Discoveries – Discover-Nature

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

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.

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}

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/

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)

Life In The Pond

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!

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.

Extinct & Endangered

Extinction of a species is the total loss of all individuals of that species. There are many reasons a species may become extinct including natural disaster, climate change, and human related causes. Other species still living in the world may be classified as endangered, those that are close to extinction throughout all of their range, or those making a comeback after being endangered.

A species’ habitat is vital to its existence and includes the environment it lives in and all of its components: shelter, food, water, and more. A species that is moving toward extinction needs its habitat protected and preserved if the population is to survive. How many species are endangered is a hard question to answer because we have not identified all of the species in the world. This blog will take a look at a few species that became extinct in the last century.

^{Heath Hen, Tympanuchus cupido cupido, @ Delaware Museum of Natural History by Jim, the Photographer, Jul 2013}

^{Heath Hen, Tympanuchus cupido cupido, @ Field Museum of Natural History by James St. John, Oct 2014}

The heath hen, Tympanuchus cupido cupido, is an extinct sub-species of the greater prairie chicken. These large birds from the grouse family lived along the east coast of North America from New Hampshire to northern Virginia in forests dominated by pine, grasses, and low shrubs. They were a popular meal for settlers. Poaching and overhunting reduced their numbers drastically, leaving only a small existing population on Martha’s Vineyard by 1870. Further losses resulted from predation by hawks and feral cats. The practice of not of not allowing natural fires to burn resulted in the accumulation of excessive undergrowth, and a 1916 wildfire decimated most of the remaining population. The last few birds died in 1932.

^{Carolina parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis, @ Field Museum of Natural History by opacity, Mar 2014}

^{Carolina parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis, @ Redpath Museum of Montreal by Hotel Kaesong, Jun 2020}

The Carolina parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis, was one of only three parrots native to the United States. They liked old growth forest and swamp habitat along major rivers east of the Rocky Mountains. Parakeets nested in hollow trees and lived in large, noisy flocks of several hundred birds. Clearing forests and draining wetlands for agriculture and development reduced populations as habitat was removed. The last birds disappeared in the early 1900s, possibly from poultry disease.

^{Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius, @ Field Museum of Natural History by James St. John, Oct 2014}

^{Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius, @ Cleveland Museum of Natural History by James St. John, Oct 2014}

Passenger pigeons, Ectopistes migratorius, lived in large flocks east of the rocky Mountains in North America and were especially abundant in the Great Lakes area. At one time, their estimated population was five billion. They were fast flyers, able to reach 60 mph and fed on mast, fruits, and invertebrates. Living in large flocks made them easy to hunt, and pigeon meat was good eating. Habitat loss combined with hunting reduced populations slowly in the early 1800s and quickly toward the end of that era. The last bird died in 1914 at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Passenger pigeons played a significant role the development of eastern North American forests. Large flocks roosted together during thunderstorms and at night. Hundreds of birds could be found in one tree, where smaller branches, especially in the forest canopy, would easily snap from the birds’ combined weight. This opened up large holes in the canopy, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor and promote the growth of sun-loving species such as chestnut, pine, hemlock, and oak species. As flocks migrated from one area to another, forest biodiversity was positively impacted.

^{Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum images by DonArnold, Feb 2024: Carolina parakeet, heath hen, passenger pigeons female & male}

In the next blog, we will learn about endangered species. Many nature museums have information and extinct species to learn from. All of the above species, and more, are on display at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, so please stop by, or visit a local nature museum where you live.

Fossils of Illinois – part 2

Ocean habitats, including the shallow seas that covered the Midwest during the Cambrian Period, have given us many fossils. The following species are all found in Illinois fossil records, and all have forms still alive today. Bryozoans live in colonies with lacy, branching, or screw-shaped skeletons peppered with many tiny holes in which the animals reside. Brachiopods attach to any surface by a fleshy appendage extended from their hard shells and were abundant in ages past compared to present day. Snails are plentiful in the fossil records along the banks of all major rivers. Cephalopods including squid, octopus, and cuttlefish, were shelled animals in their ancient forms. They could grow to nineteen feet, but all of the shelled forms are now extinct. Pelecypods, also known as bivalves, include mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops, and are found in the oldest rocks in the Midwest.

^{Perca obtusa at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Fossil Cephalopod, Placenticeras placenta, Texas at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Priscacara liops at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

Insect fossils are rare, although more than 100 species have been found from the Pennsylvanian period in coal deposits of Illinois. Many species lived in swampy areas at the edge of ancient seas. Most fossils, often found in ironstone, a sedimentary rock, are of now extinct species. Some of these species include assassin bugs, katydids, millipedes, and centipedes. One such extinct insect was the giant millipede, Arthropleura, estimated to be eight-and-a-half feet in length. Dragonflies, damselflies, and cockroaches in both ancient and present-day forms have been identified.

^{Fossil Crab Carapace, Zanthopsis vulgaris, Pittsburgh Bluffs Formation, Oregon at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Fossil Nautilus at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

*Icthyosaur Stenopterygius Quadriscisius* at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023

Vertebrate fossils found in the Illinois region from extinct species are mammoths and mastodons, plus animals still commonly occurring today including horses, deer, and humans. Smaller species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are all present in the fossil record of the Midwest. As you move further west, larger species from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic ages become common finds. These include dinosaurs, camels, and saber-toothed tigers.

^{Pennsylvanian Period stump, possible Sigillaria at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Pecopteris miltoni, Mazon Creek, IL at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

Tree bark fossil, Mazon Creek, IL at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023

Plant species found in the fossil record are abundant. Many fast growing fern and tree species litter the coal deposits brought up from strip mining in Illinois. Giant scouring rushes and seed ferns, now all extinct, are relatives of today’s horsetail plants. Many of these were common ferns in ancient times and grew to heights of fifty feet or more.

^{Tully Monster, Tullimonstrum gregarium, at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

The Tully Monster, Tullimonstrum gregarium, was named the Illinois state fossil in 1989. It was a soft-bodied animal that lived during the Pennsylvanian Period, 300 to 315 million years ago. With a smooth, tapered body and large tail fins, it had an oval, segmented body that grew to about 12″ in length, and was at home in the shallow, tropical seas that covered this area. The first fossil was found in 1958, and no specimen of this animal has ever been found outside of Illinois.

You can view and study the Tully Monster and other fossil specimens at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, and many other representative specimens can be viewed in most natural history museums. While fossils have been well-studied over the past several decades, there are many facets of each specimen and the environments and habitats they lived in still to be discovered.

Gallery of fossils from upper left clockwise: Fossil variety at JSNM; Nothosaurus vertebra, Rudersdorf, Germany at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023; Fossil variety at JSNM; Pterosaur phyllurus ramphrhynicus, Jurassic period, at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023; Ptychocarpus unitus, Mazon Creek, IL at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023; Fossil variety at JSNM;

Fossils of Illinois

Fossils, remnants of organisms that lived in the past, can be found worldwide. Located throughout Illinois in strip mines, rock quarries, and along cliffs, bluffs, and river banks, many fossils are found grouped together from a specific age in geologic time (see the sidebar below). Knowing the various groups of animals that lived during that age helps us to identify other remains found in the same area.

^{Fossil crustacean, Rauna angusta, Solenhofen, Germany at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Fossil Trilobyte, Armonia elongata at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

In order for a fossil to form, an organism that dies must be quickly covered with sediment or amber before decay or erosion sets in, or it is eaten by a scavenger. Soft tissues dissolve within hours of death, and they are rarely found in fossils. The harder parts of an animal or plant species such as bones, teeth, shells, and woody tissues may be covered quickly and preserved. Some fossils are formed by sediment covering the organism, then drying while parts of the organism slowly dissolve. This results in a mold which can be filled with more sediment that hardens to create a fossil. Other fossils are formed when insects damage a plant, which releases its sap, called amber, to heal the damage. Amber may trap and cover the insect, then dry and harden creating an insect fossil inside.

^{Diplomystus analis at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Fossil Decapod, Acanthochirus longipes, Bavaria, Germany at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Knightia alta at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

Let’s investigate a few fossils found in the Midwest. During the Ordovician and Cambrian Periods, Illinois and much of the Midwest was covered with shallow seas. Many of the fossils found today are from sea creatures that lived on that ocean bottom. Foraminifera, excellent indicator species for finding oil, are one-celled organisms that live in coastal waters and river estuaries. They ingest sand and minerals and secrete a jellylike protoplasm that hardens into a shell, forming a chamber. As they grow, subsequent secretions add more chambers in different shapes and sizes including spherical, tubular, and spiral. Foraminifera anchor themselves to the bottom of the ocean and feed on food particles of algae, bacteria, and detritus flowing through the chambers in the water current.

^{Mioplosus at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Notogonius Oscuius at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Fossil Trilobyte, Phacops rana at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

Sponges and corals may live singly or in colonies of hundreds of individuals. They are found anchored to the bottom of both saltwater and freshwater seas. Corals have a hard skeleton divided into many open chambers. Sponges have hard, dense skeletons that still allow water to flow freely through. Both organisms breathe by extracting oxygen and feed by filtering bacteria and detritus from water currents flowing around them. They also filter carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous from the current creating a healthier habitat for other aquatic organisms. In northern Illinois, fossils are commonly found from the Cambrian era.

^{Fossil Sea Urchin, Holectypus planatus, Texas at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Fossil Crinoids, Dichocrinus inornatus, Hampton Formation, Iowa at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

Echinoderms, including star fish and sea urchins, can be found sparingly in the fossil record in Illinois. They have an external skeleton of calcium with tube-like feet extending below used to propel themselves over the ocean bottom or pry open shells of prey organisms. Blastoids, an echinoderm also known as a “sea bud,” with a mouth on top of a small round structure, are commonly found in river banks and bluffs. Crinoids, often called sea lilies, have several clustered discs with a long stem anchoring them to the ocean floor. After death, even as the stem dissolves, single discs are often preserved as fossils in limestone beds.

^{Diplomystus dentatus at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Phareodus testis at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

^{Fossil decapod, Paneus sp., Will County, IL at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

We have numerous fossils on display at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, and many more can be found in other natural history museums. In my next blog we will continue to explore other types of fossils found in the Midwest.

^{Fossil Trilobyte, Flexicalymene retorsa at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

Bird Beaks

Birds have an amazing ability: flight. They use their wings, equivalent to our hands and arms, to lift themselves into the air and keep themselves aloft. But they still need to be able to do all of the things that mammals use their forelimbs for, and for that, birds have beaks, also called bills.

^{Female mallard, Anas platyrhycnchos, by Traci L. Smith Images}

^{Mallard diving for food by Alexas_Fotos, Pixabay}

A bill has an upper and lower jaw bone covered with toughened skin. The edges of each bill may be serrated for cutting, grooved and etched for grasping, or smooth. On some species, edges are soft, pliable, and loaded with nerve receptors that can detect what is moving through the bill. This allows birds that siphon their food from murky water to detect food even when it is not visible.

^{Black skimmer, Rynchops niger, fishing by Nick Dale, Getty Images}

^{Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica, by Stockomotion, Getty Images Signature}

The bill’s skin sheath constantly exfoliates, or peels. New skin constantly grows from underneath, drying and hardening to replace the old skin. Excess layers of skin grow at the bill’s tip where most of the wear and tear takes place. Skimmers, of the genus Rynchops, have bills that grow at twice the rate of other species. They feed by trailing their lower bill in the water as the fly, wearing the skin down at a faster rate. Other protuberances and colors may enhance the bill. Atlantic puffins, Fratercula arctica, grow a bright orange, yellow, and black bill extension only during breeding season.

Bill shapes vary greatly among bird species and are used in a variety of ways for feeding……

Pelicans, genus Pelecanus, have hooked upper tips and a large pouch hanging under the lower jaw allowing them to scoop slippery fish out of the water and hold onto them.

^{Pelican hooked tip & pouch by McCaig, Getty Images}

The long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus, has a slim, curving bill that can reach deep into sand and mud for insects, clams, and small crustaceans.

^{Curlew probing the beach by Dypics, Getty Images}

The American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, can pry open oysters and other bivalves.

^{Black oystercatcher with clam by Victoria Morrow, Sep 2020}

Ruby-throated hummingbirds, Archilochus colubris, have long, slim bills for probing deep flower nectaries to sip the nectar inside.

^{Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilobus colubris, by Mattcudaphotos}

Whippoorwills, of the family Caprimulgidae, have bills fringed with bristles to catch insects by swinging their bills left and right while in flight.

^{Eastern whippoorwill, Antrostomus vociferus, bill with fringe by Budgora, Jun 2022}

Close-up of Eastern whippoorwill bill with fringe

Bills make great multi-use tools for many other daily activities. These may include preening, building nests, digging, turning eggs over, defending oneself, attacking prey species, scratching, assistance when moving and climbing, and displaying color and shapes during courtship and breeding. Other bill shapes are shown on the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum’s ‘Bird Beak Adaptations’ slide below. Come to the museum to learn more about these wonderful adaptations and other fascinating birds facts.

Dinosaurs At The Museum

Dinosaurs roamed North America millions of years ago, and while they are no longer part of the wildlife, we are able to see, study, and learn from them at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum (JSNM). Bones, skulls, teeth, and stomach contents unearthed at various sites are housed in numerous worldwide institutions.

^{Triceratops at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

Triceratops was a common visitor to areas of western North America in the late Cretaceous period, from 68 to 66 million years ago. The name is Greek meaning “three-horned face.” The animal’s distinctive skull has two long horns located above the brow line of each eye, and one shorter horn off the tip of the nose. The brow horns, situated high on the head, may have exceeded three feet in length on the largest animals. A frill, or bony structure surrounding the back of the head, makes the head seem larger than the skull alone. In Triceratops, the frill could exceed seven feet from side to side.

Triceratops were large animals standing 10 feet tall with a length, from nose to tail, of about 30 feet. Their teeth were long and intimidating, but these animals were actually vegetarians. The teeth were used to shear through fibrous plant material that was difficult to cut and chew. The horns were very strong. They were used for defense against predators and when dueling for territory with other Triceratops individuals.

^{Tyrannosaurus rex half skull at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

Tyrannosaurus rex, Greek for “king of the tyrant lizards,” is another species from the western United States. These animals moved swiftly on two huge rear legs. The body weight was balanced over these legs by a long, heavy tail and a massive skull. A full grown adult was estimated to be 13 feet tall, 41 feet in length, and weighed about 10 tons.

The skull cast at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum has several openings, thought to reduce the mass of the bony structure. It is very wide at the back, tapering to a narrow nose in front. The eyes are situated to provide excellent binocular vision, allowing the animal to accurately judge size and distance while running at a good pace. This was helpful for trapping prey and avoiding attackers.

^{Artistic rendering of Edmontosaurus by DariuszSankowski, Pixabay}

^{Edmontosaurus femur at JSNM by DonArnold, Oct 2023}

Several other fossils found in North America are on display at the museum. One is a femur from an Edmontosaurus, a genus of hadrosaurid or duck-billed dinosaur that lived alongside Triceratops in the western U.S. This dinosaur was a plant eater that could move on either two feet or all four feet. It is one of the best-studied species in the world due to the large numbers of bones that have been found. The skull held several hundred teeth, although only a few were in use at any given time. The rest were ready replacements for teeth that broke or wore down from the abrasive plant material in its diet.

^{images clockwise: Diplomystus analis; Diplomystus dentatus; Icthyosaur Stenopterygius Quadriscisius; Knightia alta; Mioplosus; Notogonius Oscuius; Perca obtusa; Phareodus testis; Priscacara liops; Pterosaur Phyllurus Ramphrhynicus; all images by DonArnold, Oct 2023, JSNM}

Other fossils available to view at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum include several fish species from the Cretaceous period that can be seen in the gallery above. Come on out to the museum to see these fascinating specimens and learn more, or take a trip to visit a natural history museum near you.

Beat The Heat

This week, the weather has been hot for the upper Midwestern U.S. with temperatures topping out above 100°F. Combined with high dew points in the mid-70s, the heat index temperature was upwards of 110°F. Here are some ways that plants and animals keep cool in the extreme heat.

^{Mojave Desert by LezusRocks, Getty Images}

^{Kit fox at entrance to desert den by Stevelenzphoto, Getty Images}

Desert environments, where hot conditions exist daily, are home to numerous animal species that live underground. Heat from the sun penetrates soils and sand layers for several inches, but at 20″ below the surface of the sand in the Mojave Desert, temperatures are fairly constant around 86°F while the surface may be over 110°F. Few large mammals are known to use burrows, although kit foxes and humans are two examples. Basements and lower levels in buildings are often preferred areas on hotter days.

^{Shaded walk in the woods by Felixmizioznikov, Getty Images}

Shade from trees is highly effective in creating cooler areas. Leaves are lighter in color than most soils and paved areas, and leaves reflect much of the sun’s radiation upwards, away from the shady area underneath. Denser foliage and rough leaf textures enhance the cooling effect. Under a shade tree, temperatures may drop up to ten degrees and other surfaces no longer exposed to direct sunlight, including our skin, may be 20 to 40 degrees cooler.

^{African elephant by Petr Polak, Getty Images: Black-tailed jackrabbit by Rancho_Runner, Getty Images; Fennec fox by Nattanan726, Getty Images}

Vasodilation occurs when blood vessels near the skin’s surface expand so more blood flows next to the skin. Many animals living in hotter climates, including fennec foxes, black-tailed jackrabbits, and African elephants, have large ears with broad, flat surfaces devoid of hair, fur, or other insulation. The ear’s large surface area is covered by a thin layer of skin and blood vessels. During hot weather, heat carried in the blood through the ear is readily lost to the outside environment, providing a cooling effect for the rest of the body.

^{Large crowd by Shaunl, Getty Images Signature}

Evaporative cooling is another method through which heat can be dissipated from a body. Trees use this method by losing water vapor through their leaves during photosynthesis, cooling the air under the leaves. Humans employ this method in a process called sweating. We lose warm water through skin pores directly to the air around us. Sweating also moistens our skin’s surface, indirectly providing additional cooling as air moves across the skins surface and wicks away additional heat. An important aspect enhancing the effectiveness of this method is our posture. Being supported by two legs, rather than four, exposes much less surface area to the direct rays of the sun, and much more surface area to air currents.

^{Forest path by Inga Nielsen, Getty Images}

While sweating is good for cooling, it is removing water from the body, which must be replaced for the process to continue. Exposure to today’s temperature extremes may result in a loss of three gallons of water or more from an average-sized human. As you are out enjoying nature during hot days, remember to keep hydrating to stay cool and keep other bodily systems healthy.

Missing In Action

An apology to my readers, but a bit of back trouble and a lot of travel has gotten me off schedule for this month. BUT, I will be back the second Friday of July…

Schedule Change

Discover-Nature is making some changes for the summer. We will have a new blog coming out the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month.

The Site Navigation pages are being updated with each new blog, as well as some older additions. If you are looking for a specific species, my Archives By Species page lists all of the blogs by common name followed by genus/species.

A new tag cloud can be found on the right hand bar, and all blogs are included in the Archives By Category pages.

Watch the Site Navigation menu on the right-hand bar, for a few new entries coming out over the summer.

Thank you all for reading the blog and supporting your local nature museums and programs!

Boreal Forest in Winter

The boreal forest is the largest tract of woodland on earth covering 11% of all land area, half again as large as the Amazon rainforest. It stores 30% of the sequestered carbon on earth. The area also contains a mosaic of wet meadows, ponds, lakes, marshes, and bogs interlaced among the trees. Tree species include many conifers, dominated by spruce, plus aspen, birch, willow and alder. The animal life is abundant, with every species that was there before European settlement still remaining.

^{Boreal Forest panorama by Mliberra, getty Images}

The boreal forest is distinguished by short, hot, wet summers and long, dry, cold winters. When the last glaciers retreated northward, many holes and fissures were left behind. As the ice melted, all of these depressions were filled with water. The underlying geology is mostly granite shield, a rock layer that holds the water in and contains few minerals that dissolve in water, yielding very clear water that does not promote algae or bacteria growth. Most lake life is found in the shallow, warmer edges which also provide support to nearly all of the land-based fauna.

^{From upper left clockwise: Alder tree by Mantonature, Getty Images Signature; Spruce trees by Hannu Koskela, Getty Images; Willow tree by smarko , Pixabay; Aspen trees by Adamisovitsch, Getty Images}

Winter time presents many challenges including less sunlight, colder temperatures, less available water, less food and shelter, and increased severe storms. Animals that are active daily have higher energy requirements in winter. They must often change their dietary sources to whatever is available in winter. Grey squirrels and beavers cache food during warmer periods. Birds eat foods higher in calories such as nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and insects found under tree bark. When changes are consistent from year to year, species develop adaptations to meet the requirements of each season and are able to live comfortably throughout the year.

Shelter becomes not only a place to hide from predators, but also provides protection from weather extremes. Snow of different thicknesses and weight covers the landscape. Snow is also a great insulator, keeping cold winds away from exposed skin. There is normally a layer of air between the ground and the snow cover immediately above. Temperatures in this space are warmer than the exposed air above the snow creating a winter habitat that is vitally important for many species. Mice and voles create burrows under the snow where they can huddle together for added warmth. Similarly, air pockets surrounded by a heavy growth of conifer needles create spaces above the snow cover for birds and some larger mammals to shelter. And many larger species will nestle into the snow pack to shelter from storms and wind.

^{Spruce grouse by Impr2003, Getty Images}

^{Willow ptarmigan by Alex Berger, Mar 2022}

Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis, and willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus, are not able to fly more than several yards. They grow feathers on their feet to insulate them and aid in traction. Grouse use the air layer at ground level to shelter in.

^{Portrait of a snowshoe hare by Jim Cumming, Getty Images}

^{Canada lynx by Carol Gray, Getty Images}

Ptarmigan, along with snowshoe hares, Lepus americanus, and short-tailed weasels, Mustela erminea, all change color to pure white to hide from predators. Snowshoe hare and Canada lynx, Lynx canadensis, have very large feet that aid in walking on snow without sinking in. Arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus, are winter specialists with compact bodies and short legs and ears that limit their exposure to cold, and large, furry paws that enable them to walk on top of the snowpack. With their long, bushy tails wrapped around their heads, they can withstand winds and temperatures to fifty below zero.

^{Stayin’ warm, Arctic fox by PEDRE, Getty Images Signature}

You can learn more about this cold but wondrous habitat by searching online for boreal forest, referring to the southern portions of the habitat, or taiga, referring to the northern portions. Also, look for information concerning seasonal adaptations for species in your own area, or visit a local natural history museum such as the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum in Lisle, Illinois.

Happy Thanksgiving 2022

Wishing all of my readers wonderful holidays with friends and family, plentiful hunting, filled feeders, dry & warm shelter, fresh water, and clear skies for traveling to visit distant sites and wonders.

Discover-Nature will be back next week for more!

^{_{Clockwise above: Goldfinch with sunflower delight by C.W., Jul 2021; Treat for a friend by Jo Zimney Photos, Jan 2020; Barley bonanza by Marci Verch, Sep 2020; White-breasted nuthatch berry blend by Kurayba, Oct 2017; Chippie surprise by Jo Zimney Photos, Sep 2018}}

Herbaria

When I am out walking, I often see plants that I would like to be able to identify, but I do not know their names. Knowing a common name, or a genus and species, can provide you with a starting point for finding out lots more information about the plant, the habitat it lives in, and other species it has relationships with.

Virginia Waterleaf by DonArnold, May 2020

Honeysuckle fruit by DonArnold, Jul 2020

A herbarium refers to both a collection of plants and a place to store that collection. Plants are mounted and labeled, and are accompanied by a data card providing information used for their scientific study. Mountings may include whole plants or individual parts of a plant such as roots, flowers, stems, leaves, seeds, and fruit. The data for each plant includes collector names, collection dates and locations, plant and habitat descriptions, and the condition of the specimen.

Negria rhabdothamnoides mounted specimen by John Game, Nov 2014

Specimen sheets are stored individually. Plant parts that cannot be pressed flat including nuts, cones, fruit, and branches are optionally stored in jars filled with a preservative. Historically, the preservative used was formaldehyde, but that was found to be harmful to humans as well as the specimens. The standard for today’s museums is to use Carosafe, a non-flammable alcohol solution. Another option is 70% ethanol, a flammable solution that must be used with extreme care. Some sheets can be found in protective cases allowing a specimen to be herbicided, disinfected, or frozen to prevent contamination and deterioration from undesirable organisms or unfavorable environmental conditions.

Dysoxylum pachyphyllum mounted specimen by John Game, Nov 2014

Herbaria preserve a historical record of vegetation changes in small and large habitats. Many plants that have become extinct either locally or world-wide are held in herbarium collections. The associated data kept for each specimen provides a record of the plant’s original distribution. Environmental science is using this data to track climate changes and identify how the loss of each species affects the original community it lived in.

seeds pictured include dandelion, aloe, coast sandalwood, dill, and milkweed

Herbaria often serve as a repository for several collection types. Collections of rare plant parts, fruits and seeds in particular, are used in the study of plant taxonomy. Voucher specimens, another collection type, are plant samples with collection data kept in publicly accessible collections for long-term study. Plant classifications are constantly updated. Vouchers are used to authenticate the plant’s taxonomy and identify the location and habitat it was growing in at the time it was collected.

Herbaria are an excellent source of plant DNA, a nucleic acid that carries genetic information about the species. DNA is widely used to study the evolution of a species and to identify close family relationships to other species. Many older specimens collected over the past several hundred years can provide insights into the historical changes in vegetation over time for a specific location, aiding in geographic distribution studies.

There are several herbaria in the Chicago area that are easy to explore online. Take a look at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum at Benedictine University’s collections, available online at: https://www.gbif.org/dataset/d39570b9-2972-4dbb-b41f-6826823176ae. For a deep dive into what herbaria are and how they may be used, an article on specimen storage can be read at: https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/11-12.pdf. Also, a good reference book to consider is: Herbarium: The Quest to Preserve & Classify the World’s Plants, by Barbara M. Thiers.

The Hunter’s Moon

The Hunter’s Moon will be appearing in the northern hemisphere on Sunday, October 9th this year. It always follows the Harvest Moon, the full moon that appears closest to the autumnal equinox.

Hunter’s Moon; 120 stacked shots for color and depth by Luis Argerich, Nov 2012

Full moons occur when the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the Earth. A full moon is almost 12 times brighter than a first or third quarter moon. The Harvest Moon’s name signifies that farmers working to bring in their crops will have enough light in the evening to work a few additional hours each day. After the harvest is complete, and fields are more open and easier to hunt in, the Hunter’s Moon will provide a few extra hours to kill enough prey to stockpile a family’s winter larder.

Hunter’s Moon in the afternoon by Jeffery Grandy, Oct 2015

In autumn, the path of the moon, known as the ecliptic, makes a narrow angle with the horizon and shortens the amount of time between the setting sun and the rising moon. At this time of year, the moon rises 30 minutes later each evening instead of 50 minutes later as it does the rest of the year. It will be particularly bright for several nights before and after the actual full moon, providing about two weeks of extra harvesting or hunting time.

The moon takes 27.3 days to orbit the Earth, but with the Earth orbiting the sun in the same direction, it actually takes 2.2 days longer for the moon to get back to the same point in the sky. A lunar month, 29.5 days long, is the time it takes for the moon to return to the same place. In our calendar, only February is shorter than 29.5 days, so each month typically has one full moon. A second full moon in one month, called a blue moon, occurs every 2.7 years, and no full moon in February occurs every 19.5 years. The next time there will be a month without a full moon will be in 2037.

Hunter’s Moon over Cleveland by Erick Drost, Oct 2019

When the moon rises, it looks huge, but this is only an illusion. To prove this to yourself, take a small object, such as a bottle cap and with one eye closed, hold it at arm’s length in front of you, covering the moon. Note how small or large the object is in relation to the moon. Do this when the moon is on the horizon and later when the moon is high in the sky. The object and moon will be the same size relative to each other at both viewing times. A full moon covers the same area of sky at all times during the night and no one full moon is any bigger or brighter than any other.

Hunter’s Moon while we sleep by Rebecca Suchland, Oct 2013

A full moon may have a reddish-orange tinge when it is close to the horizon. This is due to the extra amount of atmosphere between you and the moon compared to when it is straight over your head. The Earth’s atmosphere scatters blue light, but it lets red light waves through, giving the moon a reddish tinge.

I hope you all have a clear night sometime this week and get out to see this monthly phenomena. For more moon names and history, take a look at https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/full-moon-names.html

Illinois State Symbols, pt.2

Last week, we learned about state symbols covering many of the natural wonders found in Illinois. The following paragraphs describe the state symbols for the animals that have earned recognition.

In the early 1900s, the first forest preserves in the nation were in Chicago setting aside rare habitats that would protect animal and plant diversity. Over 94% of Illinois land areas are considered rural, including 1.4 million acres of wetlands. The Illinois State Fish, the Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, is found in lakes and ponds and was selected by schoolchildren in 1986. Also known as bream or brim, the name refers to the bright blue gill covers sported by the male.

Eastern tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, by John P Clare, Apr 2013

The State Amphibian is the Eastern Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, the largest terrestrial salamander in Illinois. This State Amphibian and State Reptile were voted on by citizens in 2004 and approved by the Illinois General Assembly in 2005. It has a large head and dark body with irregular yellow blotches. It can be found everywhere in the state, although it is uncommon in large agricultural areas.

Painted turtle by Victoria Pickering, May 2020

Eastern Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum, by Peter Paplanus, May 2019

There are two reptiles recognized in Illinois. The State Reptile is the Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta, a species found in all aquatic habitats in Illinois. It is dark olive with yellow, red, or orange markings covering the plastron, forelegs, and both sides of the head. In addition, we have a State Snake, the Eastern Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum. Its body is gray covered with large brown blotches with black borders. Milk snakes average 24″-43″ long, and live in fields, woodlands, and rocky areas. When agitated, the snake will vibrate its tail and hiss before striking. They are constrictors that feed on small mammals.

Monarch, Danaus plexippus, on swamp milkweed by Anita Gould, Aug 2005

Pollinator species are important to the agricultural industry. Plants of all kinds require pollination in order to set seed. Insects are one of the most important groups of pollinators. Butterflies, bees, wasps, flies, ants, beetles and many more all feed on nectar offered by plants. In the process, they collect pollen on their bodies, sometimes to eat and other times inadvertently as they push through the flower to obtain nectar. Pollen is then transferred to other plants the insect visits. The State Insect is the Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus, chosen by schoolchildren in 1975. Monarchs lay eggs and feed on many of the state’s native milkweed species. The butterfly’s orange coloring is a warning to predators not to attempt to eat a monarch which consumes, processes, and stores toxins from milkweed plants for its own defense.

Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinals, by Marcel Milliard, Dec 2020

White-tailed deer in corn, Matthew Paulson, Jul 2014

The State Bird is the Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis. Selected by schoolchildren in 1929, the cardinal beat out several other choices including bluebird, meadowlark, bobwhite, and oriole. The cardinal, a medium-sized songbird, is known for the males’ bright red feathers. It prefers the forest edge where it can enjoy both prairie and woodland resources for hunting and shelter, but is often seen in backyards. The State Animal, White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, also enjoys living along the forest edge. Selected in 1980, deer have some amazing abilities. They are able to run at 40 miles per hour and jump over a 9-foot high fence. They are excellent swimmers, traveling 13 miles-per-hour in the water. Native Americans and settlers both heavily relied on deer for buckskin clothing and food.

State symbols are representative of items and species that are present in our state. Take the opportunity to observe these natural wonders on your next outdoor adventure.

Illinois State Symbols

State use symbols to represent the ideas and objects that are important to the heritage and culture of the people living in each state. Symbols are chosen through a process involving citizens and the government. A person or group does research to describe each symbol and its importance to our state. A bill is created and proposed to the state’s General Assembly, who officially approves it and adds it to state records.

States have a variety of symbols. Massachusetts has the most with 44, and Iowa has the least with only eight. Illinois has 30 symbols, and over the next two blogs, we will explore the 17 that honor the wonders of nature across our state. Many of the Illinois symbols are used by other states signifying their importance across the nation, but at least one is unique to Illinois.

Central Illinois Prairie by Ron Frazier, Jun 2017

Illinois’, known for its tallgrass habitat, is nicknamed is The Prairie State. The land is able to support a great variety of plants in large part due to the richness of the soil. Drummer Silty Clay Loam, first identified in Ford County in 1929, was declared the state soil in 2001. Topsoil across the state is about 16″ deep mainly due to the action of prairie plant roots in breaking down rock and mineral into soil.

Fluorite-galena in Dolostone, Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, by Jsames st. John, Mar 2018

Fluorite-sphalerite near Cave-In-Rock, Illinois by James St. John, May 2017

Rocks and minerals found in our soils are also important. The State Rock, Dolostone, composed of calcium, magnesium, carbon, and oxygen, is found throughout the state. It is mined in northwest Illinois and used in road construction, as erosion barriers on shoreline slopes, and to provide nutrients in fertilizers. The State Mineral is Fluorite, a clear and soft substance that easily melts. It is used in making aluminum, iron , and metal alloys.

Tully Monster, Tullimonstrum gregarium, by James St John, Apr 2019

The State Fossil is the Tully Monster, Tullimonstrum gregarium, first discovered in 1958 by Francis Tully. It had a sleek, tapered body about 12″ long with large fins, and swam in the tropical oceans that covered Illinois during the Pennsylvanian period about 300 million years ago. No other fossils have ever been found outside of Illinois.

Illinois corn, downtown Bloomingdale farmers market, by Gemma Billings, Jul 2010

Agriculture is important to Illinois, generating more than 19 billion dollars annually. Corn is the State Grain, and accounts for more than half of that total. The State Fruit, Gold-rush Apple, was developed in University of Illinois laboratories to grow in habitats across the state. Apple trees generally bear fruit in 5-8 years, but gold-rush apple trees produce fruit after only three years. The fruit becomes ripe very late in autumn, providing a retail source of fresh, crisp fruit long after other fruit sources are finished for the season.

Common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, by DonArnold; White oak, Quercus alba, by melystu, May 2012; Violets, viola spp. By Samantha Forsburg, May 2009; Big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii by Matt Lavin, Sep 2009

Grasses, flowers, and trees from prairie and woodland habitats are also important. The State Prairie Grass is Big Bluestem, Andropogon gerardii, growing to over 8′ tall with roots extending 5′ to 8′ underground. Nicknamed turkey’s foot for the purplish flowers that appear in groups of three, the grass turns a brilliant bronze in the fall. The State Flower is the Violet, Viola spp., blooming in spring in a variety of colors and habitats. Violets are high in vitamin A and have more vitamin C per ounce than oranges, providing food for many wildlife species including small mammals and birds. The State Wildflower is Milkweed, Asclepias spp., with 24 species native to Illinois. They are a vital source of nectar to feed the pollinators in summer and fall across the state. Our State Tree, the White Oak, Quercus alba, grows best on upland slopes and lives an average of 350-400 years. Settlers fed white-oak acorns to pigs and used its wood to build homes. Oaks support deer, wild turkey, songbirds, insects, squirrels and a host of other wildlife.

Penicillium rubens by Houbraken, J., Frisvad, J.C. & Samson, R.A,

National Center of Agricultural Utilization, Peoria, IL by United States Department of Agriculture

The State Microbe is Penicillium rubens, a mold fungus often found indoors in areas of high humidity. It exhibits a velvety blue or blue-green surface. This symbol was approved on May 31, 2021 to honor the residents of Peoria and the research scientists at the National Center of Agricultural Utilization who worked together on a procedure to mass produce penicillin. Fleming’s strain was discovered in the 1940s to be effective in treating infection in open wounds, and was used extensively to treat Allied soldiers wounded during the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944. Penicillin has become the most widely used drug in the world.

In part two of our blog on state symbols, we will take a look at the many animals that are honored throughout Illinois.

Navigating to the Last of the Archives

This is my last week on break, but I am posting the last of the remaining archives later today. As previously mentioned, my first blog posts were originally published only on the Jurichy-Suchy Nature Museum Facebook page. If you are a subscriber, you will receive multiple emails today, one for each post.

Navigation to older posts has been updated at the top of the right-hand column, under Site Navigation, there is a link to Archives By Category.

Thank you all for visiting! Don

Archives posted this week, Jun 17:		Category	Orig Date
	Summer Pollinator Bloom	Plants, Flowers	Aug 7, 2020
	Nocturnal Animals	Animals, Mammals	Jul 24, 2020
	Backyard Activities	Animals, Insects	Jul 17, 2020
	Fireflies	Animals, Insects	Jun 26, 2020
	Snake Monitoring	Animals, Amphibians & Reptiles, Snakes	Jun 19, 2020
	Cicadas In Song	Animals, Insects	Jun 12, 2020
	Pollinator Garden	Plants, Flowers	May 29, 2020
	Bats	Animals, Mammals	May 8, 2020
	Spring Wildflowers	Plants, Flowers	Apr 10, 2020
Archives posted last week, Jun 10:
	Clouds	Weather	Sep 11, 2020
	Hawks	Animals, Birds	Aug 28, 2020
	The Itch!	Animals, Insects, Plants	Aug 21, 2020
	DewDew Dew-Dah	Discoveries	Aug 14, 2020
	Woodpeckers	Animals, Birds, Backyard Birds	Jul 31, 2020
	American Toad	Animals, Amphibians & Reptiles, Frogs & Toads	May 22, 2020
	Herons	Animals, Birds, Wetland Birds	May 1, 2020
	Naiad	Animals, Insects	Apr 24, 2020
	Garter Snakes	Animals, Amphibians & Reptiles, Snakes	Apr 17, 2020
Archives posted prior week, Jun 3:
	Hibernation	Animals	Oct 24, 2020
	Backyard Birds	Animals, Birds, Backyard Birds	Oct 16, 2020
	Autumn Leaves	Plants, Plant Parts	Oct 9, 2020
	Moon Phases	Discoveries	Oct 2, 2020
	Pumpkins	Plants, Plant Parts	Sep 25, 2020
	Urban Wild	Animals	Sep 18, 2020
	Wildlife Photographer	Animals, Amphibians & Reptiles	Sep 4, 2020
	Bullfrogs	Animals, Amphibians & Reptiles, Frogs & Toads	Jul 10, 2020
	Bee-ginning B’s	Animals, Insects, Pollinators	Jun 5, 2020
	Hummingbirds	Animals, Birds	May 15, 2020

A Little Vacation

I am taking a short break from writing, but will still have a few posts going out on Friday mornings. My first blog posts were originally published only on the Jurichy-Suchy Nature Museum Facebook page. I have posted many of these on this site, but still have several to add to my archives. I will be releasing them later today.

If you are a subscriber, you will receive multiple emails today, one for each post. If you are not a subscriber, please consider looking through the archives prior to October 23, 2020 to read any you may have missed.

Thank you all for visiting! Don

A Spring Walk

The weather has included a lot of rain in these past few days, and there is more coming. Temperatures are still cool at night, but getting quite warm during the day, contributing to unstable air, thunderstorms, and tornado watches. Vegetation in our area is green and lush, inviting for the many species that inhabit our area. I hope you enjoy the sounds and pictures of spring and some of the inviting observations we can look forward to in the near future.

Boreal chorus frogs, Pseudacris maculata, are still out calling, even though it is near the end of their breeding season.

by DonArnold 2022

Another early spring species, white trout lily, Erythronium albidum, is still blooming.

by DonArnold 2010

And now that warmer weather is here to stay, both eastern garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis, and plains garter snakes, Thamnophis radix, are moving away from their winter dens and dispersing into woods and fields.

Garters emerging from winter den by DonArnold 2021

Golden Alexanders, Zizia aurea, and celandine poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum, are making a bright yellow welcoming splash for the next several weeks.

Weather always plays a large role in late spring in northern Illinois. A good thunderstorm can bring wonderful, soaking rains or wind and lightning to drive us indoors.

Thunderheads are a weekly happening by DonArnold 1986

Many species depend on water in ephemeral ponds at this time of year, including frogs, toads and salamanders. First to call are chorus frogs, Pseudacris maculata, then gray tree frogs, Hyla versicolor, and finally bullfrogs, Lithobates catesbeianus, call well into summer.

Gray tree frogs calling by DonArnold 2022

Bullfrog at Waterfall Place by DonArnold 2020

As spring moves into early summer, look for wood ducks, Aix sponsa, in woodland ponds

by DonArnold 2012

And mallards, Anas platyrhynchos, with puffball babies keeping close to mama

by DonArnold 2020

Green dragons, Arisaema dracontium, and their close relative, Jack-In-The-Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum, are already standing tall

Other species to begin to watch for in the coming weeks include bumblebees gathering pollen from flora of all species and Eastern black swallowtail caterpillars, Papilio polyxenes asterius, destined to fly away at summer’s end.

Bumblebee collecting rose pollen by DonArnold 2020

Eastern Black Swallowtail larvae on fennel by SueOBrien 2020

I hope you are able to observe these and many other sights in the coming weeks on your neighborhood walk or in local forest preserves.

Spring Rains

Rain gardens help control thunderstorm effects

Even though it is still spring on the calendar, temperatures are soaring, bringing big changes to the atmosphere and the air and water cycles. Water, mainly from our oceans, constantly evaporates into the air that is moving over the surface. Denser air fills the lower levels of the atmosphere and is able to absorb more water vapor and more heat. As an air mass warms, it rises and spreads out in higher levels of the atmosphere. Air becomes less dense, loses some of its heat, and allows water vapor to condense and form clouds. Most clouds do not have rainfall because the updraft of warm air is fast enough to keep the small water droplets forming the clouds from falling. Rain happens when enough water condenses to form a heavy enough droplet to fall.

Wyoming thunderstorm by Bill Lile, Nov 2008

As this process of rising and falling air and water droplets continue, a storm develops. Loss of heat also releases small electrical charges, which will eventually combine into a chain called lightening. Worldwide, about 2,000 thunderstorms are happening at any given moment. There are 100,000 annually in the U.S., and about 10% reach a severe level with hail, winds exceeding 57 mph, or spawning tornados. Rains can be heavy, putting down vast quantities of water on the landscape in a short period of time. How much water? One inch of rain on an acre equals 27,154 gallons of water. At Benedictine’s campus in Lisle, one inch of rainfall equals about 3 million gallons. On average, rainfall in the continental U.S. would cover every acre with 30″ of water annually.

Several storms sweep the northern US by NASA, Oct 2010

In the last century, worldwide average temperatures have risen 1.4˚F, and are expected to rise 3˚F to 5˚F in the coming 100 years. We are experiencing more rainstorms annually, and they are of greater intensities due to warmer air holding more water vapor and rising temperatures sucking more moisture from both land and ocean. When clouds condense enough to form rain, there is a greater quantity of water vapor, so rainfall is heavier from greater amounts of water falling back to earth.

Cloud formation by Dean Morley, Oct 2012

Heavier rainfalls may be absorbed in some areas, if they do not happen too often. However, most watersheds have been heavily affected by human activities including deforestation, dams, irrigation activities, depletion of groundwater, and draining of wetlands. More rainfall running off the surface leads to less moisture in the soil and allows soil to get hotter and drier. As rains ease toward midsummer, vegetative areas are harder hit by these dry effects.

Rain gardens are a simple and inexpensive way to alleviate some of these problems. They can be created in any area where the soil is slightly depressed. Runoff is directed into the area where it can soak into the ground. Many are planted with grasses or flowering native perennials providing a beautiful garden while reducing runoff. It is an easy solution you can create in your own backyard. For more ideas, click this link: for Rain Garden Requirements & Plant Lists from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Last Minute Gifts

Are you looking for any last minute gifts for someone or yourself who likes to observe nature in the field and wants basic identification and facts without having to carry a full set of field guides? Flash guides, flash cards, and mini field guides are easy to carry, contain basic information for identifying the most common species, and often have observation tips or facts that will get you started on learning more.

Flash guides are one of my favorites to use outdoors. They are laminated, fold-out packets that contain full color illustrations and basic identification information for a specific group of species and their habitats. Small format field guides are paperback books with laminated covers to help protect them in the field. They cover only the most common species and facts for each. They are not meant to replace full field guides, but are excellent for quick information. Both guides can be used in all weather conditions including when wet or muddy, and are easy to clean with a damp cloth. Guides are lightweight and will easily fit in a vest pocket or shoulder bag. Flash cards are a similar format, with illustrations on one side and basic information on the other. Printed mainly as a learning tool, you may still find them useful in the field.

Questions you may want to use to help evaluate a resource may include:

Do I want to take it out into the field? Is it easy to carry? Weather-proof?
Does the guide cover the wildlife or habitats I want to observe?
Does it contain the most common species I am likely to see?
Are illustrations, photos, and drawings easy & sufficient for me to use? Are field marks noted?
Do you only want information on ID, or should it include natural history information also?

Many guides are available through local museums, arboretums, or zoos. Much of the information on these guides has not changed over the years, so shopping the internet for used guides that may not be currently in print is always a good option. I use them often in the field for basic ID and to begin learning about the species I am observing as well as the habitats they reside in. I hope you get out and have fun observing and learning during your own outdoor adventures in the coming months.

A selection of possible guides includes:

The Pocket Naturalist Guide Series, from Waterford Press (https://www.waterfordpress.com/products/series/pocket-naturalist/) includes many groups of species and habitats such as trees, animal tracks, mushrooms, pond life, reptiles & amphibians, beetles, medicinal plants, butterflies & moths, and several more topics
Peterson Flash Guides, from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (https://www.hmhbooks.com/peterson/) has several bird related guides with illustration by Roger Tory Peterson, but also contains guides to other topics including plants, mammals, reptiles & amphibians, ecology, earth & sky, insects, etc.
Sibley Flash Guides, from David Allen Sibley (https://www.sibleyguides.com/about/) are all about birds and their habitat
Bur Oak Guides, from University of Iowa Press (https://www.uipress.uiowa.edu/search/browse-series/browse-BOG.htm) cover species and habitat topics from the Great Plains area including frogs & toads, wildflowers, birds, forest & shade trees, prairie, woodland and more
Golden Nature Guides, from St. Martin’s Press (https://us.macmillan.com/series/agoldenguidefromstmartinspress) cover science and nature from around the world including bats, stars, seashells, geology, pond life, spiders, snakes and additional topics closer to our region

Project Feederwatch 2021-22

Cornell University Labs’ Project Feederwatch, a survey of birds visiting backyard feeders, starts this weekend. With the nice weather we are still experiencing, it may seem too early for a wintertime bird watching project, but birds are well into the fall migration period. Birds are an indicator species of environmental change because they are easy to observe, have predictable behavior patterns, and are popular subjects among citizen scientists who contribute significant amounts of data from observations for use in scientific studies.

Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus, on backyard suet feeder by DonArnold 2020

There are several bird behavior studies being done using data collected by citizen scientists. One study tracks when birds stop at their usual migratory rest areas and the availability of food during those stops. Fall migration has been spread out over an additional 17 days in the last 50 years. Food resources that have peaked earlier in the year are dwindling in early autumn, right when migratory birds are seeking those same resources. Another study, at Cornell Labs, identifies wind patterns and their shifts over time. Winds from the south are getting stronger in autumn. Flying into these stronger headwinds slows birds down resulting in more birds congregating in local areas, possibly staying longer and requiring additional food. Other studies track changes in land use, availability of water, and habitat loss along migration routes.

Coopers Hawk, Accipiter cooperii, wet & icy after dip in our pond by DonArnold, 2020

Project Feederwatch involves thousands of people observing and counting birds in their own backyards across North America, an effort that no research project has been able to duplicate. Accumulated data includes the number of species observed for each area, the abundance of individual birds, the types of food being eaten, the identification of environmental factors that attract birds, and the timing and spread of certain disease vectors among specific groups. Further studies from these observations assist in identifying long-term trends in bird movement and behavior.

Project Feederwatch provides an opportunity to be part of the citizen science network gathering data on bird behavior. If you want to learn more, there are several bird field guides available that can assist with information and identification. Some of my favorites include:

Sibley’s Birding Basics, by David Allen Sibley, provides a guide to the general characteristics that we can use to identify specific birds.
The Birder’s Handbook, A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds, by Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, provides basic biological information for 650 species known to nest in the U.S. In addition, dozens of essays cover biology topics of special interest including breeding, displays, diet, conservation, and many others.
The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior, from the National Audubon Society and illustrated by David Allen Sibley, provides lots of information on how and where birds live. Essays cover a wide range of topics including classification, breeding, foraging, migration and many interesting facets of bird life and behavior.
Eastern Birds’ Nests, from Peterson Field Guides, provides excellent pictures and descriptions for eggs, nests and their associated habitat for species found east of the Mississippi River.
Birds of Illinois by Stan Tekiela includes identification characteristics, range maps and photos for birds that call Illinois home.

Cornell ProjectFeederwatch	Project overview, data collection, history, staff, links to more information
Cornell Home Page	Mission, what we are about, staff, news
eBird	Cornell’s online database of bird observations
Tally Sheet	Sample tally sheet

Dead Trees

Trees offer a variety of services for wildlife, whether they are in a forest, a city park, or in your backyard. Trees grow slowly and die slowly. Each year, they flower, leaf out, and grow fruit throughout the spring and summer and then drop leaves and fruit each autumn. Often, one, two or more branches will die each year, even as new ones are being added. As each part of a tree dies, habitat is not lost; it is transformed into use for a variety of wildlife.

White oak snag by Frank D. Laspalluto, 2021

A hole in a tree can be created by a variety of events: branches broken off by weather or animals, trees being impaled by other trees during violent storms, or punctures or cuttings from human activities. Openings offer nesting sites for owls and flying squirrels. Bark at the lip of a hole will start to peel away allowing bats and spring peepers to get underneath for shelter. Small holes invite insects in, and woodpeckers searching for insect prey enlarge the holes. When a cavity becomes large enough to kill the entire tree, it is often used by tree swallows for nesting or as a great place for honeybees to build hives.

Red-shouldered hawk couple in the early morning light at the Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida, Lookout post by Diana Robinson, 2020

Snags are dead trees that remain standing. These offer birds of prey perches while they scan the areas underneath for small animals to hunt. After the snag becomes too weak to stand any longer and falls to the ground, it becomes shelter for numerous species. Mice and chipmunks use small holes to store food, raise young, and hibernate in for the winter. Large hollow logs offer a home for skunks and bobcats. Accumulated bark and leaf litter is a favorite place for toads and black rat snakes looking for a place to lay eggs. Shade provided under fallen logs promotes a damp environment, a favorite place for salamanders.

As wood starts to decay, decomposers move in. Fungi begins the process by breaking down the bark and returning the nutrients to the soil. Millipedes, termites, beetles, and ants all feed on rotting, decaying wood. Opossum, raccoon, robins and nuthatch find a treasure of insects and arthropods to feed on. Earthworms and grubs help to mix all of the droppings around the fallen log into the soil through their tunnel building activities, constantly enriching the soil.

Shelter for two by Lars-Goran Hedstrom, 2015

Dead trees are an important part of a forest ecosystem and can play a beneficial role in any habitat. Consider leaving branches where they drop, or artfully placing them into your own garden habitats. They provide shelter and food for many organisms, creating a rich and diverse community. Species that directly use the wood provide food for small organisms as they break down the wood and are prey themselves for larger animals. They release the nutrients trapped in the wood and enrich the soil in the process. They create shelter by opening new holes and enlarging existing ones for additional plants and animals to occupy. Next time you are out walking, gently turn over a log, and observe this wonderfully changing habitat.

Field Guides

Field guides are special books. Lots of them fit in your pocket and can be used out in the field to identify particular plants or animals. Field guides come in several formats, and address aspects of nature using differing methods. Let’s take a look at a selection of these and how we might use them.

Traditional field guides contain a list of all the species within a class such as mammals, birds, or insects. If the class is very large, a guide may only contain species from one or more orders. There are thousands of species of insects, but this class can be broken down into many manageable orders such as bees, dragonflies, beetles, and more. Guides provide information on names, field marks, range maps, habitat, food, reproduction, predation and impacts from/to humans. The arrangement of information within a field guide can be based on one or more identifying characteristics such as color, field marks, taxonomy, habitat, or a unique feature, i.e. number of petals. Many guides use a dichotomous key, an identification method that asks a series of questions and offers two choices for each answer, eventually leading to a single organism.

Guides by Geographic Region, by DonArnold

Several traditional field guides are issued as parts of series intended to cover a wide variety of life in specific geographic areas. General guides include Peterson’s Field Guides series; The Audubon Society series, and North Woods Naturalist series. Pocket-size field guides are limited to only a select group of species within a class or order, usually the most common ones that are likely to be found. Some that may be of interest include Birds of Illinois by Stan Tekiela; Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America, and the Golden Nature Guides. Other series take several books to cover only one class of animal. Examples of these guides include The Sibley Guides, Stokes Field Guides, and The Crossley Guides, all of which include multiple volumes about birds.

Nontraditional field guides teach us about nature by using a descriptive element applied to a group of species. Consider some of the following:

Guides by habitat – Peterson’s Eastern Forests; The Book of Field and Roadside by John Eastman; Discover Nature in Water & Wetlands by Elizabeth P. Lawlor
Guides by characteristic – Peterson’s Eastern Birds’ Nests; Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm; Tracks & Signs of Insects and Other Invertebrates by Charley Eiseman and Noah Charney
Guides by geographic region – INHS Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians of Illinois; North Woods Naturalis Series; Trees of Illinois by Linda Kershaw; Flora of the Chicago Region by Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha

The latest technology in field guides is to have information and search capabilities using an app on your phone or tablet that you can carry with you. Three of my favorites include Seek by iNaturalist for plant and animal identification; Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab of Ornithology for bird identification; and SkyView by Terminal Eleven for stargazing at night. All of these let you use the camera on your device to take a picture to identify the object or view. Follow-up questions are included to help refine your ID and provide you with additional information.

For those of you who like to keep it simple, consider making your own field guide. Start with a nature coloring book or a blank sketchpad. Do your own drawings, colorings, and field notes. This type of field guide accumulates extensive information over the years and becomes a treasured source for descriptions and notes on your own personal interaction with nature. Any way you choose to learn, get out and have fun today!

A Drought of Amphibians

This year we are experiencing drought conditions in northeast Illinois. A drought, defined as a period of little or no rain, can have major impacts on the amphibian populations of an area. At the end of winter, as snow melts and expected spring rainstorms move into the area, many ephemeral wetlands fill with water. These pools, marshes and ponds contain water for only short periods ranging from several weeks to a few months. But they are an important link in the chain of amphibian reproduction.

Many frogs and toads live in woodland areas, but depend on wetlands for breeding and habitat for their young. Male frogs and toads return to local ponds each spring to find a mate by calling. Most calling is done in the evening, but sometimes individuals call during the day. Females will find their way to their favorite singer, then lay a gelatinous egg sac, which the male fertilizes. Eggs may be located on floating vegetation, hanging under rocks or logs, or laid on the bottom. Eggs have no shell and must remain wet to live. Eggs hatch into tadpoles in a week or less. Tadpoles may transform to adult form in as little as two weeks or as long as the following year.

Wetlands of all types are showing changes due to the drought conditions. Shallow ponds and marsh areas are dry or retaining only enough moisture to have wet soil, and are no longer a usable wetland for many species. Deeper ponds are down several inches in depth. A difference of only a few inches in depth can add several feet of shoreline where banks gradually slope into the water. Exposed rocks and logs used by turtles for basking are high enough over the water’s surface that they may no longer be accessible to these species. Creeks and rivers are lower and slower. Turtles and water snakes that depend on depth and fast flow for protection may find these are no longer a means of escape.

Shrinking permanent wetlands put pressure on the species that already live there. Ponds are habitat for newts, tadpoles, crustaceans, frogs, toads, turtles, birds, naiads and insects, and microscopic life. As the amount of water decreases, habitat in the pond is reduced. Shallows where a bank slowly submerges may have a steeper drop-off. Logs once laying at surface level may be several inches higher than the surface, eliminating areas underneath, once used for protection. Less water means less available oxygen and food for the animals already sharing the pool. Den and nest sites in banks at the water’s edge become more exposed.

Rain during the early part of May has helped alleviate some of these issues, but more rain is needed, continuing into the summer. Maintaining your own backyard wet areas with shade and consistent watering provides good habitat for many animals that live among us. You can watch many of these species in area wetlands on trails and in local parks this spring.

Tornado

April in Illinois sees more tornados than any other month, although the peak season will last through June. Tornados form mostly in the late afternoon or early evening, after the sun has had time to heat the atmosphere. About 54 occur yearly in Illinois, with more than half of them coming during the next three months as the jet stream centers over our latitudes.

Tornados develop over several hours. First there is a thunderstorm where a warm, moist air mass is located in front of an eastward moving cold front. The cold air pushes up and over the warm air creating instability in the air mass. Warm air pushes upward and cools as it reaches higher altitudes. As the air cools, moisture carried aloft in the warm air condenses to form water droplets that fall back toward the warmer air. This area, where air continues to rise and fall, is called a convection cell. With small amounts of air and water, clouds will form; with large amounts, a thunderstorm may develop.

Wind at varying heights, moving in different directions and speeds, can start a rotating column of air. As warm air is drawn into the bottom of the column, rotation speed increases, becoming faster toward the higher regions. If the air in the rotating column near the ground is very cold, it will spread away from the storm and a tornado will not form. Once a tornado is spawned, it may persist for only a few seconds or for several hours. Tornados move about 30 miles per hour and generally cover less than six miles. There are an average of 100,000 thunderstorms occurring in the U.S. annually, spawning about 1,000 tornados. Damage from these storms is caused by the high winds as well as flying debris.

NOAA-NASA Storm Tracking over midwest US

A variety of scientific instruments are used to detect when and where tornados will form including satellites, weather balloons, radar and computer modeling. The first time radar detected a tornado was in 1953 in Champaign, IL, while running tests on a new radar site. This led to a push to create a nationwide network of radar sites for tracking dangerous weather related events. In the 1990s, a new radar system was created that was able to track the Doppler Effect which shows a change in the frequency of a sound wave as the source of the sound is moving in relation to the radar site. Doppler Radar can detect areas of rotating air within a thunderstorm, and rotational speed, providing more precise information for forecasters trying to determine if a tornado will form.

How Radar Works at weather.gov/jetstream/how by NWS

Being prepared is the key to staying safe and reducing the risks from these natural events. Pay attention to weather reports, warnings, and watches. At home, know where safe shelter is located. Whether home or away, tune to NOAA Weather Radio or follow instructions from local officials. If your community has sirens, become familiar with the warning tones. When outside, do not trust bridges – you are safer in a low, flat location. Be aware of flying debris, and use your arms to protect your head and neck. At home, move to a basement or small interior room away from windows, doors, and outside walls. Remember to include pets in your plans. You may consider storing emergency supplies including water, non-perishable foods, medical supplies and medication.

There have been numerous studies and statistical analyses done on tornado events. In the past 70 years, there has been no real increases in number of tornados occurring annually. Due to better data collection techniques, historical records show sharp increases in the number of recorded tornados occurring twice, first in 1954, after the new countrywide radar network was activated and in the mid-1990s after Doppler Radar was put into general use. More information is available at the Illinois State Climatologist’s website including maps of previous events for each county at IL Tornado Mapping and plots of tornado related statistics at IL Tornado Plots.

Phenology

In spring we see a lot of changes taking place as temperatures warm heading into summer. Recurring events in the life cycles of many organisms are influenced or determined by changes in the weather. Phenology is the study of these cyclic and seasonal changes in plant and animal life in relation to what is going on with current climate changes. An example is a series of changes that take place in plants throughout the year starting in spring with budburst, leaf-out, flowering, fruit ripening, leaf-coloring, and leaf-fall. All of these stages in the life cycle of a plant are determined by what is happening with the climate where that plant is located.

The history of phenology dates back to the mid-1700s. In the late 1800s, fanciers in England made phenology one of the first citizen science pastimes and attracted over 600 observers. Results of plant changes were kept by the Royal Meteorological Society of Great Britain until the late 1940s, when the activity simply fell out of favor. It was restarted in England in 1998, and continues today. Robert Marsham, considered to be the founder of modern phenology, was a naturalist living on his country estate in Norfolk, England. In 1936, he started writing “Indications Of Spring” a publication of his phenology notes recording 27 springtime changes. Some of those included first leaf, flowering dates, and first sightings of butterflies and swallows. He devoted over sixty years to this work. After his death, further generations of his family added to it well into the 20th century.

Here is an example from observations of springtime events in oak trees. In the last 250 years in England, overall temperatures have risen an average of 1.5˚C. First leaf-out of oaks in spring is occurring eight days earlier, and bud-burst is happening eleven days earlier. Thousands of insects that depend on oak trees for food and shelter are now emerging earlier due to these changes. Migrant birds returning to England to mate and raise young depend on the emerging insect populations for food at the same time as young birds are born. The data indicates that returning birds have not been able to keep up with these timing changes. As a result, babies are born too late, after other predators have reduced one of their major food sources, negatively affected the bird populations and the entire food chain.

There are several published studies of plant and animal observations including climate data, made over long periods. Analysis of this data reveals the progress and changes in the annual natural calendar. Interactions between plants and animals are vital to the survival of individuals and whole species. Much of this knowledge comes to us from herbaria records documenting these ecological changes over time. Collections include dried specimens, field notebooks, and journals recording observations and hypothesis fitting the facts into known history of the moment. Knowledge of phenology and understanding the timing of events provides critical data for habitat management. Applications of phenology include management of invasive species and forest pests, predictions of human health-related events, such as allergies and mosquito season, optimization of when to plant, fertilize, and harvest crops, understanding the timing of ecosystem processes, such as carbon cycling, and assessment of the vulnerability of species, populations, and ecological communities to ongoing climate change.

The USA-NPN, National Phenology Network, was established in 2007 to collect, store, and share phenology data and information. It provides a place to assemble long-term phenology datasets for a many species across the U.S. Data is used to create models from historical changes. These models, coupled with current observations, help us understand how different species respond to changes in climate over time in specific habitats. This type of study can be used to determine the extent to which species, populations, and communities are vulnerable to ongoing and projected future changes in climate.

Nature’s Notebook is the USA-NPN program allowing professionals and volunteers to record long-term observations of plant and animal life changes. If you would like to try a fun activity, and be part of a large network of observers and gain a better understanding of what you are seeing in your own neighborhood, consider becoming an NPN volunteer scientist. There are lots of resources available to assist you in making observations and in learning about nature. USA-NPN general information can be found at https://www.usanpn.org/home or become an observer by signing up at: Natures Notebook (https://www.usanpn.org/natures_notebook).

Sap & Syrup

With cold winter mornings becoming the routine, hot breakfasts are welcome in our household. Pancakes, waffles and french toast all have at least one common ingredient – maple syrup. Most varieties of syrup come from maple trees. Sycamore, walnut, butternut, basswood, birch, and hickory trees also produce syrup.

Maple syrup is unique to North America and is one of the oldest known crops, first made by the indigenous peoples in this region, although exactly when and how it was discovered remains a mystery. Sap from sugar maple, Acer saccharum, red maple, Acer rubrum, or black maple, Acer nigrum, is used in the production of maple syrup. A maple tree needs to be about 12″ in diameter at breast height, or about 40 years old, to produce enough sap to be economically viable for syrup production. Sap from a tree is between 0.5% and 10% sugar. Syrup, a product created by processing the sap, must contain a minimum sugar content of 66.7% to be sold commercially. A single tap that yields 10 gallons of sap is enough to make about one quart of syrup. Raw sap has little or no taste. Through the process of boiling off the water content, sugar, in the form of sucrose, is concentrated as the mixture thickens. The unique flavor of each variety comes from the mixture of concentrated sugar and nitrogenous chemicals present in the sap.

Sap must flow out of the tree in order to collect it. Trees have two layers of cells to transport food and water: the phloem and the xylem. Immediately under the bark, the phloem transports food for the tree in both directions, up and down. The xylem, an inner layer, transports water up the tree through a series of tubes and cell chambers. In the transpiration process, special cells called stomata, located on the undersides of leaves, open to take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. At the same time, water is lost by evaporation to the outside air. This creates negative tension in the xylem moving water by pulling it up to each leaf. Another factor affecting the xylem is root pressure, created by accumulating minerals in rain water in the soil. This results in positive tension on the water in the soil and pushes water into roots and xylem. In winter, when there are no leaves and no rain, neither of these processes are active.

Tap and Bucket on Sugar Maple, by Nicolas Longchamps, 2008

While sap flow in winter is still not fully understood, we know that it requires temperatures to cycle between nighttime freezing and daytime thawing. In sap-producing trees, the cell chambers in the xylem contain various gases and the tubes between the cells contain sap (i.e. water plus nutrients). As temperatures drop at night, some of the gas is absorbed by the sap creating empty space that acts as a vacuum to pull in more water from soil below the freeze line. As temperatures continue to drop below freezing, sap turns to ice, increasing in volume and trapping the remaining gases under pressure in each cell chamber. During the day, as temperatures inside the tree rise above freezing, the ice melts and the pressurized gases push the sap out any opening in the tree.

Understanding the physiological cycles of each tree species is vital to obtaining good sap production without causing harm. Tapping is not pruning, and no pruning should be done to “bleeder” trees until early summer. Individual trees that are widely spaced and have better access to the sun during the growing season produce higher sugar content. Sap flow is highly dependent on late winter / early spring weather. Water must be available to tree roots and temperatures must cycle daily between freezing and thawing. To make syrup, a higher sugar content requires less processing, and the right combination of nutrients will produce great taste. I hope you all get a chance to enjoy the many flavors of this unique food.

For more information on how to tap without damaging the tree, click on: DaveyTreeBlog

Citizen Science

Citizen science happens when the public takes part in the collection of data, and scientists use that data to advance scientific knowledge. As participants, we collect data, see the results, and learn how data contributes to research efforts. There are many projects running at any given time that you may contribute to. Below are several that you may consider joining, including sponsors, websites and a brief description of each. These projects are advancing science and are fun and interesting for participants.

Green bottle fly, *Lucilia sericata* by Don Arnold, 2020

Journey North, sponsored by the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, has been engaging citizen scientists for over 25 years. This effort tracks migrations and seasonal changes. A variety of species are tracked including robins, orioles, earthworms, red-winged blackbirds, frogs, barn swallows, and others. Seasonal changes include sunlight, weather, and leaf-out. As data is entered, it is available immediately for viewing. Observations can be entered in text, pictures or on maps. Site users are able to view migrations happening in real-time. This project has simple to use screens and good online support.

Monarch on Mexican Sunflower, DonArnold 2020

I-Pollinate, sponsored by the University of Illinois, has three separate tracking projects. The first project identifies how monarchs and caterpillars respond to the many variables in gardens and landscapes. A second project, that is closely related, recognizes that home gardens provide a wide variety of flowers for pollinators. This project identifies which ornamental annuals are best at attracting butterflies, bees and flies. These first two projects are often done together and will require the monitor to plant an appropriate pollinator garden bed from instructions provided by the program coordinators.

Bumble Bee on Buttonbush, DonArnold 2020

The third project in I-Pollinate is also part of the overall Bee Spotter series of projects, sponsored by the University of Illinois. The Bee Spotter program collects data on area bee populations from citizen scientists using photography. The I-Pollinate project is specifically centered on honey bees and bumble bees, two of our most prolific pollinator insects. Data for all Bee Spotter programs will be used to establish population baselines and will be included in educational efforts to raise public awareness on the diversity of pollinator species and the ecosystem services they provide.

From The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Bumble Bee Watch is another program gathering data on bees and pollination services. This project also uses photography to build a virtual bumble bee specimen library. Experts review each photo to verify identification and catalog all location and description data provided. Data is used to determine population status, the bees’ ecological needs, and to identify possible locations of rare or endangered species.

White Trout Lily, flowering, DonArnold 2020

Monitoring is not always about wildlife. There are natural processes that are tracked with the goal of learning more about habitat, the role played by each process, and the ecosystem services provided. A few of these projects include:

CoCoRaHS (ko-ko-razz), Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, a grassroots effort by people of all ages to measure precipitation in all its forms – rain, hail, and snow. Simple tools and instructions can be found at the website.
Globe At Night, an international project to measure sources of light pollution and how they affect night-sky observations. Data is available for use by local organizations worldwide working to reduce the many impacts of artificial lighting at night.
BudBurst tracks the timing of plant life cycle events including leaf-out, flowering, fruiting, color-change and senescence. These are all aspects of the science of phenology, being used to study biological events related to changes in season and climate.

Take a look at these or find others by searching the internet for “citizen science projects” to find a project that interests you.

More information on each of the programs described above can be found at project websites:

Journey North	University of Wisconsin Arboretum	https://journeynorth.org/
I-Pollinate	University of Illinois	https://ipollinate.illinois.edu/
Bee Spotter	University of Illinois	https://beespotter.org/
Bumble Bee Watch	The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation	https://www.bumblebeewatch.org/
CoCoRaHS	CoCoRaHS	https://www.cocorahs.org/
Globe At Night	Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, National Science Foundation	https://www.globeatnight.org/
BudBurst	Chicago Botanic Gardens	https://budburst.org/

Winter Night Sky

How many stars can you see from your backyard tonight? In a dark sky, far away from any light, about 4500 stars can be seen with our naked eye. In contrast, when viewing night skies from a city like Chicago, we can see only about 35 stars. Adding binoculars or a small telescope will greatly increase the number of stars and the detail you can see.

Orion constellation, by G.Tzevelekos, Nikon and StarAdventurer

Fall, winter, and spring, during the months of standard time, is called the “observing season” by astronomers. Winter months give us long nights and short days. Earth’s northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, significantly reducing the length of time for morning and evening twilight. At this time of year, it gets dark late in the afternoon, providing many hours of stargazing time. Also in winter, cold air holds less moisture than warm air, yielding clearer skies without any haze.

Factors to consider when choosing a time and location to go stargazing is the brightness of other lights in the area. On cloudless nights, a full moon can be bright enough to light up the sky and hide a majority of the stars from view. Observing the night sky is best during the few days before, during and after a new moon, which occurred this month just a couple of days ago, on January 12th. Other sources of light obscuring our visibility are man-made. The farther away from these areas you can get, the better your observing experience will be. This is a spectacular time of the month when, depending on your location, hundreds of stars may be visible with the naked eye. With assistance from binoculars or a telescope, faint objects such as galaxies, nebulae and star clusters will also be visible.

Orion constellation, by CSunday, Canon 18mm wide angle lens (naked eye)

When the northern hemisphere is experiencing summer, at night the Earth faces towards the center of our galaxy, with the 300 billion stars of the Milky Way. In winter, Earth has traveled to the opposite end of its orbit, and during the night, it faces outward towards the farther reaches of the galaxy. Stars are being displayed against a much darker background, making it easier to see individual stars, constellations and planets. Many sites out of the city, especially State or National Parks and recreation areas, have far fewer visitors in winter months, contributing less light pollution and less competition for viewing locations. Check for hours on their websites.

What’s visible right now in our neighborhood? There are several good online sites with information for what to view and when to look for it. Plus they provide good descriptions and other information. But the best way to learn about this aspect of nature is to get out and see it yourself. Check the weather for clearer nights and check some of the sites listed below for moon phases in the coming weeks.

Planets that are easily viewed tonight include Mars from sunset to 1:00am in the west-south-west; Uranus in the south drifting westward from sunset to 1:30a; Neptune in the south-west from sunset to about 9:00pm. Uranus and Neptune are very faint, but your view can be greatly improved with binoculars of 7x power or better. Mercury, Saturn and Jupiter can be seen with your naked eye, clustered low in the west-northwest sky, in the constellation Capricornus, for about an hour after sunset for the next few days.

Here is a list of websites with basic information that can get you started:

Lunar calendar for Chicago including dates for each phase, moonrise and moonset times https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/usa/chicago
Planets visible today in Chicago including rise and set times and direction https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/usa/chicago
Planetariums in Illinois (be sure to check websites for hours/availability):
- WVHS Planetarium Aurora http://planetarium.ipsd.org/ Strickler Planetarium Bourbonnais https://strickler.olivet.edu/ William M. Staerkel Planetarium Springfield https://www.parkland.edu/Audience/Community-Business/Parkland-Presents/Planetarium Adler Planetarium Chicago https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/ Herbert Trackman Planetarium Joliet https://www.jjc.edu/about-jjc/places-interest/herbert-trackman-planetarium Illinois State University Planetarium Normal http://www2.phy.ilstu.edu/~trw/planet.html John Deere Planetarium Rock Island https://www.augustana.edu/locations/john-deere-planetarium-and-carl-gamble-observatory
Illinois state parks, wildlife management and recreation areas (be sure to check sebsites for hours/availability): https://www.stateparks.com/illinois_parks_and_recreation_destinations.html

Irruptions

An irruption is a birding term referring to an unexpectedly large increase in the population of a bird species into an area where they are not normally seen. Irruptions are caused by a disturbance in the natural environment of the species, many times due to a food shortage. Depending on the root cause of the disturbance, more than one bird species may be affected.

Pine Siskin, by Karen Lebing, Pocosin Lakes NWR

Mast refers to the fruit of woody plants, such as acorns, nuts and berries. In some years, plants produce larger than normal quantities of mast, and in other years the production amount is meager. Many species depend on this mast as their main food source. One theory about why the amount of seed varies suggests that in years of abundant production, the number of seeds overwhelms the number of seed-eaters, and the plants have a greater chance of successful reproduction. In years when very little seed is produced, lack of food thins out some seed-eating species and forces others to move. Many bird species rely on mast as their main food source, and when the food becomes scarce, these species move farther afield, irrupting into new locations.

In 2020, we have already experienced several irruptions across the North American continent. Cone-bearing trees in boreal forests in Canada produced small seed crops this year. There is not nearly enough mast to feed the populations of birds that spend the winter in these areas. Most of the affected species will head south into the United States, fanning out over broad areas in search of other food. Nuts, seeds and berries from other trees may replace what has been lost, but many species will be opportunistic and eat from backyard feeders when possible.

Pine Siskin, Spinus pinus, normally move into southern Canada and the northern half of the U.S. in winter. Overwhelming numbers have been reported by observation stations, especially along the east coast, and birds have been spotted as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. Their normal winter range includes northern Illinois, but not in the high numbers that we are currently observing. They are about the same size as American Goldfinch, with dark and light brown streaking covering their entire body and distinctive bright yellow wing and tail edges. Pine siskins prefer evergreen forests, but will eagerly feed on thistle seeds from feeders.

Red-breasted Nuthatch by Becky Matsubara

The Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, is another species seen here in smaller numbers in winter, but also heavily affected by the reduced amount of food. This species is irrupting both north and south, with some populations heading north into Alaska, and many more individuals heading south into all parts of the United States. As with the Pine Siskin, higher numbers of birds are being reported in our area for the second winter in a row. These birds have blue-gray backs with rust-colored breasts and a black-capped head with a bright white stripe above the eye. One of our smallest birds, they have a very short tail and short, broad wings on a plump body. They prefer coniferous woods and mountain areas, but in winter, they can be seen on backyard feeders offering black-oil sunflowers seeds, suet, and peanuts.

Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata, annually migrates by the thousands through the Great Lakes and along the east coast heading for winter habitat in the southern U.S. Smaller populations may remain along the migration route, but this year, we are seeing greater numbers in many places. One of our largest feeder birds, they sport a large crested head and a broad, rounded tail. Blue Jays have a white or light gray belly and black and white markings against a bright blue back and head. Their preferred habitat is along forest edges, especially where there is an abundance of beechnut, hazelnut and acorns. In backyards, they are most often found on tray feeders offering peanuts, sunflower seeds and suet.

Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, may not be as familiar in our urban and suburban areas, but it is also experiencing an irruptive year. These medium-sized birds are plump, with a thick neck and a short, squared off tail. They are grayish brown overall with a striking black eye mask shaded along the edges in dusky orange. The underside of the tail is rusty, and the tip is bright yellow. Secondary wings on adults have bright red wing tips. These birds move frequently in search of food sources, making them unpredictable to find; and we are at the south end of their typical winter range. Keep an eye out for flocks as they are being pushed farther afield this year in search of food.

Irruptions can be an exciting event for bird watchers who are able to observe species that migrate outside of their normal range when conditions necessitate such movements. An irruption may be difficult to identify, but if you observe larger than normal groups of any species, especially in late autumn, that is a clue that there may be an irruption in progress. Keep abreast of current bird migration monitoring at sites such as the Finch Research Network or Bird Cast.

My Nature Bookshelf

It is starting to feel like the holidays have arrived, a time for snow and lights, cross-country skiing in the woods followed by hot cocoa inside, a quiet evening with family and presents, presents, presents! My wife and I are both avid readers, so the hunt is on for each of us to find that book that will be relished but that has not yet even been contemplated. I love to browse through bookstores, especially those with both new and used volumes just waiting for me to find them. Here are some of my favorites.

City Creatures: Animal Encounters in the Chicago Wilderness, edited by Gavin Van Horn and Dave Aftandilian is full of essays and poems, accompanied by illustrations and photographs, that introduce you to a variety of species that live among us in the urban environments of northeastern Illinois. The book is divided into six sections; each introduces us to a different place that includes animal encounters. Gavin Van Horn is also the creative director and executive editor for the Center for Humans and Nature, and you can find several of his pieces framing new perceptions of the environment on their website.

Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival, and its companion volume, Summer World: A Season of Bounty, both by Bernd Heinrich are in-depth explorations of what it takes for different species to survive the environmental conditions present at different times of the year. Heinrich looks at many of the adaptations that allow animals to find appropriate shelter, warmth, food and mates in extreme conditions.

Fire and Ice by Jonathan Mingle is an investigative piece written over several years of traveling to the Himalayan region of Zanskar in northwest India. In recent years, this region has been drastically changed by drought due to disappearing glaciers. Mingle ties this in with the problems being generated by black carbon, the unburned particulate matter from fire of all types. He tells a wonderful tale of the people and their family stories, as well as how black carbon is making a huge impact on their region and the entire world.

Another section of my shelves includes books that provide a wonderful assortment of activities that can involve everything from individual investigations to gathering data for citizen science projects.

The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws is a detailed presentation on how to make simple to complex drawings for anyone who enjoys the hobby of journaling. It includes instructions on making simple line drawings, the use of colored pencils, and working with watercolors. There are numerous examples on what to journal, gathering your thoughts in the written word and transferring your observations to pictures on a page. A fun and entertaining treatment of nature journaling.

The Amateur Naturalist by Gerald Durrell, published in 1983, or by Nick Baker, published in 2005, are both excellent books with tips and activities on observing nature. They provide information about different habitats and species, how to make observations of each, what data to record, activities that will make your time fun and rewarding, and suggestions on how your data may be used by yourself and others. The books identify tools to collect and use to make your ventures into nature fun learning experiences.

A companion volume, How To Shoot An Amateur Naturalist by Gerald Durrell, tells us how he made the television series “The Amateur Naturalist,” based on the book above. It is a humorous and fun story of film making, adventure and travel concentrating on learning natural history using a variety of the techniques and activities detailed in his book.

Another fun book is The Big Year by Mark Obmascik, also made into a motion picture starring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson. The book takes us on a wild romp through nature areas, backyards and wild places with the goal of counting as many bird species as possible in one calendar year. Documenting the journeys of three bird watchers taking a year out of their lives to compete for the honor of counting the most birds in one year in the U.S., this volume is a humorous and insightful story of just how passion can turn a hobby into an obsession.

The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs by Tristan Gooley provides thoughtful insight on how to enhance your nature walks. Everywhere we go, there are hundreds of things to see in nature. This volume can help you learn what to look for that you may have missed in past walks. The book provides dozens of ideas about what to look at, how to discern more detail, and what questions to consider as you discover things along your way. A fun way to learn about learning as you enjoy each nature walk you take.

These books can provide a perfect starting place for a new year of activity and learning while having fun. 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 posting them in the comments section for this blog. Have fun browsing!

Sun-Earth Relations

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we are moving into late autumn and starting to think about winter snows. As we enjoy autumn activities, the earth is moving ever closer to the sun. In January, the earth will be at its closest approach to the sun than any other time of the year. So, why are we in the deep freeze at that time?

The earth’s axis is a straight line passing through both the north pole and the south pole. In relation to the sun, the axis is tilted 23.5˚ to one side. Referring to our diagram above, called “Earth Axis”, the subsolar point is where the sun’s rays directly hit the earth at right angles. The northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun during winter in our area, when the light and warmth of the sun is striking the earth at an oblique angle, compared to the much more direct sunlight striking the earth in the southern hemisphere’s summer.

The tilt of the axis changes slightly every year causing a wobbling movement. The wobble is called axial precession and can be visualized by watching a spinning top as it moves across a floor, not quite perfectly smooth. As the top moves in circles, so does the wobble of the earth, taking about 26,000 years to return to the same orientation. Earth’s spin drifts slowly east and west, but never very far. The farthest movement observed from the center of the axial spin, since recording began in 130 B.C., has been 37 feet. This will not affect daily life but does affect GPS and satellite observations.

There are many theories about what causes axial precession, but data from the last five to seven years shows a strong possibility that movement of water around the world is responsible. Changes in the amount of water and ice can be counted as changes in mass and weight. These types of changes near the poles have no significant effect on the earth’s spin, but where these changes occur in the middle latitudes, around 45˚, greatly impacts the stability of the spin. Losses of water in the Europe-Asia-India areas has created an imbalance in mass and weight sufficient to alter earth’s spin and account for some of the recent wobble movements. There are strong correlations with other water movements back through the last 2,150 years of history.

As the earth moves through a one year orbit around the sun, the tilt of earth’s axis does not change. As shown in the diagram labeled “Earth Orbit”, this means that for a quarter of the year, the northern hemisphere is leaning towards the sun. In mid-June, the summer solstice occurs when earth’s tilt and orbit brings the northern hemisphere closest to the sun, and we experience the longest daylight period. The winter solstice, occurring in mid-December, is when the southern hemisphere is closest to the sun, and the northern hemisphere experiences the shortest day of the year. The two in-between periods, vernal (spring) and autumnal (fall) equinox are when the sun’s orbital path crosses the equator, and day and night hours are about equal.

If you would like to learn more about the seasons, consider the following resource links: National Geographic Earth-Sun Relationships; SUNY Earth-Sun Relation; U of I Extension Ecosystems; and U of I Global Temperature Learning.

Feederwatch

Birds are flocking to the feeders in my backyard. As soon as the temperatures started to dip, perhaps because day light hours are shortening, the feeders empty in less than a day. Bird watching, as a recreational activity, is considered to be among the top favorites of people around the U.S. We can learn a lot about birds and our backyard habitats from daily observation of the birds in our neighborhoods.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is part of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, whose mission is “to interpret and conserve the earth’s biological diversity through research, education and citizen science focused on birds.” This non-profit organization, along with Birds Canada, gathers data through citizen science programs. These are opportunities for scientists, students and the general public to participate in collecting data about the birds in their own backyards.

Collected data is compiled and made available to anyone who wants to use it. Conservationists have gained protection for various bird species in serious decline; scientists are learning about migration routes and what resources birds need and use along the way; and population sizes and health can be monitored in near real-time across the entire North American continent. Basic maps, trend graphs and summarized data by state as well as local region are displayed and downloadable. Interactive maps that combine monitoring data with satellite images from NASA are educational and simply fun to watch.

Articles for backyard birders on feeder types, preferred food for specific bird species, keeping a healthy environment, and landscaping to attract birds are waiting for you to peruse. These offer how-to information, including resources, for setting up your own backyard bird feeding and monitoring area. If you want to look outside your own backyard, searching the internet for more projects reveals opportunities for observing and recording data concerning nesting, bird-building collisions, and migration and data for specific families, such as hawks. Birding hotspots in DuPage County include Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Waterfall Glen south of Darien, Cantigny Gardens in Wheaton, Greene Valley Forest Preserve in Naperville.

A specific project that I am involved in is Cornell’s FeederWatch program, a survey of birds visiting my backyard habitat between November and April. Observation is for two consecutive days each week, and data is recorded concerning species identification, how many individual birds are in each sighting, what types of food and feeders are in use, and daily weather conditions. I use my own checklist, shown below, to keep track of my observations and enter the data online on Cornell’s website. If you are interested in joining the 120,000+ citizen scientists for birds, visit the following sites for more information:

Cornell ProjectFeederwatch	Project overview, data collection, history, staff, links to more information
Cornell Home Page	Mission, what we are about, staff, news
eBird	Cornell’s online database of bird observations
Tally Sheet	Sample tally sheet

My Backyard Birds Checklist

Note that there may be other birds that you see in your own backyards especially if you are close to a prairie or forest or any type of habitat different than my own

From Date:_____________	Start Time: ________________	End Time: ___________________
To Date: _______________	Start Time: ________________	End Time: ___________________

General Weather (temp, wind, rainfall/snowfall inches) .

Common	Scientific	Count	Notes
Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon
Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis
Chickadee, Black-capped	Parus atricapillus
Common Grackle	Quiscalus quiscula
Finch, American Goldfinch	Carduelis tristis
Finch, House	Carpodacus mexicanus
Finch, Purple	Carpodacus purpureus
Junco, Dark-eyed	Junco hyemalis
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris
Hawk, Cooper’s	Accipiter cooperii
Hawk, Red-tailed	Buteo jamaicensis
Hawk, Sharp-shinned	Accipiter striatus
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis
Nuthatch, Red-breasted	Sitta canadensis
Nuthatch, White-breasted	Sitta carolinensis
Owl, Great Horned	Bubo virginianus
Sparrow, American Tree	Spizella arborea
Sparrow, House	Passer domesticus
Woodpecker, Downy	Picoides pubescens
Woodpecker, Hairy	Picoides villosus
Woodpecker, Red-bellied	Melanerpes carolinus

Other: Behavior interactions (displacement or predation), Eye disease notes

Posts for today:		Orig Date
	Clouds	Sep 11, 2020
	Hawks	Aug 28, 2020
	The Itch!	Aug 21, 2020
	DewDew Dew-Dah	Aug 14, 2020
	Woodpeckers	Jul 31, 2020
	American Toad	May 22, 2020
	Herons	May 1, 2020
	Naiad	Apr 24, 2020
	Garter Snakes	Apr 17, 2020