Outdoors column: It’s time for breeding martins, jewelwings
Ebony jewelwings might sound like mythical creatures hiding in the woods, but they really are quite easy to find.
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Column: Cottonwood trees: Blessing or annoyance?
When growing up, I often noticed tiny cotton fluffs floating on the wind in June. I’m not sure when it finally dawned on me that these fluffs were dispersing the...
Outdoors column: So many warblers, so little time
If you’re a beginning birder, identifying the roughly 35 to 40 warbler species that come through the region can be overwhelming.
Outdoors column: Nature has its own Olympians
Some birds, insects and spiders in northern Illinois deserve medals of their own.
Outdoors column: Songbirds get by with a little help from us
Feeding birds year-round doesn’t necessarily ensure their survival. But that extra source of fat and protein in the form of sunflower seeds and suet might be just what they need.
Outdoors column: Winter is a time to get to know evergreens
One activity I enjoy while standing next to a conifer is to rub my fingers across the needles, inhale the fragrance, and close my eyes.
Outdoors column: Welcome additions to your late summer garden
Grow lots of different native plants in your yard, including summer phlox and black-eyed Susans.
Outdoors column: Queen-of-the-prairie reigns in July
It’s difficult to find this species in its natural habitat.
Outdoors column: Afternoon bird songs fill neighborhoods in March
Hearing those lilting songs on a March day in the middle of the afternoon makes me happy.
Outdoors column: I welcome the quiet and calm of the falling snow
Before the shovels or snow blowers come out when dawn is just awakening, it’s nice to stand outside and experience a certain kind of peace you never feel except at...