum we have several species of bears on display, plus bear skulls, bones, and claws for additional study.

^{Black Bear Ursus americanus, skull and dentition by Don Arnold, JSNM 2025}

Looking at a bear’s skull, we can see that they have up to twelve front teeth used for nipping and cutting. Their four long, sharp canine teeth are used to grab and hold their prey, and to tear apart the meat. There is a space between the front teeth and the flat molars in the back of the mouth, often found on herbivores, animals that eat vegetation. Bears are omnivores, including both meat/protein and vegetation in their diet, eating any small mammal up to the size of a deer fawn in addition to plants, seeds, and berries of all kinds.

^{Kodiak Bear Ursus arctos middendorffi, long & large nose by Don Arnold, JSNM 2025}

^{Polar Bear Ursus maritimus, skull and nasal opening by Don Arnold, JSNM 2025}

The long and large nose is another prominent part of a bear’s skull. A large nasal opening contains a complex system of bony plates intricately woven together. The plates create a much larger surface area than only the inside walls of the nasal opening, and are all covered with membranes capable of detecting scent. Bears have an excellent sense of smell, about seven times better than a bloodhound and more than 2,000 times better than a human. They can distinguish one or more scents from among dozens, detectable from as far away as two miles. Bears use their sense of smell to find food, mates, and family, and to identify potential threats.

^{Grizzly Bear Ursus arctos, small eyes & ears by Don Arnold, JSNM 2025}

^{Polar Bear Ursus maritimus, nose, ears, eyes by Don Arnold, JSNM 2025}

The ocular (eye) openings indicate that a bear’s eyes are located on either side of its nose, and face forward. This provides bears with binocular vision allowing them to see three-dimensional images and judge depth-of-field, the distance between a near object and a farther away object. Knowing how far away and how big another animal is compared to itself enhances its abilities to find and capture prey as well as avoid potential predators. Ear openings, at the lower back of the skull are difficult to find. The openings are tiny, and the auditory bone inside is small and flat. Bears have small eyes, with average eyesight, and small ears with slightly less than average hearing capabilities.

^{Polar Bear Ursus maritimus, sharp}
^{claws by Don Arnold, JSNM 2025}

^{Grizzly Bear Ursus arctos, claws for digging by Don Arnold, JSNM 2025}

^{Black Bear Ursus americanus, grasping claws by Don Arnold, JSNM 2025}

Their claws, another important part of a bear’s body, serve many functions to help them to survive in their environment. A polar bear’s claws are about five inches in length, thick, sharp, and slightly curved. They are used to gain traction on the ice when running or pulling themselves out of the water and onto an ice floe. A grizzly bear’s claws are about the same size, but stouter and not as sharp. They are used for pulling logs apart, digging dens, and scratching roots and invertebrates out of the ground. Black bears have the shortest and straightest claws, about two inches in length. They are sturdy claws, not as good for hunting and digging, but are excellent for climbing trees, an activity used by smaller bears that can pull their own weight upwards.

^{Black Bear Ursus americanus, tree climbing by Don Arnold, JSNM 2025}

Many other facts can be learned about the lifestyles of bears from around the world by studying bones, skulls, skeletons, paws, and whole specimens. Consider visiting us at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum to learn more by making a reservation at: JSNM Reservations (http) (enter hotlink)

Illinois Owls

Owls are found year-round in northern Illinois, and they come in several sizes and shapes and live in various habitats. Owls found near urban areas are often active only in the evening or at night, making them elusive to find and observe their behaviors. Native owl species have a highly varied diet, hunting almost every animal smaller than themselves from insects and crustaceans to small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Some of their unique characteristics and places to find them are highlighted below.

^{Barn Owl, Tyto alba pratincola, by DonArnold, JSNM Museum and Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, by DonArnold, JSNM Museum}

Great Horned Owls, Bubo virginianus, live in every habitat across North America, Central America, and parts of South America. Standing two feet tall with mottled brown and gray feathers, they are well camouflaged during nighttime activities. Their ‘horns’ are actually feather tufts sticking out above their ears, which may enhance hearing and make them easy to identify. Look for them at dawn and dusk in tall trees standing on the edges of open spaces. The Barn Owl, Tyto alba, hides in tree hollows or dense vegetation during the day, coming out to hunt at night. They are a foot tall with a distinct white face and chest and pale brown and gray backs. A high energy lifestyle requires them to eat more than other animals their size. They are mostly found in open fields near wooded areas that provide diverse habitat for prey.

^{Barred Owl, Strix varia by DonArnold, JSNM Museum; Northern Saw-whet Owl, Aegolius acadicus by DonArnold, JSNM Museum; Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus by DonArnold, JSNM Museum}

Three owls are daytime hunters, but not often found in urban areas. Barred Owls, Strix varia, have small territories, covering no more than a few square miles during their lifetime. They are brownish gray with dark stripes on their bellies. They hunt during both daytime and nighttime and have been known to eat carrion if it’s easily available. Look for them in wetlands with mature woodland cover nearby. Another daytime hunter, the Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, is an abundant species standing about a foot tall and known by its brown speckles covering a cream colored undercoat, with a barred tail and wings and a light belly. Their diet is similar to other owl species, but they may also hunt rabbit and weasel. Look for them flying low to the ground in open areas including grasslands, meadows, and wetlands. The Northern Saw-whet Owl, Aegolius acadicus, is only six inches tall, with a round, light colored face and belly streaked with brown, and a brown back with light spots. They are highly maneuverable and can easily hunt in small spaces. These owls have incredibly sharp talons and beaks, and they are able to take down prey larger then themselves. They favor dense, mature forests, especially those containing conifers.

^{Eastern Screech Owl, Megascops aslo, by DonArnold, JSNM Museum; Long-eared Owl, Asio otus, by DonArnold, JSNM Museum}

The next two species are smaller, nighttime hunters, often found in urban areas. The Eastern Screech Owl, Megascops aslo, stands eight inches tall and is all grey or slightly reddish-tinged. This owl species has also been observed feeding on fruits and berries. They are found in forests, wetlands, and urban neighborhoods with mature trees. The Long-eared Owl, Asio otus, one of the most abundant owl species world-wide, is a foot tall, with black and brown plumage. They hunt by stealth, waiting on a perch for prey to come close, then pouncing. Look for them in urban settings with large trees and in many state park areas.

Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiacus, by DonArnold, JSNM Museum

A winter only resident, the Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiacus, stands two feet tall with distinctive, almost pure white plumage. They are active both night and day, and can cover large distances in their daily hunts. A large, ferocious hunter, they can take down prey larger than themselves. They are found in a widely diverse set of habitats including open grassland, wetlands, shorelines, and several of our area’s larger airports.

We have many owls on display at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum. Come in and learn from our newest Illinois In Winter display or our owl and other raptor displays. We are closed for the holiday break, but consider visiting us as we reopen for the Spring semester in early January. Check out our schedule and make a reservation to come see us at https://ben.edu/campus-links/jurica-suchy-nature-museum/.

Illinois Owls

Owls are a type of raptor, a bird of prey with forward-looking eyes, large talons, and hooked beaks. Raptors are known for having the best vision of any animal, and they are skilled hunters found across all habitats. Other raptors include hawks, eagles, falcons, kites, and vultures. There are nineteen owl species native to North America, and eight of them are regularly found in Illinois.

^{Pictures clockwise above: Black Kite by Martine LIU, Getty Images; Golden Eagle by Timu Abasov, Getty Images; Red-tailed Hawk by BrianEKushner, Getty Images; Turkey Vulture by James Opiyo, Getty Images; Peregrine Falcon by Harry Collins, Getty Images Pro}

Owls have large eyes that look forward and provide a wide angle of view. Their binocular vision helps these birds easily spot prey and accurately judge distances when either stationary or in flight. An owl’s eyes cannot move within the eye socket, so the owl must move its entire head, which is capable of rotating 270 degrees to see completely around itself. Their vision is extremely sensitive to light, and they are capable of hunting when conditions are quite dark.

^{Barn Owl face by QuentinJLang, Getty Images}

^{Great-horned Owl looking back by Celine Bisson, Getty Images}

The feathers on their round faces help to direct sound into their ears, which are located on either side of their head. Their ears are small openings covered by feathers that can enhance and separate sound waves, working like binocular vision, allowing the bird to identify how far and in which direction a sound originates. Their enhanced ability to detect movement around themselves, coupled with excellent vision, makes these birds of prey one of the top hunters in their environment.

^{Owl beak closeup by GrahamH, Pixabay; Snowy Owl talons by WWing, Getty Images; Black fur in owl pellet by Justin Smith, Getty Images}

Sharp beaks and talons are used to capture and hold prey, and to easily tear apart meat. All raptors have eight toes ending in a talon, or sharp claw, made of keratin. Owl talons are long and curved and are used to easily grasp a branch or a prey animal. Their beaks are made of bone covered with keratin, with very sharp edges. They have no teeth to chew food, and they eat their prey whole or in large chunks. Whatever is not digestible, including bones, fur, and feathers, is compressed into a wad in the owl’s mouth and spit back out as a pellet. An Investigation of owl pellet contents can reveal the prey the owl is currently eating.

Fringed ends of owl flight feathers by ElvisCZ, Pixabay

Owls have fringed outer edges to their flight feathers that deaden almost all sound made while flying, making it difficult for prey to detect an owl coming for them. An owl’s large, rounded wings and short tail provide great maneuverability while flying. Their excellent vision, hearing, and flight maneuverability allows them to hunt at night in areas with numerous obstacles including woodland and urban areas.

In the next blog, I will take a closer look at the owls in Illinois. At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, we have several displays that highlight the various characteristics of owls and other raptors. We are closing for the holiday break, but consider visiting us as we reopen for the Spring semester in early January. Check out our schedule and make a reservation to come see us at https://ben.edu/campus-links/jurica-suchy-nature-museum/.

Bearing Up In Winter

American black bears, Ursus americanus, live in several habitats in North America including forests, beaches, and alpine regions. However, their diet, home range, and sleeping pattern are unique to each individual bear. Winter behavior is determined by temperature and available food in their immediate area.

Black bear on the shoreline on Vancouver Island, BC by Miharing, Getty Images Signature

Black bear in first snow by KenCanning, Getty Images Signature

Bears are omnivores, eating a variety of plants, insects, fish, small animals, carrion, and human garbage. In colder months, the lack of readily available food and falling temperatures drive bears into dens to hibernate until warmer temperatures return. Typical den sites include hollow logs, under tree root masses, and rocky crevices or caves. Black bears, especially in areas of the Smoky Mountains where extreme temperature drops do not occur, will make dens in tree cavities high off the ground. Bears are not true hibernators and may be awake or even leave the den on days with warmer temperatures.

Black bear in rock crevice den by
Nastasic, Getty Images Signature

Black bear den under root mass by
Blazer76, Getty Images

Once they move into a den, bears can lower their body temperature by eight to twelve degrees and burn body fat to satisfy all of their energy requirements. They do not eat, drink, urinate, or defecate while in the den, although they do wake occasionally to shift their resting position. Bears remain in hibernation while cold temperatures persist. In Alaska’s interior, this may be up to seven months, while in southern and coastal areas hibernation might last only two to three months. In late summer and fall, bears eat 50 to 80 pounds of food and add three to six pounds of fat each day in preparation for winter.

Black bears are solitary animals, coming together only in summer to mate, a bi-annual activity for adult females. Females are able to delay implantation of the fertilized eggs until after they are in the den for the winter. Cubs are born after eight weeks, in mid-winter. They weigh less than half-a-pound and are hairless and helpless. An average litter of one to three cubs will nurse from their mother for three to six months and will be nearly five pounds each as they emerge from the den in late spring. Cubs stay with mom for about 18 months, learning to fend for themselves, and will reach an average of 80 pounds by the end of their first year.

Black bear den with female and nursing cubs by National Park Service

Unless the bear is a pregnant female or the weather conditions are extreme, if there is food available, there is no need to hibernate. Zoo bears historically do not hibernate. However, many zoos are changing their practices by reducing meal sizes so their bears do enter hibernation for short periods. Studies show that this leads to fewer problems with overweight bears, and allows pregnant females the quiet time needed for cubs to develop naturally.

Black bear cubs in spring in Glacier Bay National Park by National Park Service

Black bear female nursing cubs by Alan D Wilson, 2010

Scientists are studying several health issues important to both bears and humans. Bears lose about 25% of their muscle mass during an extended hibernation, but emerge from the den with strong bones and good physical abilities. As humans become less active due to aging or other circumstances, they lose almost 60% of muscle and bone mass in the same period. Loss of bone mass, termed osteoporosis, accounts for over half of the bone fractures in adults over fifty years of age. Studies on how bears conserve and reuse proteins during hibernation, and use fat for energy, may provide insights into helping people to maintain their strength and health as they age or become less active.

At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, you can learn more about black bears, grizzly bears, and polar bears.

Insects Over Winter

It is starting to get chilly in the Midwest as we head toward winter. Insects also recognize the shorter daylight hours and dropping temperatures. They use two main strategies to cope with winters: freeze avoidance and freeze tolerance. Avoidance may require travel or a dry place to stay warm. Tolerant insects can stay here and control their body’s response to freezing temperatures. Staying in place has several advantages including being able to emerge early in spring, allowing those insects to feed before predators are out.

^{Clockwise from upper left: Monarch butterflies on migration by Dopeyden, Getty Images; Cecropia moth cocoon by Sylvie Bouchard, Getty Images; Milkweed bugs by Rick Wood, Rick Wood’s Images; Four-lined plant bug, Poecilocapsus lineatus, by Heather Broccard-Bell, Getty Images Signature; Common pill-bug by Ines Carrara, Getty Images}

Those insect groups that opt for traveling to warmer climates often make a one-way trip. Monarchs are one of the best known insect migrators. Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains leave in early fall to arrive at overwintering sites in the mountains of Mexico. Their offspring return to the southern U.S. in spring to breed, and this second generation returns to the East and Midwest over the following summer. Monarchs west of the Rockies overwinter in Baja, California, and many of the same individuals that fly south do return, but their trip is considerably shorter allowing time for breeding during summer months in the northwest U.S.

^{Honeybees in hive by OK-Photography, Getty Images}

Many different species of insects can control or stop ice formation in their bodies. Honeybees cluster together and shiver, generating enough body heat to keep the air above freezing in their hive. Other insects get rid of all the food and water in their bodies, becoming dehydrated and unable to freeze. Some species can control where ice crystals may form in their bodies, and prevent their formation inside cells that would cause harm to the insect. Insect species that retain some water use cryoprotectants, chemicals resulting from large amounts of sugar. One such chemical is glycerol, which lowers the freezing temperature of water and other liquids.

^{Dragonfly larva with fish by Mauribo, Getty Images Signature}

^{Fast running stream by Mburnham, Getty Images}

Some insects remain active throughout the winter. Aquatic insects in immature stages can easily spend the winter in fast moving or deeper water that does not freeze. Some insects move inside warm and protected places like attics, sheds, and gaps in house walls. They also overwinter in tree cavities, under bark, inside dead plants, and in old burrows. Allowing vegetation with hollow stems to stand through the winter will provide many populations a safe place to spend the season.

The insect version of hibernation is called diapause, when growth and development is halted until longer daylight hours prevail. Late winter weather patterns with warm periods interspersed with cold periods endanger many species. Another change we have experienced in recent years involves warm temperatures lasting later in fall and starting earlier in spring. These changes interrupt the historical natural cycles, causing insects and other animals to abort hibernation and actively look for food or mates. Food plants do not produce enough to support animal populations, or another cold period returns, and species are not able to adapt, and often perish.

^{A garden in winter by Vermontalm, Getty Images; Snag and deadwood in winter by BayDavn0211, Getty Images; Spring garden and returning insects by Anthony Lerma, Getty Images}

Insects are a vital part of healthy habitats, providing pollination services and food to many species. We can help overwintering insects by leaving dead stalks standing until late spring to provide safe habitat. Leaves left piled up provide nutrients, insulation, and a place of shelter. Uncovered soil can also host ground nesters such as native bees. Snags and logs provide lots of cavities protected from the weather. Selecting some plant species that bloom early or late in the year will provide additional food at those times. Growing plants in clusters enables insects to find all they need in one place. With a little planning, everyone’s backyard can be an inviting habitat for insects year-round.

Baleen Whales

There are over 90 species of whales roaming every ocean habitat. There are two broad classifications of whales, baleen whales and toothed whales. Baleen whales lack teeth. When they open their mouths, a membrane made of keratin, called baleen, stretches from the upper to the lower jaw. This allows water to flow through its porous structure while trapping fish and zooplankton, small sea creatures, by the mouthful. Toothed whales have actual teeth and they hunt fish, squid, and other animals of the sea.

^{Clockwise above- Baleen by Paigefalk, Getty Images Signature; Humpback whale (baleen) by Craig Lambert, Getty Images; Orca whale (toothed) by Schmid-Reportagen, Pixabay}

There are 15 species of baleen whales compared to 77 species of toothed whales. Baleen whales are generally larger, with the blue whale being the largest whale in our oceans. Most baleen whales are migratory, moving between cold, polar waters that support large populations of prey and warmer waters that they use for breeding. While warm water environments support less prey, they have fewer predators and other risks, allowing newborn youngsters to grow and learn to defend themselves before migrating back to richer feeding grounds.

Humpback mother & calf by Lauren Baer, Getty Images

Consider the Sei whale, one species of baleen whale from the Rorqual family that is known for their slender, pointed heads and fins. They are one of the smallest baleen whales, growing to about 40′ in length as an adult. Exact population numbers are not known, but it is estimated there are about 60,000 Sei whales worldwide. Each Sei whale eats about one ton (2,000 pounds) of food each day, including krill, fish, and squid. One ton holds close to a half million krill, a small crustacean weighing about 2 grams. The entire population of Sei whales alone is consuming roughly 20 billion krill or other small fish each day!

Group of Antarctic krill by Noyan Yilmaz

Baleen whale eating by Julian Allchin, Getty Images

Whales, hummingbirds, humans, frogs, and rabbits are all tetrapods, animals whose ancestors had legs. Nearly all of the bones in one species can be found in each of the others, a condition called homology. This is the result of divergent evolution where organisms from the same common ancestor evolve and accumulate differences, often resulting in an entirely new species. These differences are selected based on both biotic and abiotic factors in the habitat. Whales have the same shoulder-arm-hand structure inside their side fins as a human arm. While our hands and arms let us reach, grasp, and throw an object in the air, a whale’s fin delivers a powerful push through the water they live in.

Whale fin to human arm bone structure homology by DonArnold, 2024

^{Humpback pushing with fin by Yann-Hubert, Getty Images Pro; Human arm throwing a ball by South Agency, Getty Images Signature}

At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, you can observe and learn more about homologous structure from our Sei whale / human arm skeleton comparison. Plus we have more to show you concerning whales and other marine species from around the world. Read more about whales on the following sites:

Ostrich

The ostrich, the largest and heaviest bird, is one of the handful of birds that cannot fly. They live in arid and semi-arid habitats in Africa, as well as in a small population of once captive birds that were released into the wilds of Australia. Several sub-species of the common ostrich, Struthio camelus can be found across most of Africa, while the Somali ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes, is only found in the far east around the Horn of Africa.

^{Common ostrich, Struthio cameus, Tanzania by Patrick Gijsbers, Getty Images Signature; Female Somali ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes, in Kenya by Ninara, Dec 2013; Male Somali ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes, in Kenya by Christiaan Kooyman, Jan 2003}

Ostrich males, called roosters, are predominantly black and can grow to 9′ and 180 pounds, while the slightly smaller females, called hens, have grayish-brown feathers and top out at about 6′ and 240 pounds. They live 30-40 years in the wild. Ostrich eyes, at almost 2″ in diameter, are the largest eyes of any land animal. Their species, camelus, refers to their long necks, large eyelashes, long legs, and their ability to go without water for extended periods.

Birds that can fly have many strong flight muscles attached to their sternum, which is shaped like a keel, an elongated structure which is narrow at the top and flares out at the bottom. However, the sternum of the ostrich is flattened and their wings are quite small. They do have powerful legs that allow them to sprint over 40mph and run long distances at an average speed of 31mph. Their long legs can cover 10-16 feet in a single stride. They only have two toes with one having a long claw that can dig into the ground for extra traction.

Notice the flattened sternum on the lower right of the ostrich compared to a flying bird below with a much larger bone.

^{Above: Flying bird shows large keel for flight muscles by LeeLiyi, Jun 2006}

^{Left: Ostrich skeleton, Museum of Veterinary Anatomy, FMVZ USP Wagner Souza e Silva, Dec, 2015}

Ostriches live in small family groups called herds. An average herd is about a dozen birds, led by one dominant male and one dominant female, called pack leaders. When males are ready to breed, they make a booming sound using an air sac in their throats that can be heard over long distances. When a female approaches, the male will puff out his chest, bow to the female, and do a dance that includes much tail shaking. This is repeated several times until the female indicates whether or not she will mate.

Ostrich eggs in shallow sandy depression, Namibia, by Th Trede, Getty Images

A dominant male digs a shallow nest 9 to 10 feet wide and mates with several females. Each mating results in 7-10 eggs laid together in the one nest. Ostrich eggs are the largest of any egg in the world weighing about 3 pounds, equal to 2 dozen chicken eggs. One male and one female will take turns incubating about 20 of the eggs, while the remaining eggs are ejected from the nest. Babies hatch in six weeks and are the size of a chicken when born, but they will grow about a foot a month, reaching adult size in six months.

Ostrich toes & claws by Mirko Vuckovic, Getty Images

Ostriches are omnivores mainly eating roots, seeds, and leaves, but will also eat insects, rodents, and snakes. They lack teeth; and as with many birds, they ingest small pebbles to help grind their food in the stomach. They are most vulnerable when eating or protecting their nests, and predators include lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals. When threatened, an ostrich will not bury its heads in the sand. The bird may lie down on the ground with its head and neck stretched out to present a lower profile. They may run away, but if that is not possible, especially when protecting a nest, they will stand their ground. Their legs and sharp claws are powerful enough to deliver a kick capable of killing an adult lion. Many predators will not attack an adult ostrich, but their eggs are a delicacy for predators, vultures and other opportunists.

Many farms raise these birds, harvesting feathers and leather for clothing, plus meat and eggs for food. Although they are not considered endangered, ostriches are still threatened by habitat loss and poaching. At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum you can view an adult ostrich, nest and eggs, plus see our new display on the skeletal structure of birds including our adult ostrich skeleton.

Life In The Pond

Butterflies

I recently visited The Butterfly Place in Westford, Massachusetts. It was quite nice to walk through and learn about the various species and habits of these beautiful and lively insects.

Clockwise from upper left, all pictures by Don Arnold: Brown Clipper butterfly, Parthenos sylvia; Giant swallowtail butterfly, Papilio thoas; Julia butterfly, Dryas julia; Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus; Malachite butterfly, Siproeta stelenes

Butterflies come in a variety of colors and patterns providing camouflage to hide from potential predators, identifying an individual to potential mates, and/or allowing an insect to absorb heat needed for daily activities. The colors we see can come from colored pigments that reflect light of a specific color or from structural pigments that take on different colors depending on the angle and intensity of reflected light. Structural pigments produce blues, whites, and colors with a metallic sheen. Genes control which pigments appear in each part of their wings to create the multitude of patterns. Variations in just a few genes may determine that a pattern in one species is slightly different in size, shape, or color in another species, or completely different in a third species.

Blue morpho, Morpho peleides, with brown & white pattern vs same colors and slightly different pattern on Owl butterfly, Caligo eurilochus

Butterflies eat by sipping sweet nectar from a variety of flowers. Their tongue, called a proboscis, forms a hollow straw that restricts them to a liquid diet. When not eating, you can observe the proboscis curled up in front of their mouth. When uncurled, it forms a long tube, able to reach deep into a flower to the base where nectar is stored. Watch the video below as this monarch inserts its proboscis into the base of the lantana as it feeds. Many butterflies enjoy juice from fruit, especially as it starts to decompose to a softer, more liquid-like stage.

Rice paper butterfly, Idea leuconoe, probing for nectar

Puddling is another feeding activity where butterflies take in liquid from puddles, wet gravel, sweat, and scat. These are all sources for minerals and salts needed for egg development. Females may find their own puddling sources, but males also engage in this activity, passing along a complex package of sperm, minerals, salt, and other nutrients to females during mating.

Clockwise from upper left, all pictures by Don Arnold: Piano key butterfly, Heliconius melpomene; Rice paper butterfly, Idea leuconoe; Sara butterfly, Heliconius sara; Scarlet swallowtail butterfly, Papilio rumanzovia; Zebra longwing butterfly, Heliconius Charitonia

Butterfly houses are interesting and fun places to observe many of these species and their behaviors up close. We can provide for our native butterflies by learning which plants host caterpillars and which plants provide nectar for adults. Select these plants for your garden, or place potted plants on an outside porch during warmer months. You can provide additional habitat for butterflies and other small insects by mowing less frequently, limiting the use of pesticides in your yard, and leaving small brush piles in your garden.

Autumn Foods

Meteorological fall began September 1st, marking the beginning of cooling temperatures that lead into winter, the coldest time of the year in the northern hemisphere. As the days begin to cool, many plant species are producing ripe fruits and seeds and starting the process of going dormant until next spring’s warming temperatures and longer days signal a beginning of the next growing cycle. Some animals, especially birds, travel long distances, migrating to areas that stay warm throughout the year. Those who stay through the coldest months depend on having food sources available even while plants are dormant.

_{Grey-headed coneflower seed head by Laura Fischer Photography}

The best winter food sources for wildlife are native plants with berries and seeds available throughout the colder months. Birds including woodpeckers, robins, waxwings, bluebirds, thrushes, chickadees, quail, and thrashers rely on robust insect populations in summer. In winter, when insects are no longer available, having another food source such as seed heads and berries left standing in your garden fulfills this need while adding visual interest and wildlife watching opportunities for you.

^{Food items shown above: Acorns on forest floor by Liz West, Oct 2006; Shellbark hickory nuts by HeikeRau, Getty Images; Pine cones with seeds by GordonImages, Getty Images}

Several tree families including pine, hickory, oak, and cherry offer fruit and nuts lasting through the winter. Along with grass and wildflower stems, trunks and branches also provide habitat for insect eggs and larva that will emerge in the spring. Over winter, insects in these stages are available as food for foraging species that use beaks and claws to dig them out. Stems growing close together provide additional benefits as thickets that provide protection against cold winds and harsh weather and hiding places that are safe from other predators.

^{Berries & Seeds above: Aster seeds by David Hansche, Getty Images; Sunflower at sunset by Hazal Ak, Getty Images; Wild elderberries by StargateChris, Getty Images; Thistle seeds by JTCanada, Getty Images}

Sunflowers, elderberries, and serviceberries are important food sources for fall migrators and winter inhabitants, providing fat and energy to stay warm and active. Aster, thistle, and conifer seeds released throughout the colder months are a favorite food source for finches and other small perching birds. Oak acorns, beechnuts, and hickory nuts are eaten by many woodland animals including squirrel, chipmunk, deer, wild turkey, fox, and quail.

^{Wildlife enjoying an offering: Blue tit on suet by Hedera.Baltica, Dec 2022; Lunch by Audrey, Feb 2008; Pine siskins on thistle by Yooperann, May 2015; Purple finches by Stan Lupo, Oct 2016}

Some of these animals also forage through our backyards in winter as many berry producing plants in the wild are stripped bare during late autumn and early winter. Backyard plantings and feeders provide important supplementary food sources for these animals. A variety of species to consider planting include American persimmon, blackberry, blueberry, elderberry, raspberry, cranberry, paw-paw , and prickly pear cactus, holly, sumac, hackberry, viburnum, hawthorn, bayberry, red cedar, and juniper. You can learn more under Garden For Wildlife on the National Wildlife Federation website at https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Food.

Nature journaling is a great way to track your observations and learn more through later research

Opportunities to observe wildlife in your own backyard can be an exciting way to learn. Try tracking which plants are being eaten and at what times during the changing seasons. Record the weather conditions during those periods to learn what foods are relied upon during colder, harsher winter weather. Try a variety of suet, seed and nut varieties in feeders to attract a range of animals to your backyard for fun wildlife watching and education.

Hummingbirds

It is getting to the end of summer, and many bird species that winter in Central and South America will soon be starting their migrations. Of the 320 species of hummingbirds, 15 spend the summer breeding in North America, from the Gulf Coast states to southern Canada, before returning to winter habitat farther south. Only one species, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, breeds east of the Mississippi River.

7 of the 15 hummers that breed in North America:
- Anna’s Hummingbird, Calypte anna, by Alan Scmierer-USFWS, Mar 2007
- Black-chinned Hummingbird, Archilobus alexandri, by Paul Crook-USFWS, Jun 2024
- Blue-throated Hummingbird, Lampornis clemenciae, by Alan Schmierer-USFWS, Jun 2024
- Broad-billed Hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris, by Alan Scmierer-USFWS, Mar 2022
- Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Amazilia yucatanensis, by Alan Scmierer-USFWS, Jan 2010
- Broad-Tailed Hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus, by Tom Koerner-USFWS, Feb 2024
- Allen’s Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin, by Wendy Miller-USFWS, Jun 2024

Hummingbirds have a very high metabolism with a normal heart rate of 250 beats per minute that accelerates to almost 1250 beats per minute when in flight. They consume large amounts of nectar each day to get enough sugar to support their energy requirements. Several small grooves running the length of their tongue funnel nectar into their throat by capillary action, a force that causes liquid to rise in a small tube without needing to use air to suck the liquid in. They also eat any small invertebrate to fulfill protein, vitamin, and mineral needs. Hummingbirds snatch insects mid-air while in flight, poach them from spider webs, and glean tiny moth caterpillars from new leaves and branch tips. Another foraging method uses the blast of air beneath their powerful wings to roll over leaves on the forest floor, revealing the insect life below.

^{Anna’s hummingbird catching insects by Stan Lupo, Jul 2023}

Hummingbirds do not bond with a mate. Females establish a territory that optimizes the available nectar and offers multiple nest sites. Males establish a territory based on encountering as many females as possible. Both will defend their areas from other hummingbirds, as well as other nectar feeders including butterflies and bees. Daily feeding starts on the outer edge of their territory to chase out any overnight interlopers and ends with nectar sources deep inside the area’s interior. Males will breed with as many females as possible. Females may have more than one brood of eggs each year, either concurrently or one brood following another.

Nests are about 2″ in diameter, built of small twigs, lined with soft plant material, and covered on the outside with greenish-gray lichens. Nests are bound to branches with spider silk, usually in a forest clearing. The lichens provide camouflage by making the nest appear as a large knot when seen from below. Females reach breeding age at the end of their first year, and can breed throughout their lifetimes. They construct one or more nests, each containing two white eggs, the size of peas, which are incubated by only the female for 14 to 16 days. The male takes no part in raising the young birds, coming together with the female only during mating.

^{Allen’s Hummingbird nest, by Mike’s Birds, Mar 2013}

^{Ruby-throated hummingbird on nest with lichen, by Lorie Shaull, Jul 2020}

Hummingbirds found in the western portions of North America travel overland migration routes. However, midwestern and eastern birds fly non-stop over the Gulf Of Mexico. A hummingbird can increase its fat reserves and double its body weight in the 7 to 10 days prior to the overseas trip. Through studies using banded birds, we have learned that they fly alone, normally at night, along with large flocks of other birds. Young birds, making the trip for the first time, can successfully navigate the migration route with no prior training. Their guidance system, how it works, and how it is learned are all still a mystery.

No hummingbird species are listed as endangered. However, hybridization among species is common, and their small size and great speed make them very difficult to count and track. Little data is available about population size changes and movements; however, more birds have been found over-wintering as far north as the Gulf Coast states of North America.

At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, we have numerous bird specimens on display, including hummingbirds. We welcome you to come in and learn more about these amazing creatures.

Remaining 8 species that breed in North America:
Calliope Hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope, by Barbara Wheeler-USFWS, Nov 2021
Costa’s Hummingbird, Calypte costae, by Wendy Miller-USFWS, May 2020
Rivoli’s Hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens by Doug Greenberg-USFWS, Aug 2017
Lucifer Hummingbird, Calothorax lucifer, by Jim Gain-USFWS, Mar 2022
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilobus colubris, by Alan Scmierer-USFWS, Jun 2024
Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus, USFWS, Jun 2024
Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Amazilia violiceps, by budgora, Mar 2014
White-eared Hummingbird, Basilinna leucotis, by Alan Scmierer-USFWS, Mar 2022

Oak Tree Habitat, pt.3

In the past couple of blogs, we learned that oak trees are a keystone species in their habitat, especially for the vast network of relationships between oaks and insects.

^{Ladybug on oak tree leaf by EMFA16, Getty Images}

^{Leaf litter and under-bark room for rent, by Wayne S. Grazio, Nov 2013}

^{Insect holes & homes on cork oak, Quercus suber, by Bloor4ik, Getty Images}

Oak trees and their surroundings provide shelter and food from leaves, wood, bark, sap, flowers, pollen, and acorns to thousands of species of insects and other invertebrates. Shelter is provided on the tree, inside cavities or other fissures, among the leaf litter, and around the root systems. As oaks age, there are more opportunities for shelter and food, including after branches or the whole tree dies and falls to decay on the forest floor.

^{Chickadee nest by Jack VandenHeuval, Getty Images}

^{Chickadee eating a caterpillar by Bettina Arrigoni, May 2018}

Over 900 caterpillar species have been identified in oak habitats, more than three times the number found in forests dominated by maple trees. Canopy leaves and branches provide shelter and nesting opportunities for dozens of bird species who find a ready source of food within the insect populations. Ninety percent of bird species feed insects, especially caterpillars, to their young. The Carolina Chickadee feeds four to six chicks for 16 days before they fledge. Mealtimes require 400 to 500 caterpillars each day.

^{Aphids and ants by oday222, Getty Images Pro}

^{Philodromus praedatus spiders live mainly in mature oak trees, by Nikk, May 2016}

^{Oak gall by Michael Boubin, Getty Images}

Several species of flies and wasps lay their eggs on oak trees, stimulating a growth hormone in the tree to grow a gall, an outgrowth of bark, around the eggs. When the larvae hatch, secretions from the gall feed the larvae, and the gall provides protection to the developing insects. The abundance of insects attracts other invertebrates from higher up on the food chain. Spiders frequently inhabit mature oak trees hunting and feeding on many of the insect species. Aphid colonies are often found on oak trees, but cause little damage to the tree. Aphids feed on the sap from the tree and secrete a sticky, sugary substance called honeydew, a favorite food for ants. The ants protect the aphid colonies, keeping them underground during inclement weather and herding them up the tree in summer to ensure the aphids are well fed to keep producing more honeydew.

^{Fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, by Anita Gould, Sep 2015; Polyphemus moth caterpillar, Antheraea polyphemus, by Ed Uthman, Sec 2018; Speckled wood caterpillar, Pararge aegeria, by Dean Morley, May 2013; Linden looper caterpillar, Erannis tillaria, by sankax, Jun 2009}

Insects and oak trees have created an environment rich in food for many of its inhabitants. According to Doug Tallamy, a leading entomologist at the University of Delaware, “caterpillars transfer more energy from plants to other animals than any other type of creature.” The loss of habitat for insects puts considerable strain on all other environments, including ones supporting ourselves. Insects do most of the work of pollination, allowing plants to reproduce. They also provide for quick decomposition and the return of nutrients to the soil for growing new plants. Insects are a driving force of the world’s food webs and are necessary for a healthy environment.

There are over 400 species of oaks worldwide, with about one quarter found in North America. As we have briefly touched upon in this series of blogs, oak trees provide opportunities for healthy habitats for many other species. For information and further discussion on the relationships between caterpillars and oak trees, please see The Nature Of Oaks, by Doug Tallamy.

Oak Tree Habitat, pt.2

In the last blog, we discussed oak trees as a keystone species, substantially affecting the types and abundance of other species in their habitat. There are 400-500 species of oaks worldwide, supporting an extraordinary 2,300 wildlife species not including fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms. Oak trees in all stages of life and death have numerous biotic relationships with wildlife.

^{Badger in tree cavity by Byrdyak, Getty Images||Golden millipede in Lagos by efeghali, Getty Images||Neanura springtail by Henrik_L, Getty Images||Pileated woodpecker in oak tree by mtruchon, Getty Images||Slug & rollie pollies by Sonya Kate Wilson, Getty Images||Wood Mouse in tree cavity by byjohn, Getty Images}

Fungi are often identified as attacking oak trees, but they can have very beneficial relationships. Fungi growing in the ground assist an oak tree in getting nitrogen, phosphorous, and other nutrients out of the soil, and in return get carbon and energy from the sugars in the tree’s sap. Oaks provide a place to live for over 700 species of lichens, plus uncounted liverworts and mosses. Lichens covering the oak’s surface help to keep them free of fungal infections and invasive insects. Liverworts and mosses help oaks to retain water and release it into the soil over a long period of time. As oak limbs fall and decay, water retention softens the wood providing food and habitat for decomposers.

Green moss on oak tree by tntemerson, Getty Images

Lichen & peat moss on oak by Sean Gardner, Getty Images

Fallen oak leaves are slow to decompose due to their tannin and lignin content, both preservative compounds. Leaf litter, composed of several layers of fallen leaves, becomes habitat for many millions of species including millipedes, springtails, woodlice, slugs, beetles, ants, and other organisms that feed on decaying plants. Through their activities, the creatures of the leaf litter help to return nutrients to the trees.

Oak forest leaf litter by Tina_C_Olsen, Getty Images

Acorns, with high amounts of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, are one of the healthiest and most sought after foods in the woodland. White oaks, living between 200 and 300 years, will produce about 3 million acorns during their lifetime. Many bird species eat acorns, but oak trees enjoy a special relationship with blue jays, whose beaks are strong enough to pry an acorn open. In autumn, blue jays enjoy feeding on acorns, but also cache them for winter, burying several at a time under a few inches of soil in various locations up to a mile from the originating tree. Although blue jays cache large quantities of acorns, they can only remember and retrieve about 25% of them, allowing many new oak trees to grow and spread into new areas.

Blue jay with red oak acorn by mirceaux, Getty Images

Oak trees support 31 mammal species who consume acorns for food, use the tree for shelter, or use the surrounding habitat for hunting. Gray squirrels and red squirrels favor acorns in the autumn and throughout the winter from caches hidden in nearby locations. They remember far more cache locations than blue jays, but there are still uneaten acorns that will germinate in spring to start new trees. Acorns are also a favorite food for badger, deer, wild board, and wood mouse.

^{Gray squirrel eating acorn by viktor2013, Getty Images}

^{Red squirrel with acorn by Neil_Burton, Getty Images}

Oak trees offer shelter for many species. Squirrels often build their nests high up among the leaves that provide protection from weather and predators. Dead branches, especially those with cavities, may remain on the tree for many years, providing excellent roost sites for bats. Open limbs, leafed areas, and cavities all provide nest sites for a variety of birds. In addition, the many insects drawn to oak trees provide a ready source of food for all of these nesters. Humans have been acorn consumers for millennia. Raw acorns, high in tannin content, can be toxic in larger quantities; but, properly prepared, acorns are high in calories, vitamin C, starch, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, and antioxidants. They have been a food staple in many cultures and can be found in the records of ancient Greeks, Iberians, Japanese, and English.

Oak trees have many direct and indirect relationships with insects, which we will explore in the next blog.

Oak Tree Habitat, pt.1

Oak trees, genus Quercus, have over 400 species worldwide, but almost one-third are threatened with extinction. They are a keystone species, playing a central role in supporting the entire habitat in which they live. They maintain the structure and stability within their ecosystem, substantially affecting the types and abundance of other species. Oaks make up only 2% of plant species, but they directly support more than 30% of all plants and animals.

^{A great oak in Nottingham Forest by Peter Shaw, Getty Images}

Oak trees live from a few decades to several centuries. The Great Oak, Quercus agrifola, a species of Coast Live oak in California, is estimated to be over 2,000 years old. Oaks clean the air by absorbing pollution and sequestering carbon. They provide shelter, food, shade, and help to reduce erosion. Humans get food from the acorns, dyes from the tannin, and wood for construction, ships, and barrels, plus cork for stoppers and oak chips for smoking meat, fish, and cheese.

^{Red oak with new leaves, Quercus rubra, by aleroy4, Getty Images}

^{Oak forest leaf litter in winter by Whiteway, Getty Images Signature}

In spring, tender new leaves containing fresh sap are consumed by a variety of insects. In fall, older leaves will fall to the ground, but are slow to decompose, building up many layers of leaves over time which provide shelter for small woodland ground dwellers and food for decomposers.

^{Branches of red oak with catkins, Quercus rubra,}
^{by anmbph, Getty Images}

^{Texas Red Oak female flowers, Quercus buckleyi by Doug Goldman, USDA-NRCS National Plants Data Team}

Oak trees have both male and female flowers. Male flowers grow in early spring in long clusters hanging from tree limbs. The pollen is a favorite food for a large variety of insects, especially bees. Pollen is released slowly, over several weeks, to be blown by the wind to the female flowers, which appear as tiny, red flowers near the tips of twigs and new shoots. Female flowers are eaten by insects and are a favorite of red and gray squirrels. Oak flowers are one of the earliest food sources for animals in spring, and must be abundant on every tree so that some are able to survive to produce acorns, the seeds of the oak tree.

^{Bur Oak acorns, Quercus macrocarpa; Northern Red Oak acorns, Quercus rubra; Live Oak acorns, Quercus virginiana by Steve Hurst, ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database;}

In late summer, after pollination, the female flower will produce a large, green nut called an acorn, which will mature in autumn, turn brown, and fall from the tree. Acorns are a nutritious food source for many animals, being high in energy, carbohydrates, and fat. In the eastern U.S., many species are dependent on acorn production, and the amount of available acorns significantly influences population sizes. Some acorns will find suitable ground for sending out a root and starting a new tree, but most will be eaten. Masting, an over-abundance of acorns, occurs every few years. It is thought that masting creates a better chance for new oak trees to grow by overwhelming the animal populations’ need for food. As a secondary result, animal populations may expand immediately following a mast year, only to have higher than normal mortality when food resources return to normal for the following years.

^{Bur Oak bark, Quercus macrocarpa by Herman, D.E., ND State Soil Conservation Committee, USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database}

^{Dead oak log in Bialowieza Forest by Nirian, Getty Images Signature}

Oak roots grow close to the ground’s surface and extend well beyond the circumference of the tree’s crown. A complex network of fungi live on the roots and provide additional nutrients to the tree, keeping both species healthy. As the trees grow and age, roots and bark develop crevices and holes in their surfaces, or chunks may become loose, providing niches for plants and animals to shelter and grow. Exposed wood gradually dies and decays providing even more habitat and food for decomposers and the other wildlife that live on them.

In our next post, we will take a look at some of the many species that oak trees directly and indirectly support with shelter, food, and breeding opportunities.

The Woodlands at the Turning, an Illinois oak savannah, by Justin Kern, Nov 4, 2013

What’s New at JSNM

This summer, the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum is undertaking a project to get certified as an arboretum, the second one in Lisle, IL, The Arboretum Village. We will be working with summer research students, staff, and volunteers to meet the Arbnet Certification Program Level I requirements. These specify that we have a written plan, establish a governing body, have a minimum of 25 labeled tree and woody plant species, support our activities with staff or volunteers, and allow public access including at least one public or educational event each year.

While the campus is open to the public, once the accreditation is finalized, tree walks led by student or volunteer guides will be offered. Guides will be able to identify the various species and provide some fun facts about each of the more than 60 species on campus.

A new herbarium display, located in the back of the museum, will bolster these efforts and illustrate plant biology. An herbarium holds a collection of dried plant specimens that are catalogued for easy access. The display highlights some of the several thousand specimens in the museum’s plant collection, including a few of the more unique specimens. Herbaria collections methods are shown including some of our historic plant presses. The display includes slides of plant parts including many large-format slides containing paper-thin transects, or slices, of tree limbs. Transects allow the viewer to perceive structure, color, and variations of wood and bark.

Another new display shows the microscopes that have been used in Benedictine research programs during the late 1800s to the late 1900s. A couple of slide formats are presented including the popular 1″ x 3″ glass slides containing small biological specimens and large-format slides containing slices of plants that are thin enough to allow light through to highlight cell structures.

Early microscopes were “simple,” containing one piece of convex glass that provided 200-300 times magnification. Compound microscopes are the current standard, using two pieces of glass that provide 1000 times magnification. Confocal microscopes use laser light to scan dyed images, and scanning electron microscopes use specialized detectors to form an image from reflected electrons. Some scopes are back-lit, shining light through a mount to the viewer, while others may be front-lit to view 3-D surfaces in greater detail.

Another new display shows animal skulls and bones and highlights how we learn about their form and function. Many species have all the same types of bones arranged in different combinations. From these structures, we can learn which directions an animal is able to see, how the body moves, what types of food are consumed, and how a species defends itself.

Skulls and Bones – Learning about turtles

The summer period is only eight weeks long, but we have nature wellness walks scheduled for the second and fourth Wednesday mornings at 9:00am in June and July. Consider joining us to take a guided walk around Lake St. Benedict. Obtain information and sign up by clicking on the following picture:

The museum is open for everyone, by appointment, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. If you or your group would like to visit, please sign up on our reservation system by clicking on the following picture:

Natural History Reading

My shelves are filled with natural history books. Some are field guides, some provide activities, and some are essays, fun to read and learn about. Here are some natural history suggestions for your enjoyment in each of five categories: urban/suburban wildlife, illustrated tales, bees, explorations, and memoirs.

Urban/suburban wildlife books include stories close to home. Going Wild, by Robert Winkler, is an adventurist’s tale of bird watching for urban dwellers, without leaving their home neighborhoods. Cities everywhere have areas to visit away from structures and the everyday life of humans that host large varieties of birds. Winkler provides a fun account of his many bird encounters and observations in his backyard and surrounding habitats. For The Love of Birds, by Kay Charter, is a series of tales from a master birder and storyteller. Kay relates not only her observations in the field, but what she has learned about birds through various interactions with different species and habitats. In Hunting for Frogs on Elston, Jerry Sullivan provides a humorous and informative insight to our interactions with the lives of wildlife species sharing the big city.

Illustrated tales are natural history essays enhanced by beautiful artwork by artists. Letters From Eden, by Julie Zickefoose, follows nature through the year in the fields and woods around her home in Ohio, lushly illustrated with pencil and watercolor sketches. A Blessing of Toads, by Sharon Lovejoy, is a collection of essays about gardening and other botanic endeavors on both coasts of the U.S.. Sharon includes many simple drawings that illustrate the finer points of each story. The Wild Remedy, by Emma Mitchell, is a collection of photos and drawings from the countryside surrounding her Cambridge home. The accompanying essays provide natural history facts and personal reflections from the author as well as her struggles with mental health over a lifetime. The Comfort of Crows, by Margaret Renkl, is a week to week account of the plants and animals surrounding her backyard home in Nashville. Hand-drawn watercolors panels illustrate the many nature aspects of each week.

Dave Goulson has written a two-volume set, A Sting In The Tale, along with the companion volume, A Buzz in the Meadow, providing an in-depth look into the natural history of bumblebees. He is the founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, an organization dedicated to learning, teaching, and conserving bee populations in the United Kingdom. The first volume covers the natural history of short hair bumblebees, once native to the United Kingdom, but now found only in New Zealand, and his work to re-introduce them back into the U.K. The second volume is a story of his efforts to study and learn about bees by buying a farm in France to raise bumblebees. He covers many facets of bee life with a lyrical style of writing, spinning a wonderful tale of a lifetime spent following a passion.

Peter Wohlleben has written three volumes of essays based on his personal observations of plants and animals in a variety of habitats from his home and the surrounding woodlands of Germany. The Hidden Life of Trees shares discoveries about how trees communicate with each other and influence woodland habitats. The Inner Life of Animals are essays based on Wohlleben’s observations of how various animal species interact with their own habitats. They make decisions on how to stay healthy, raise a family, and find good places to live, just as we do. The Secret Wisdom of Nature encompass the first two volumes along with aspects of habitats that influence all the species living in them. Read as a trilogy, these volumes provide oodles of natural history information laced with ideas and thoughts to help each of us expand our own observational studies.

Memoirs are stories about each author’s life experiences with natural history. In Nature On The Doorstep, Angela E. Douglas writes a letter every few days to her family back home in the U.K. relating observations made in her new home and garden in New York. Readers may particularly enjoy the translations between words and names in two versions of the English language. Naturalist, by Edward O. Wilson, describes his early childhood as a boy exploring nature and how that brought him to a life-long career as one of our leading nature scientists. My Family and the Other Animals, by Gerald Durrell, is another wonderfully detailed insight into a childhood spent exploring nature in a new location. Chasing Dragonflies, by Cindy Crosby, provides an in-depth look into her favorite hobby: monitoring, studying, and involving others in her quest to learn about dragonflies and damselflies.

These books provide stories, insights, and ideas for you to pursue as the summer season begins to heat up. Find one for yourself or consider a gift book for a friend who loves nature. If you have books that you have found to be insightful and interesting, or have started you on a new journey, consider sharing them in the comments section for this blog. Have fun reading!

Cicadas

Cicadas are found in habitats with deciduous trees on every continent except Antarctica. There are about 3,000 species worldwide; and 170 make their home in North America, including several species divided into three groups with 13-year or 17-year life cycles, found exclusively in the eastern and central United States. The map below shows where various groups are located.

Cicadas hatch from eggs laid in tree branches. After dropping to the ground and burrowing into the soil, they spend the majority of their lives as a nymph living underground. Using their rostrum, a long, sharp rigid structure that can penetrate the outer layer of tree branches and roots, they feed on the sugar and water flowing through the xylem tissue of the tree. Species classified as annual cicadas actually live from one to nine years, some emerging each summer. They are active for four to six weeks to mate, lay eggs, and then they die.

Look closely to see the rostrum sticking out in front of the nose

Magicicada after emerging from final molt by Karly Tuminello

Cicadas have wide set eyes, short antennae, and large, clear wings with membranes clearly visible. The surfaces of their outer wings are covered by small, blunt, waxy spikes. They are water repellant, keeping the insect dry. These spikes can also break up and kill any potentially harmful bacteria landing on the surface.

^{Magicicada species showing short antennae & clear wings by Karly Tuminello}

Beneath the wings are muscular structures called tymbals which can be flexed creating a sound like banging a drum. The buzzing sound commonly associated with cicadas is a result of rapidly flexing these muscles. Tymbals are found on both sexes, and are used to hear sound as well as produce sound. Males often form large groupings to enhance their sound and attract more females to a single location.

Magicicada waiting for wings to harden after molting by Karly Tuminella

Nymphs start to emerge when underground soil temperatures are above 64⁰F, usually in late May in the northern hemisphere. Males emerge about two weeks before females. After emerging, the nymph will find a suitable perch and molt to reveal a fully winged adult; then spend from one to six days waiting for their wings to harden. Males fly up into nearby deciduous trees to find a suitable mating perch and begin calling to attract a female, which will join the male after her molt is complete. After mating, the female lays about 600 eggs. She cuts 25 to 30 small slits in branches and deposits about 20 eggs in each where they will remain for six to ten weeks before hatching. Both sexes may mate several times with different partners, although most only mate once.

Cicada’s mouth parts are strong enough to pierce tree bark, but they do not bite or sting, although they may pierce human skin if handled roughly. They do not pose any danger to humans and have not been known to carry any harmful disease. They feed on sap, not foliage, so they pose no threat to mature trees. Younger or smaller trees with only a few branches may be overwhelmed by the many slits made by a female laying a full brood of eggs. Lots of slits may cause scarring that could kill smaller branches.

^{Empty cicada husks provide food for many species by Karly Tuminello}

Cicadas and their empty husks do provide food for many predators including birds, fish, mammals, herps, and other insects. The emergence of the periodical cicadas will provide a feast for their predators, whose populations will boom next year before being reduced by less available food over the following several years. One theory for why there are periodical species concludes that cicadas emerging in mass numbers can overwhelm the predators need for food, allowing a great number of cicadas to breed and maintain their own high population. Other theories also exist to explain this natural phenomenon, but whatever the reason, they are harmless insects with a very interesting life cycle for us to observe this year.

Rodents

Rodentia are the largest order of mammals in the world, encompassing over 40% of mammal species. A rodent is characterized by having two pairs of large front teeth, one pair in each of the upper and lower jaws. These are called incisors and are used for gnawing vegetation. They have no canine teeth, leaving a large gap between the four front teeth and their molars in the back of the mouth. Rodents can be found in all types of habitat everywhere in the world except Antarctica, New Zealand and a few oceanic islands.

Capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, use calls to warn others of danger and to find their young including purring, barking, cackling, whistling, whining, grunting, and chattering.

^{Capybara by Dick Culbert, Gibsons, B.C. Canada, May 2014}

The largest rodent is the capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, growing up to 140 pounds. But a majority of species are small animals, under 4 ounces, with bulky bodies, short limbs, and long tails. Compared to their overall size, the body’s surface area is large and contributes to a greater loss of heat than larger animals. To combat this, rodents create more body heat by being constantly active. They consume large quantities of food to meet high energy needs. Many species are active year-round, coming out during early morning and late evening hours to feed. Animals living in habitats with extreme temperatures may hibernate to escape the cold or estivate to escape the heat. These species conserve energy by adjusting their body temperatures to within a few degrees of the air temperature and slow other bodily functions, requiring less food and more rest.

North American beaver, Castor canadensis, hone their upper teeth into efficient biting tools and defensive weaponry.

North American beaver, *Castor canadensis,* by Steve, Washington D.C., Jul 2008

Incisors grow constantly their entire lives. The front surface is protected by a hard enamel shell. The back surface of the upper pair is soft and easily wears away from the constant rubbing of the lower teeth as vegetation is bitten off and chewed. This creates a chisel like edge on the top teeth that is an excellent cutting surface. Teeth are used to gnaw vegetation, dig burrows, and for defense, if attacked. If an animal does not gnaw enough vegetation, the growth rate of the teeth becomes greater than what is being worn away and health problems can develop leading to the inability to eat. This most often occurs in captive animals who are not provided with sufficient quantities of harder vegetation.

Fox squirrels, Sciurus niger, scamper up tree trunks, along branches, and are able to leap to nearby trees, in addition to being fast on the ground and good swimmers.

^{Fox squirrel, Sciurus niger, by Karly Tuminello, Jul 2020}

Food is mainly seeds, leaves, fruit and small invertebrates or insects. A internal structure called a caecum contains bacteria that assists in breaking down plant material into digestible form. Several rodents have eyes that protrude in a half dome from their head allowing them to see both ahead and behind. This wide field of vision allows the animal to easily detect predators. Their daytime eyesight is poor, but they can detect ultra-violet light, allowing excellent vision during twilight hours when they are most often active. Most rodents live in large social groups, but forage individually, using a wide variety of alarm calls to keep others informed when danger is near.

Naked mole-rats, Heterocephalus glaber, have strong jaws that use one-quarter of all the muscle tissue in their body.

^{Naked mole-rats, Heterocephalus glaber, by Roman Klementschitz, Wien, Dec 2003}

Humans often consider rodent species to be harmful pests. While they may carry bacteria and cause nuisance problems, they are also beneficial by eating weed seeds and insects, keeping populations of many pest species in check. Rodents are widely used in human culture as food, clothing, pets, and laboratory animals for research. Visit a museum or nature center to learn about the many fun facts of each family in this amazing group of animals.

Kangaroo rats, Dipodomys sp, hop to move around but can jump 6 to 9 feet, and they get all their water from the seeds they eat.

^{Kangaroo rat, Dipodomys, by U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Sep 2005}

Tornado

Springtime in the Midwestern United States brings with it everything from light to heavy showers, including tornados. In Illinois, we see an average of 54 tornados a year, with most of them occurring in the month of May. Tornados also occur in other parts of the world during springtime, including Europe, eastern and western China, South Africa, southern Brazil and both the east and west coasts of Australia, but not as frequently as in the U.S.

A majority of storm fronts move from southwest to northeast, which is a contributing factor in the Midwest to the formation of violent storms. There are three types of tornados. Non super-cell tornados are small, narrow, and last for only short periods of time, usually only a few minutes. Wind speeds are low, topping out near 80 mph, capable of causing only minor damage. Squall line tornados are generated by smaller thunderstorms traveling one after another forming periods of rain interspersed with calmer conditions. As the end of a squall line bends, small tornados may form with lower wind speeds, usually causing no damage. Super cell thunderstorms are the largest, most powerful storms that can generate tornados ranging from small to great in size and intensity.

^{Upper left: Thunderstorm during VORTEX2 by Sean Waugh, NOAA-NSSL Lower left: Funnel cloud approaching the ground by National Severe Storms Laboratory, NOAA Right: Supercell often associated with violent weather by National Severe Storms Laboratory, NOAA}

Rainstorms form when cool, dry air overlays a layer of warm, moist air. As the warm air rises to higher altitudes, where there is less air pressure, it expands and cools, losing its ability to hold moisture. As water condenses from the cooling air mass, water vapor floating on the air forms clouds. As more warm, moisture laden air moves into the system, the water vapor droplets become heavy enough to fall as rain. As rain falls, it cools the lower air layer, reducing the warm air flow until the rain stops.

^{Photomontage of the evolution of a tornado : Composite of eight images shot in two sequences as a tornado formed north of Minneola, Kansas on May 24, 2016, by Jason Weingart}

Thunderstorms form in the Midwest from warm, moist air moving in from the Gulf of Mexico and cool, dry air blowing in over the Rocky Mountains. A third source of air from the jet stream may wick away enough rain drops so that the lower air mass does not cool, and the warm air keeps feeding and intensifying a storm. As air moves in different directions and at different speeds, the whole storm will start to swirl, tending to pick up speed toward the center of the storm, eventually creating one or more funnels of rotating air.

Tornados are categorized based on the Enhanced Fujita scale from EF-0 to EF-5. This scale gives an estimate of wind speed and severity of damage inflicted. A little more than half of all tornados are found in the EF-0 range where wind speeds do not exceed 85 mph (137 kph) and damage is minor. Less than 1% of all tornados are recorded in the EF-4 (winds 166-200 mph) and EF-5 (winds over 200 mph) ranges. Another recent discovery is that most of the more severe storms tend to produce multiple tornados rotating around each other. Occurrences of multiple small funnels are difficult to observe within a large and often opaque mass of water, wind, and debris. This discovery helps to explain damages where one house may be completely destroyed while the neighbor is almost untouched.

The afternoon is the most likely time of day for these conditions to exist, once the sun has had a chance to heat the earth and air masses in the lower altitudes. In the Midwest, most tornados occur between noon and 8:00pm. Weather services are constantly monitoring conditions to be able to identify when weather patterns exist that may result in the formation of a tornado. Outside warning sirens are used by many municipalities to let people know that dangerous conditions are imminent. If you are hearing a warning siren, move inside and stay away from windows. Tune into radio, television, or internet resources to obtain the most up-to-date information for your area.

Nature Journaling

Creating a nature journal is a fun activity providing you with opportunities to observe and record what is happening in the natural world around you. You can pick any subject – a broad look at all of the plants and animals you see on a prairie walk, or a more focused look at the activities of a single bee on a rose blossom. You can record observations in any habitat, inside or outside, at any time of the year, and in any type of weather.

The tools to begin with are simple. A notebook to record your observations. Many journalers prefer unlined, blank pages allowing you to use any portion of the page. A writing instrument, whether pen pr pencil, or keyboard if your notebook is electronic. Time to observe, make a sketch, write out notes, and enjoy the process. More tools can be added as you go along including color pencils/pens/paints, a hand lens, a ruler, binoculars, field guides, a camera, and an array of other tools you will discover.

There are as many techniques as there are tools. A few of the more popular styles are highlighted in the following examples. One method is contained in A Trail Through Leaves by Hannah Hinchman. Her journal is filled with simple sketches, many with a brief description. She has added watercolors to some of her sketches and references to familiar objects to enhance the descriptions.

Many journalers record the natural changes around their own homes throughout the year. Nature On The Doorstep, by Angela E. Douglas, is a series of letters. The author has just moved to New England from Great Britain and makes wonderful comparisons and contrasts of the natural world between the two locales. The Wild Remedy, by Emma Mitchell, is a monthly diary with hand-drawn illustrations and photographs. Letters From Eden, by Julie Zickefoose, is illustrated with hand sketches and watercolors. The Country Diary Of An Edwardian Lady, by Edith Holden, is a reproduction of her original journal that she wrote in 1906 and contains many watercolor paintings. She also includes a list of species important to her writings in the final pages.

Some journalers use electronic media to record and share their observations. Posting a photo essay on Twitter or writing a blog that could be kept as private or shared with subscribers or the public are two common methods. Two examples that I recommend are Tuesdays In The Tallgrass by Cindy Crosby, and A Botanist’s Field Notes by Andrew Hipp.

Many books have been written about the art and science of nature journaling, with suggestions on methods including prose, poetry, scientific notation and illustration, watercolors, sketching, pen & pencil drawings, and coloring with pencils or markers. These books provide good information for starting a journaling project and stimulating your creativity with further ideas. Practice observing and recording details using one or more of these techniques will help you become a better naturalist and journaler. A few of my favorite reference books include:

Keeping A Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie
How To Keep A Naturalist’s Notebook by Susan Leigh Tomlinson
The Laws Guide To Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws

A nature journal can be private or shared with others. If you are in the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum area, consider joining our group, the Nature Doodlers, to share your ideas. Many such groups exist, and directories such as one on the John Muir Laws website (https://johnmuirlaws.com/nature-journal-club/ ) may help you to find one in your area.

Please visit our new page Discover Nature Journaling for more ideas, as well as a quick start guide that you can print and take with you in the field.

Extinct & Endangered – pt.3

An endangered species is one that is likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or locally in a known range. In some instances, these species may be saved through habitat conservation, breeding assistance, and education. This final installment on Extinct & Endangered will take a look at three species in North America that have benefited greatly from such efforts.

The Gila Monster, Heloderma suspectum, is the only venomous lizard native to the United States and is listed as near threatened. Their ranges are quite small, covering 700 to 3000 square feet. They spend most of their lives in underground burrows, and they are only regularly outside for a couple of hours each day during their mating season, from March to May. Gila monsters hunt small animals, and prey is eaten alive, head first. Venom is delivered through their saliva as the prey is chewed and acts to slow the prey’s reactions. While venom is not deadly to humans, it can cause swelling and severe pain.

^{Gila Monster, Heloderma suspectum by Erin Donalson, Getty Images}

^{Gila Monster, Heloderma suspectum by Shoemcfly, Getty Images}

Gila monsters pose no direct threat to humans, usually living in remote areas, but still have a fearsome reputation that contributes to illegal hunting of the species. They were the first venomous animal in the United States to get legal protection from being collected, killed, or sold. As development threatens areas where the Gila monster is found, conservationists are moving populations to preserves where there is minimal interactions with humans. Breeding numbers in the wild are still robust, although captive breeding efforts have been started in zoos across North America. Education and preservation of appropriate habitat has so far kept this species off the endangered lists.

The black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes, is listed as endangered, but increasing in population. Their native range includes southern Canada and the northern United States, but habitat loss and disease have reduced populations to only a few hundred. They are a playful member of the weasel family, using several vocalizations for communication including barks, chattering, and chuckling. They are nocturnal and rarely seen in the daytime. Prairie dogs, hunted in underground burrows at night, are their exclusive food source.

^{Black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes, portrait by Delecrouix, Getty Images Pro}

^{Black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes, at prairie dog burrow by kahj19, Getty Images}

The species was declared extinct in the late 1960s until a dozen individuals were found in Wyoming in the early 1980s. Deliberate extermination of prairie dog colonies, because they are considered a nuisance species, has had a significant impact on black-footed ferret populations. Habitat protection and captive breeding programs have been successful at boosting population numbers. There are now about 300 black-footed ferrets living in Wyoming and other sites in the north central and southwestern United States where individuals have been released. Habitat loss and disease are still constant threats, and scientists estimate that about 3,000 individuals will be required to save the species from extinction.

The California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus, the largest bird in North America, formerly nested in caves in high cliff faces along the southern California coast until real estate development claimed all of their habitat. In the 1980s, as the last 34 birds were captured, the species was declared extinct in the wild.

^{California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus, tagged, in flight by OldFulica, Getty Images}

Condors are slow flyers, soaring in great circles, searching for carcasses of dead animals to eat. They eat until they are full, and can go about two weeks between meals. Juveniles may take several months to learn to fly and land gracefully, without crashing. Condors reach reproductive maturity at four to six years of age, and can live over fifty years. After mating, females lay only one egg, and mating may not take place every year.

^{California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus, Grand Canyon by Blewulis, Getty Images Pro}

Even with slow reproduction rates, efforts to expand the population by hand-rearing and re-introduction to unaffected habitat have resulted in close to 450 birds back in the wild in California, Utah, Arizona, and the Baja. Still listed as an endangered species, the California condor is making great progress in rebuilding its population.

^{California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus by DonArnold, Mar 2024}

^{Introduction to Extinct & Endangered at Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum by DonArnold, Mar 2024}

Extinct and endangered species can be found in every habitat and location worldwide. Many are being helped by direct action with hand-rearing and habitat protection. Indirect action through new laws, conservation support, and education has also had a positive effect. Many of these species are on display at various nature museums including the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum. Plan a visit soon to learn more.

Extinct & Endangered – pt.2

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) gathers data through research and field projects on all known species of plants and animals. They work to educate people on conserving nature and sustainably using natural resources. The IUCN publishes a document known as The Red List providing the conservation status of all species. There are nine possible levels including Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, Extinct, Data Deficient, and Not Evaluated.

An endangered species is one that is likely to become extinct in the near future, either world-wide or locally in a known range. Critically endangered species are at extreme risk of extinction in the immediate future. A species is vulnerable when its population and breeding numbers are at risk, but have a chance to improve. Several factors considered are the current population size, how fast the population has increased or decreased over a short period of time, whether breeding rates are high or low, and what threats exist from habitat loss, poaching, and invasive species.

^{Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis, @ Field Museum of Natural History by James St. John, Oct 2014}

The Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis, spends northern hemisphere summers breeding on the Alaskan and western Canadian tundra. As the weather turns colder, they migrate to Argentina by flying east to the Atlantic Ocean, and then south. Although nests are built on open ground, they are difficult to find and study. Food includes berries, insects, and snails, but incubation and rearing habits have never been clearly identified. During migration in the mid-1800s, populations would darken the skies as tens of millions of birds followed the warmer weather. Eskimo curlews were hunted on both continents year-round. If a bird was wounded, the other flock members would circle back, becoming additional targets for hunters. Development cuts up large breeding areas to smaller sections reducing food sources and enabling predators to severely impact populations. The species is listed as critically endangered, although there has not been a confirmed sighting since 1963.

^{Proboscis Monkey, Nasalis larvatus, by Chris Smallwood, Jul 2013}

^{Proboscis Monkey, Nasalis larvatus, female with young by Martha de Jong-Lantink, Jun 2020}

The proboscis monkey, Nasalis larvatus, another endangered species, is found mostly in the mangrove forests in Borneo; it is one of the largest monkeys native to Asia. Living in swamps and lowland areas along rivers, they are excellent tree climbers and swimmers, having the ability to swim underwater for short distances. Their large noses, smaller in females and upturned in juveniles, are thought to make their calls louder and more attractive to the opposite sex. They communicate through a variety of calls to signal alarm and threat warnings, and to keep infants and group members close. Rapid loss of habitat to logging and oil palm plantations, plus hunting for their meat, considered a delicacy in some areas, have reduced populations by more than half in the last fifty years.

^{Whooping Crane, Grus americana, by Trish Gussler, May 2018; Whooping Crane, Grus americana, by Diana Robinson, Mar 2018; Whooping Crane, Grus americana, by Evangelio Gonzalez, Dec 2018}

The whooping crane, Grus americana, is one of only two crane species native to North America, and it remains on the list of endangered species although it may be starting a comeback. Birds build a nest on a slight rise in a marsh where one or two eggs are laid. Normally only one egg survives, and the juvenile stays with the parents for six to eight months. Populations were never large, but prior to European settlement, there were an estimated 10,000 birds. Hunting for meat and feathers, in addition to predation and habitat loss, drastically reduced population size from the mid 1800s to the early 1900s. Through several programs of captive breeding, wetland management, and extensive efforts to assist the juveniles in learning migration routes by following ultralight aircraft, populations have rebounded to about 600 today.

^{JSNM Extinct Endangered display; JSNM Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis; JSNM Proboscis monkey face, Nasalis larvatus; JSNM Proboscis monkey, Nasalis larvatus; all pictures by DonArnold, Feb 2024}

In the final blog on this topic, we will take a look at a few success stories – species that have recovered with populations that continue to get stronger. Many nature museums have information and extinct species on display to learn from. All of the above species, and more, can be found at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, so please stop by, or visit a local nature museum where you live.