The Conservationist Winter 2010 by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

t he

Conse nserrvationist

A Quarterly Publication of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Winter 2010

I recently had the opportunity to attend the launch of “FORWARD,” a countywide leadership initiative designed to prevent and reverse childhood obesity in DuPage County, where 34 percent of kids between the ages of 2 and 18 are overweight or obese. At the launch, experts in health care, social welfare, nutrition and transportation presented information on diet, lifestyles and environmental conditions that can reverse this trend. Regular exercise reduces the risk not only of obesity but also of heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, noninsulindependent diabetes and certain cancers. Exercise is associated with improved mental health, including reduced anxiety, tension, and depression and improved self-esteem and concentration. It increases energy levels and stamina and offers better sleep and lower stress levels. And the good news is that physical activity does not have to be hard to be healthy. The meeting got me thinking about DuPage County forest preserves and the abundant opportunities for fun, free exercise that they provide, including several programs in our quarterly “Calendar of Events.” As a participant in the “Cross-Country Skiing for Beginners” program at Herrick Lake, you can burn about 700 calories. By helping to maintain the beauty and diversity of an oak savanna or prairie during a three-hour “Volunteer Restoration Workday” at West Chicago Prairie, you can burn more than 600. And if you take your valentine for the “Romantic Night Hike” through Fullersburg Woods, you can both burn up to 500 calories. This is the best time of year for you and your family to make a resolution for good health, and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is proud to offer several healthy outside experiences. With a forest preserve no more than 10 minutes away from any DuPage doorstep, I hope to see you in one soon!

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS President D. “Dewey” Pierotti Jr., Addison Commissioners Marsha Murphy, Addison — District 1

Joseph F. Cantore, Oakbrook Terrace — District 2

Linda Painter, Hinsdale — District 3

Michael Formento, Glen Ellyn — District 4

Carl Schultz, Aurora — District 5

Roger G. Kotecki, Warrenville — District 6

Executive Director Brent Manning

BOARD MEETINGS For schedules and agendas, visit www.dupageforest.org.

THE CONSERVATIONIST Winter 2010, Vol. 46, No. 1 Editor William Weidner Associate Editor Beth Schirott Editorial Assistants Johanna Biedron

Jayne Bohner

Audra Mason Bonnet

Bonnie Olszewski

Graphic Designer Deanna Eichenauer

D. “Dewey” Pierotti Jr. President, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT

OF DU PAGE COUNTY

P.O. Box 5000, Wheaton, IL 60189 (630) 933-7200, TTY (800) 526-0857 www.dupageforest.org

Subscriptions to The Conservationist, a Forest Preserve District of DuPage County quarterly publication, are free for DuPage County residents and $5 per year for nonresidents. To subscribe, call (630) 933-7085, or e-mail forest@dupageforest.org.

ÂŠ Phil Myers

contents

Vol. 46, No. 1 | Winter 2010

4 News & Notes

6 Questions, Questions

8 Winter Calendar

16 Trail Talk 17 Snowbirds for Snowbirders 20 Explore

22 Directory

ÂŠ Tony Tanoury

ON THE COVER: Hoarfrost on common milkweed

23 Map

OUR Mission To acquire and hold lands for the purpose of preserving the flora,

fauna and scenic beauty for the education, pleasure and recreation

of DuPage County citizens.

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news & notes

WE NEED YOU!

BRING THE OUTDOORS IN!

Many conservation, education and recreation programs throughout the District need your help. Here are a few examples of what your gift can provide.

Invite a Forest Preserve District speaker to your next meeting, and learn the latest about DuPage County’s forest preserves, from ecological restoration projects to innovative, hands-on educational programs. Speakers are available through April 15. Call (630) 933-7246.

$3,000 Off-road wheelchair (6 needed) $800 GPS microchip for tracking endangered species (10 needed) $500 Archery target (35 needed) $500 Portable breath analyzer for police officers (18 needed) $250 Sponsorship of “Go Green!” event at Fullersburg Woods (many needed) $150 Kline Creek Farm historical outfit (14 needed) $40 Volunteer litter-removal kit, including gloves, safety glasses and pick-up tool (many needed) $20 Cottontail orphan care for two weeks at Willowbrook Wildlife Center (many needed) Donations of all sizes are welcome and will enhance your forest preserves. Please send a tax-deductible donation today in the Nature’s Gift envelope provided within this issue.

TREE-Planting Time As part of the District’s annual fall tree-planting program, forestry crews added over 600 trees and shrubs to forest preserves throughout the county. Several new trees at Greene Valley Forest Preserve in Naperville complement the trail realignment along Greene Road, and plantings along Naperville Road at Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton will soon serve as a traffic buffer. New trees and shrubs will also provide privacy, shade, wildlife habitat and scenery at recently renovated sites at the Blackwell Family Campground at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville.

ONLINE Project Updates Want the latest on improvements at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton or information on the waterway restoration at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn? Then visit the “Plans and Projects” page under “District News” at www.dupageforest.org for updates and images of these and other forest preserve projects.

SNOWY, Frozen Fun Before you put on your mittens and head outdoors, visit the “Winter Activities” page in the “Recreation” section of the District’s Web site, www.dupageforest.org. You’ll find information on the many ways to enjoy snowy fun like cross-country skiing, tubing and ice fishing in the forest preserves.

FOLLOW OUR TRACKS ON TWITTER! The Forest Preserve District is now on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr. (Look for DuPageForest, our abbreviated name, on Twitter and YouTube.) Sign up for your District updates today!

READY To Go Digital? Ready to read the latest on DuPage flora, fauna and forest preserves online? Then call (630) 933-7085, or e-mail forest@dupageforest.org, and ask to have your mailed copy of The Conservationist discontinued. You can enjoy The Conservationist and other great online features 24/7 at the District’s Web site, www.dupageforest.org. Bookmark it today! 4

The Conservationist

| Winter 2010

MANY Thanks Thanks to the sponsors who contributed to the success of fall Forest Preserve District events. Danada Fall Festival The Comcast Foundation Uncle Bub’s Award Winning BBQ WCCQ – FM 98.3 Robert W. Baird & Co. Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital The Daily Herald Purina Mills, LLC V3 Companies of Illinois Weaver Boos Consultants Anonymous BlackFinn American Saloon Civiltech Engineering, Inc. The Cloud Foundation Comfy Bummy Cowart Chiropractic Clinic Cowhey Gudmundson Leder, Ltd. Dunham Woods Horse Show Engineering Resource Associates, Inc. ESI Consultants, Ltd. Family Health and Wellness HDR Engineering JFNew Naper Settlement Nutrilicious Horse and Rider Treats Opal Enterprises, Inc. Planning Resources, Inc. Prosek’s Greenhouse Panera Bread SEC Group, Inc. URS Corporation GO! Get Outside 5K Run/Walk Deluxe Distance Productions M&M Orthopaedics Fisher Chiropractic and Integrative Health Brooks Sports The Center for Chiropractic Health Meyer Wire Rejuvenation Therapeutic Massage The Runner’s Soul

AWARD-WINNING WORK

A “GREEN” WINTER The District is turning DuPage County’s white winters “green” by using liquid and pellet forms of magnesium chloride, an environmentally friendly salt alternative, to melt ice on roads, parking lots and sidewalks. To apply the liquid form, plow trucks use computer-controlled equipment that accounts for air and ground temperatures to spray the precise amount needed.

PUBLIC Meetings Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners’ meetings and planning sessions are open to the public and held at District headquarters at 3S580 Naperville Road in Wheaton. Commission meetings normally take place the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 9 a.m. Planning sessions normally take place the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 9 a.m. At both, the board hears comments from the public and reports from staff and discusses District business; at commission meetings, the board also votes on various items. Schedules and agendas for all meetings and sessions are available in advance on the District’s Web site, www.dupageforest.org.

The District earned the distinction of “Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement of the Year Under $5 Million” from the Illinois Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers for its Spring Brook Meander Project, which created 2 miles of healthy stream at Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville. The Illinois Association of Park Districts presented the District with two “Best of the Best” awards — an “Intergovernmental Cooperation Award” shared with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Bartlett Park District for management of James “Pate” Philip State Park in Bartlett and a second-place “Best Green Practices Award” for conservation measures. IAPD also named Kline Creek Farm volunteer Dr. Lawrence DuBose “Outstanding Citizen Volunteer of the Year” for his contributions to the 1890s farm in West Chicago and recognized Commissioner Michael Formento for 15 years of public service. The fall 2008 issue of The Conservationist won two awards in the 21st-annual Awards for Publication Excellence Competition sponsored by Communications Concepts, Inc. District ecologist Dan Thompson won an “Award of Excellence” in the category of scientific and environmental writing for the article “Owls: A Stealthy Species,” and the issue as a whole received an “Award of Excellence” in the category of magapaper and newspaper writing. w w w. d u p a g e f o re s t . o r g

Eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

Questions, Questions

rs ye .M J. P

by JACK MACRAE, NATURALIST, WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER

s a naturalist — a person who

studies an area’s natural and cultural history and loves talking about it even more — I’ve probably answered between 10 and 20 thousand questions in my career, an average amount for someone in my profession. After all, questions are a naturalist’s bread and butter. I’ve always enjoyed questions and consider them important forms of communication that lead people to higher levels of learning and greater understandings. I particularly love the ones that I don’t know the answer to because then I get to go home and learn something myself. The majority of questions, usually those that start with “what,” “where,” or “when,” are easy for an experienced naturalist to answer. (The most frequently asked by a wide margin is, “Where are the bathrooms?”) During a school program that presented the lives of the Potawatomi Indians, who moved into DuPage County in the late 1600s, one student asked, “What did the Indians eat?” My answer was a short list of edible plants and animals. The response

of wide-eyed squeals of “Ewwwww!” and “Grosssss!” caused me to solicit my own questions to the group that was clearly accustomed to hunting and gathering food with a shopping cart. “How” and “why” questions can be a little more difficult to answer, such as, “Why are butterflies pretty?” or “Why are owls mean?” or more thought provoking, such as, “How do birds know which song to sing?” That last question led to a discussion on songbirds and the eastern phoebe and its innate ability to sing its melodic “fee bee” perfectly even when raised in isolation from other phoebes. Some questions directly relate to age. Long ago, I was working in a local history museum and was showing various Stone Age tools to a group of kindergartners. One girl asked, “How did these things get so old?” and I quickly learned that the concept of time is abstract to a 5-year-old. Other questions remind me never to assume that everyone shares the same level of understanding of ecology or nature in general. During a wildlife hike at Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve in Oak Brook, I talked about the kinds of animals that lived in the preserve, such as deer, raccoons, foxes, owls and hawks. One woman asked if we kept the animals in cages. When I told her no, she followed with a sincere, “Then why do they stay here? Why don’t they run away?” Her questions may have sounded foolish, but they gave me a chance to discuss the concept of habitat, one area that contains everything an organism needs to survive, with the entire group. There is no doubt that DuPage County forest preserves arouse people’s curiosity and questions that ultimately result in a greater understanding of the natural world. So the next time you attend a forest preserve program, please don’t keep your questions to yourself! •

Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Q. Can you identify an animal for me? It looks like Mickey Rooney. A. The animal in question was an opossum, which has gray or white fur and prominent whiskers and, at least to one person, superficially resembles the legendary 5-foot-3-inch, 89-year-old actor of film, television and stage.

Q. Did you know there is a penguin at Herrick Lake? A. The bird in question was not a penguin but the Illinois state-endangered black-crowned night heron. This stocky, short-necked heron has a black head and back and a white face, breast, throat and belly. It does bear a slight resemblance to a penguin, but you won’t be seeing one in a feature-length documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman any time soon.

Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Q. Do you want to see the piranha I caught? A. This one is proof that there is no such thing as a silly question. Piranhas are omnivorous fish known for their voracious appetite for meat. They live in the Amazon basin, but the fish caught by this Herrick Lake angler was, in fact, a piranha. Someone had undoubtedly released it from a home aquarium, someone who did not understand the detrimental effect a nonnative species can have on an ecosystem.

States since the 1950s. They can legally be bought and sold in all states except California. On the other hand, all native tree squirrels are protected by Illinois law and cannot be kept in captivity.

Q. How does that bird know my name? A. The bird was a gray catbird, which is named for its distinctive call that brings to mind a meowing cat. The visitor at Fullersburg Woods was named Erin, and she obviously thought the catbird was calling, “Errrrrrrin, Errrrrin.”

Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)

Q. Why can I have a pet gerbil but not a pet squirrel? A. Gerbils are rodents native to Asia and Africa. The Mongolian variety has been a popular pet in the United

Q. Is that fire real? A. I can only assume this visitor at Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago was thinking of the faux fireplaces that people can buy at home-decorator stores. The fires in the cooking stoves and at the blacksmith shop at Kline Creek Farm, though, are the real deal. © Phil Myers

From the field

Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

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winter calendar

See pages 10 through 15 for program descriptions.

jan

24 31

feb

mar

January 2 Volunteer Restoration Workday

24 Bread From the Oven Ice Harvesting Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids

3 Cross-Country Skiing for Beginners 9 Stuffin’ and Smokin’

Volunteer Nature Workday

26 Home-Schoolers Nature Hike 28 Home-Schoolers Nature Hike Ice Harvesting “Sky’s the Limit: Volunteer!” Q-and-A Session

10 Archery for Kids

Ice Fishing for Beginners

Stuffin’ and Smokin’

30 Coyote Tracking Volunteer Nature Workday

16 “Sky’s the Limit: Volunteer!” Open House Volunteer Restoration Workday

31 Volunteer Restoration Workday Winter Layering and Safety

17 Cast-Iron Cooking

Owls of DuPage

21 Ice Harvesting 23 Bread-Baking Class

Ice Harvesting

Volunteer Nature Workday

The Conservationist

| Winter 2010

February 2 Wake Up, Groundhog! 6 Wonders of Winter 7 Snowshoeing for Beginners Volunteer Nature Workday 9 Teachers’ Class: Tracking and Reading Begins 13 Fancywork Day Romantic Night Hike

March 6 Cub Scout Adventure: From Sap to Syrup Volunteer Nature Workday 11 WDCB Jazz Salon at Mayslake 13 Maple Sugaring 14 Maple Sugaring Maple Syrup Sundays Volunteer Restoration Workday Wild Dogs of DuPage

14 Archery for Beginners Falcons of DuPage

16 Home-Schoolers Nature Hike

15 Tapping Into Fun

18 Home-Schoolers Nature Hike Spring Night Hike

16 Home-Schoolers Nature Hike 18 Home-Schoolers Nature Hike 20 Collage Workshop Begins Volunteer Nature Workday 21 Ice Fishing for Beginners 23 WDCB Jazz Salon at Mayslake 24 “Sky’s the Limit: Volunteer!” Q-and-A Session 27 Backyard Birdhouses Skunk Tracking Volunteer Nature Workday Volunteer Restoration Workday Writing Workshop: Constructing a Book Proposal

20 Acappellago Concert Archery for Beginners Volunteer Nature Workday 21 Cub Scout Adventure: Makin’ Tracks Maple Syrup Sundays Ranger Trek Junior Volunteer Nature Workday 27 Pie-Baking Class Volunteer Nature Workday Volunteer Restoration Workday 28 Pies for Spring 29 April Fools’ Adventure

28 Cast-Iron Cooking

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winter calendar

Acappellago Concert

Archery for Kids

Enjoy the sounds of Acappellago as they perform “Escape to … The Light of the Moon,” a passionate journey from the romantics of the 19th century through today’s popular and contemporary music. $15 per adult; $12 per student or senior. For tickets, call (708) 484-3797, ext. 2.

Kids, learn the history and basic techniques of archery in

an indoor setting. Equipment provided. Ages 7 – 10 with

an adult. Free. Registration begins Dec. 28.

Call (630) 933-7248.

Mar 20

7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Jan 10

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Mayslake Peabody Estate

Backyard Birdhouses April Fools’ Adventure Enjoy some April Fools’ jokes, and go on a search to see what doesn’t belong on an 1890s farm. Free. Registration not required. Call (630) 876-5900. Mar 29

1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Kline Creek Farm

Be ready to welcome backyard birds this spring. Learn about

different nesting needs, and build a nest box to take home.

Ages 7 and up; under 18 with an adult. $10 per project.

To register, call (630) 850-8110.

Feb 27 Feb 27

10 – 11:30 a.m. 1:30 – 3 p.m.

Fullersburg Woods Fullersburg Woods

Bread-Baking Class Learn how to bake bread the way that it was done in the 1890s, and take home a loaf of your creation along with instructions and recipes. $25 per person. To register, call (630) 876-5900. Jan 23 Jan 23

9 a.m. – noon 1 – 4 p.m.

Kline Creek Farm Kline Creek Farm

Bread From the Oven See the process of baking bread in a wood-burning oven, enjoy the tantalizing aroma, and take home recipes. Free. Registration not required. Call (630) 876-5900. Jan 24

12:30 – 3:30 p.m. on the half-hour

Kline Creek Farm

Cast-Iron Cooking Help prepare a hearty meal over an open campfire, and learn tips for cooking with cast iron. $10 per person ages 16 and up; $5 ages 15 and under. Registration begins two weeks prior. Call (630) 933-7248. Jan 17 Feb 28

Archery for Beginners Discover the history of this classic sport, and learn about equipment and shooting techniques in an indoor setting. Equipment provided. Ages 7 and up; under 18 with an adult. Free. Registration begins two weeks prior. Call (630) 933-7248. Feb 14 Mar 20

1 – 3 p.m. 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The Conservationist

Herrick Lake Mayslake Peabody Estate

| Winter 2010

1 – 3 p.m. 1 – 3 p.m.

Herrick Lake Herrick Lake

Collage Workshop Explore the fine art of collage as you experiment with simple design concepts and a variety of new techniques during this two-day workshop. $185 per person. To register, call (630) 206-9566. Feb 20 & 27

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Mayslake Peabody Estate

Coyote Tracking

Home-Schoolers Nature Hike

Locate a coyote’s trail, and follow it through the preserve, interpreting the animal’s activities as you go. Ages 9 and up; under 18 with an adult. Free. Registration begins Jan. 15. Call (630) 206-9581.

Learn about natural and cultural history while exploring different forest preserves. Ages 5 and up; under 18 with an adult. $5 per family. Registration begins two weeks prior. Call (630) 942-6200.

Jan 30

Jan 26 Jan 28 Feb 16 Feb 18 Mar 16 Mar 18

10 – 11:30 a.m.

Mayslake Peabody Estate

Cross-Country Skiing for Beginners Learn the differences between backcountry, telemark and touring skis, and pick up tips on clothing and trail etiquette. Equipment provided. Ages 5 and up; under 18 with an adult. Free. Registration begins Dec. 21. Call (630) 933-7248. Jan 3

1 – 3 p.m.

Herrick Lake

Cub Scout Adventure: From Sap to Syrup Cub Scouts, learn how sap from maple trees is turned into delicious syrup, and taste the syrup served over ice cream. $6 per Scout. To register, call (630) 876-5900. Mar 6

9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the half hour

Kline Creek Farm

9 1 9 1 9 1

– – – – – –

11 a.m. 3 p.m. 11 a.m. 3 p.m. 11 a.m. 3 p.m.

Wayne Grove Wayne Grove Willowbrook Willowbrook Greene Valley Greene Valley

Ice Fishing for Beginners Learn the basics of ice fishing, including safety, equipment, techniques and tips for forest preserve lakes. Fishing will follow if conditions permit. Equipment and bait provided. All ages; under 18 with an adult. Free. Registration begins two weeks prior. Call (630) 933-7248. Jan 10 Feb 21

1 – 3 p.m. 1 – 3 p.m.

Herrick Lake

Cub Scout Adventure: Makin’ Tracks Cub Scouts, learn how to identify the animals that live in

certain habitats by observing the signs they leave behind.

$3 per Scout. Registration begins March 7.

Call (630) 942-6200.

Mar 21

2 – 4 p.m.

Willowbrook

Falcons of DuPage Meet three species of falcons, and learn about the natural history of these highly specialized birds of prey. Ages 10 and up with an adult. $3 per person; $5 per family. Registration begins Jan. 31. Call (630) 942-6200. Feb 14

2 – 4 p.m.

Willowbrook

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides

Fancywork Day See lace making, tatting and other handwork demonstrations, and receive a pattern for a small purse. Free. Registration not required. Call (630) 876-5900. Feb 13

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the hour

Kline Creek Farm

at Danada Equestrian Center Enjoy a sleigh ride through the snow-covered fields and woods of Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton. $5 per adult; $2 per child ages 5 – 12; children under 5 free. Rides are 12 – 15 minutes long. Hay wagons will be used if there is less than 6 inches of snow. For additional details or for groups of 10 or more, call (630) 668-6012. Jan. 3 – Feb. 28, Sundays, Noon – 3 p.m.

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winter calendar

Ice Harvesting

Owls of DuPage

Learn the importance of ice before refrigeration. See an exhibit of ice-cutting tools, and peek into the icehouse to see how families stored blocks that lasted into summer. Weather permitting, help cut and transport ice from the lake. Free. Registration not required. Call (630) 876-5900.

Find out why people give a hoot about owls, and learn about the species that live in DuPage. Ages 10 and up with an adult. $3 per person; $5 per family. Registration begins Jan. 3. Call (630) 942-6200.

Jan Jan Jan Jan

21 23 24 28

1:30 1:30 1:30 1:30

– – – –

3:30 3:30 3:30 3:30

p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.

Kline Kline Kline Kline

Creek Creek Creek Creek

Farm Farm Farm Farm

Maple Sugaring See how 1890s farm families tapped trees and boiled the collected sap into maple syrup and sugar. Then, try to tap a tree yourself. Activities ongoing. Free. Registration not required. Call (630) 876-5900. Mar 13 Mar 14

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Kline Creek Farm

Jan 17

2 – 4 p.m.

Willowbrook

Pie-Baking Class Learn the basics of making pies. Then, bake different recipes in a wood-burning oven, and take home your creation. $25 per person. To register, call (630) 876-5900. Mar 27 Mar 27

9 a.m. – noon 1 – 4 p.m.

Kline Creek Farm Kline Creek Farm

Pies for Spring Savor the aroma of pies from 1890s cookbooks as they bake in a wood-burning oven, and take home recipes for your own kitchen. Free. Registration not required. Call (630) 876-5900. Mar 28

12:30 – 3:30 p.m. on the half-hour

Kline Creek Farm

Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids Learn how to experience the outdoors through “leave no trace” camping. Ages 5 and up; under 18 with an adult. Free. Registration begins Jan. 11. Call (630) 933-7248. Jan 24

1 – 3 p.m.

Herrick Lake

Ranger Trek Junior Learn about the critters that call the forest preserves home, and join a ranger on a hike to explore different habitats. Ages 10 and under with an adult. Free. Registration begins March 8. Call (630) 933-7248. Mar 21

10:30 a.m. – noon

Waterfall Glen

Romantic Night Hike Maple-Syrup Sundays Get sticky! Take a stroll through the woods, and discover

the secret of turning tree sap into syrup. All ages.

Activities ongoing. Free. Registration not required.

Call (630) 850-8110.

Mar 14 Mar 21

Noon – 4 p.m. Noon – 4 p.m.

The Conservationist

Fullersburg Woods

| Winter 2010

Enjoy a lantern-lit walk with your sweetheart to four scenic bridges over Salt Creek; then, warm up with hot cocoa around a cozy fire. Adults only. $10 per couple. To register, call (630) 850-8110. Feb 13

7 – 9 p.m.

Fullersburg Woods

Skunk Tracking Follow skunk tracks, and try to guess what the little stinker was up to. Ages 9 and up; under 18 with an adult. Free. Registration begins Feb. 12. Call (630) 206-9581. Feb 27

10 – 11:30 a.m.

Mayslake Peabody Estate

“Sky’s the Limit: Volunteer!” Open House Discover a variety of opportunities available with the Forest Preserve District’s nine volunteer programs, including Danada Equestrian Center, Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, Kline Creek Farm, Mayslake Peabody Estate, Natural Resource Management, St. James Farm, Trail Patrol, Volunteer Ranger Experience and Willowbrook Wildlife Center. Registration not required. Call (630) 933-7681. Jan 16

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Danada/Headquarters one-hour presentation at 11 a.m.

1890s Living at Kline Creek Farm (630) 876-5900 Registration is not required for these free programs.

“Sky’s the Limit: Volunteer!” Q-and-A Session Learn about the nine Forest Preserve District volunteer programs in detail. Ask questions, and decide which option fits your interests and schedule. Call (630) 933-7681. Jan 28 Feb 24

6:30 – 7:30 p.m. 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Danada/Headquarters Danada/Headquarters

Snowshoeing for Beginners Learn the basics of snowshoeing, and put your new skills to work during a guided hike. Equipment provided. Ages 5 and up; under 18 with an adult. Free. Registration begins Jan. 25. Call (630) 933-7248. Feb 7

1 – 3 p.m.

Herrick Lake

Spring Night Hike Experience a forest preserve after hours, when animals are accustomed to going about their activities undisturbed. Ages 7 and up; under 18 with an adult. Free. Registration begins March 1. Call (630) 206-9581. Mar 18

7 – 8:30 p.m.

Mayslake Peabody Estate

BLACKSMITHING DEMONSTRATIONS Stop by the wagon shed to see the blacksmith repair equipment and demonstrate the tools and techniques of the trade. Jan. 2 – March 27 (except Jan. 30), Saturdays, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. DRESSING FOR WINTER See the undergarments the farm family wore in the 1890s, and learn their uses. Jan. 7 – 25, Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the hour COURTING IN THE 1890S Hear excerpts from love letters written in the late 19th century, and learn about the role that a home’s parlor played in courtship. Feb. 11 – 22, Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the hour A NICKEL’S WORTH Find out what a nickel could buy in the 1890s and how consumer preferences were changing. March 4 – 22, Thursday – Monday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the hour

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winter calendar

Stuffin’ and Smokin’ Lend a hand making sausage, and learn the importance of the smokehouse and cured meats in the 1890s. Free. Registration not required. Call (630) 876-5900. Jan 9 Jan 10

12:30 – 3:30 p.m. on the half hour 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. on the half hour

Kline Creek Farm Kline Creek Farm

Tapping Into Fun Find out how maple syrup is made through a story and a hike to tap trees. Ages 6 and up with an adult. $5 per person. To register, call (630) 850-8110.

Cultural Events at Mayslake Peabody Estate ART EXHIBIT: COLLAGE & MEMORIES Enjoy an exhibit by the Midwest Collage Society. Free. Call (630) 206-9567 for details. Jan. 13 – March 4, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. FIRST FOLIO THEATRE PRESENTS “JEEVES IN BLOOM” When lovable Bertie Wooster gets himself into another scrape, Jeeves must resign his service and reinvent himself as something other than a gentleman’s gentleman. $28/30 adult; $23/25 senior or student. For tickets, call (630) 986-8067, or visit www.firstfolio.org. Jan. 30 – Feb. 28, Wednesday – Saturday, 8 p.m. and Sunday, 3 p.m. THE ALLIANCE OF FINE ART PRESENTS “THE BEST OF THE BEST” ART SHOW View the finest works of local artists. Free. Call (630) 206-9567 for details. March 22 – May 7, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. RESTORATION-IN-PROGRESS TOURS Learn about the past — and future — of this historic 1920s Tudor-revival-style mansion. $5 per person. Group tours available. Call (630) 206-9566. Wednesdays, 11 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 9:30, 10, 11 & 11:30 a.m.

The Conservationist

| Winter 2010

Feb 15 Feb 15

10 – 11:30 a.m. 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Fullersburg Woods Fullersburg Woods

Teachers’ Class: Tracking and Reading Teachers, explore the parallels between the structure and meanings in written language and those in animal tracks and other objects found in nature during this 12-session course. $345 per teacher. Registration begins Jan. 1. Call (630) 206-9581. Feb 9 – 20 and Mar 2 – 27 Mayslake Peabody Estate Tue 5:30 – 9 p.m. Sat 8 a.m. – noon

Volunteer Nature Workday Help restore a natural area by removing nonnative vegetation or planting seed. Ages 8 and up; under 14 with an adult. To register, call (630) 933-7681 at least five business days in advance; groups of five or more must call 10 business days in advance. Jan 9 Jan 23 Jan 30 Feb 7 Feb 20 Feb 27 Feb 27 Mar 6 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 27

9 9 1 9 9 9 9 9 9 1 9

a.m. – noon a.m. – noon – 4 p.m. a.m. – noon a.m. – noon a.m. – noon a.m. – noon a.m. – noon a.m. – noon – 4 p.m. a.m. – noon

Springbrook Prairie West DuPage Woods Springbrook Prairie Springbrook Prairie Fullersburg Woods Springbrook Prairie West DuPage Woods Springbrook Prairie Fullersburg Woods Springbrook Prairie West DuPage Woods

Volunteer Restoration Workday

Wonders of Winter

Enjoy the outdoors while helping to restore one of DuPage County’s most diverse prairies by clearing invasive plants or planting seed. Ages 8 and up; under 14 with an adult. Groups of 10 or more must register. Call (630) 961-2041.

Discover the fun of visiting a forest preserve in winter.

Activities include horse-drawn hayrides, ice fishing,

geocaching, snowshoeing and winter crafts. Activities

ongoing. Free. Registration not required.

Call (630) 933-7248.

Jan 2 Jan 16 Jan 31 Feb 27 Mar 14 Mar 27

9 1 9 9 9 9

a.m. – noon – 4 p.m. a.m. – noon a.m. – noon a.m. – noon a.m. – noon

West West West West West West

Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago

Prairie Prairie Prairie Prairie Prairie Prairie

WDCB Jazz Salon at Mayslake Enjoy an evening of high-quality jazz brought to you by Mayslake Peabody Estate, WDCB Public Radio and the PianoForte Foundation. Adults only. $25 cabaret seating; $20 general admission; and $16 for seniors over 65, students, and groups of seven or more. (A $5-per-person docent-led tour of Mayslake Hall will precede the concert at 6:30 p.m.) For tickets, call (630) 206-9566. Feb 23

Feb 6

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Mayslake Peabody Estate

Writing Workshop: Constructing a Book Proposal Learn how to put together a successful book proposal. Prerequisite: Writing a Query Letter. Adults only. $90 per person. To register, call (630) 206-9566. Feb 27

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Mayslake Peabody Estate

7:30 – 9 p.m. Mayslake Peabody Estate A premiere of Ryan Cohan’s new septet

Mar 11 7:30 – 9 p.m. Mayslake Peabody Estate Barry Winograd Quartet

Wake Up, Groundhog! Learn all about the groundhog through a story, game and craft. Ages 3 – 5 with an adult. $5 per child. To register, call (630) 850-8110. Feb 2

10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Fullersburg Woods

Wild Dogs of DuPage

Snow Tubing

Learn the natural history of the wild dogs, including foxes and coyotes, that make DuPage County home. Ages 10 and up with an adult. $3 per person; $5 per family. Registration begins Feb. 28. Call (630) 942-6200.

at Mount Hoy at Blackwell Forest Preserve

Mar 14

2 – 3 p.m.

Willowbrook

Winter Layering and Safety Learn how to keep the whole family — even Spot — warm and safe from head to toe while enjoying the outdoors. All ages; under 18 with an adult. Free. Registration begins Jan. 18. Call (630) 933-7248. Jan 31

1 – 3 p.m.

Take a thrilling trip down one of DuPage County’s highest peaks! When more than 3 inches of snow cover Mount Hoy, rent a tube, and glide down an 800-foot run. Only District inner tubes are allowed, which cost $4 per tube per day. Tube rental ends at 3:30 p.m. For updated hours and snow conditions, call the 24-hour Outdoor Report at (630) 871-6422. Dec. 5 – Feb. 28, Saturdays and Sundays, and Dec. 21 – 24, Dec. 28 – Jan. 1, Jan. 18 and Feb. 15, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Herrick Lake

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trail talk TRACKS & Facts

STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis) Fact: A skunk can spray up to 15 feet. It usually gives a warning by hissing, stamping its front feet or waving its tail. It may even do a handstand!

VIRGINIA OPOSSUM (Didelphis virginiana)

BOBCAT (Lynx rufus)

Fact: Opossum tracks are made up of footprints and marks left by the animal’s long, hairless tail. Its tail is “prehensile,” which means it can grab objects like tree branches.

Fact: Bobcats live in well-defined territories that contain several shelters, including their main dens and temporary lodging, such as hollow logs and brush piles. Ecologists believe these wild felines inhabit two DuPage forest preserves, Waterfall Glen in Darien and Greene Valley in Naperville.

WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus) Fact: Contrary to popular belief, the number of points on a deer’s antlers does not relate to the animal’s age. Instead, it reflects the animal’s genetics, health and diet.

is a short-term state of reduced metabolic rate and body temperature that allows an animal to save energy in cold weather. It’s sometimes called “temporary hibernation.” Some DuPage animals, including bats and mice, enter torpor in winter when food is scare and it’s cold outside.

The Conservationist

| Winter 2010

TORPOR

Fact: When it comes to eating, coyotes aren’t picky. They mostly eat small mammals but may also dine on birds, amphibians, insects or even garbage. In fall and winter, fruits and vegetables are important sources of food for coyotes as well.

SNOWBIRDS

for Snowbirders by CHRISTOPHER GUTMANN, NATURALIST, FULLERSBURG WOODS NATURE EDUCATION CENTER

Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis)

ave you ever seen a male northern

cardinal in the rich early-morning sun with a backdrop of freshly fallen pure-white snow? Have you ever seen a red-tailed hawk perched majestically on a bur oak overseeing its vast wintery kingdom? Have you ever seen a mallard and an American black duck swimming side by side and discovered how they’re different? If you would like the answer to any of these questions to be “yes,” grab a pair of binoculars, and head to your nearest DuPage County forest preserve this winter. Yes, it’s cold, but the birding is never easier. There are hardly any concealing leaves, and the bright colors and dramatic contrasts of many birds become even more conspicuous in the otherwise drab winter landscape. True, there are fewer species around in winter, but that just makes them easier to identify. Even a modest-sized forest preserve like Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook can have over 40 species this time of year, and the birds are practically begging to be seen. The only way it would be easier to find them is if they had blinking neon arrows pointing in their direction. Some people assume that most birds fly south for the winter; and while many species do travel as far as South America on their fall journeys, for others, DuPage County is “south.” The best example of this is the original snowbird, the dark-eyed junco. Juncos spend their summers in the far 18

The Conservationist

| Winter 2010

north, east and west, but in winter you can find these cute gray-and-white sparrow-sized birds in DuPage County foraging low to the ground in small flocks. Other birds thought to fly south never leave the county. One example is the American goldfinch. Goldfinches are abundant in winter, but because the males exchange their trademark bright yellow summer plumage for the females’ browns and grays, many people don’t realize they’re still in the neighborhood. You can find American goldfinches in their winter “clothes” foraging on the leftover seed heads of dormant wildflowers. Even more surprising than the incognito goldfinch is the famous “harbinger of spring,” the American robin. You can sometimes see this bird in forests foraging by the hundreds for leftover berries in the middle of winter. Winter birders should also keep an eye out for the robin’s berry-loving cousin, the eastern bluebird. There are, of course, more familiar winter favorites. Male northern cardinals sit boldly on shrubs, radiating their fire-engine red feathers. Adorable black-capped chickadees hang upside down on branches calling “chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee” to let each other know they’re being watched by a big primate — you! A true bird lover will even marvel this time of year at the much-maligned yet stunningly beautiful blue jay. Its colors alone

1. Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2. American black duck (Anas rubripes) 3. American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) 4. Hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 5. Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 6. American robin (Turdus migratorius) 7. Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 8. Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 9. White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 10. Brown creeper (Certhia americana) 11. Common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

make it worth watching, but it’s also an incredibly intelligent bird with a wide array of fascinating behaviors, including mimicry. For years, there has been a blue jay at Fullersburg Woods that does a dead-on impression of a Cooper’s hawk, which routinely fools birders. Its imitation of a red-tailed hawk is respectable, but its red-shouldered-hawk act needs some work. Speaking of blue jays and hawks, have you ever heard a small flock of blue jays making a racket in the treetops? If you take the time to investigate, you’ll often find the jays mobbing a hawk or an owl, trying to persuade the predator to leave their territory. The jays aren’t trying to annoy you; they’re just telling you that there’s another incredible bird nearby. Winter birders should remember, too, to focus on more than just branches. Some of the most handsome and interesting species can be found hanging out on trunks. As red-bellied, downy and hairy woodpeckers hunt for food, their reds, blacks and whites stand out against the drab browns and grays of the bark. White-breasted nuthatches grunt their way down tree trunks head first as they busily wedge seeds into the bark, but well-camouflaged brown creepers steadily spiral their way up. If you visit the forest preserves soon after they open, it’s not uncommon to see a great horned owl wrapping up its nighttime winter hunting or an eastern screech owl perching at the entrance to a tree cavity or wood-duck house as it soaks in a little heat from the sun. Use your binoculars to view them from afar, though. It may look as if their eyes are closed, but chances are they’ve seen and heard you coming long before you’ve spotted them. If they feel you’ve gotten too close, they will quickly disappear. Last but not least, winter is a great time to view waterfowl. Many ducks, including male wood ducks, are in their

brightest plumage, and even mallards look stunning on the icy water. Always look closely at large flocks of mallards or Canada geese; you might notice the luminous irises of a common goldeneye or the comically large bill of a northern shoveler mingling in the crowd. Of course, you can’t see any of these amazing animals unless you get outside this winter for a snowbird adventure at a DuPage County forest preserve near you. •

FINDING FEATHERED FRIENDS in Forest Preserves 1. Avoid brightly colored clothing. Some birds will flush at the first sight of you. The longer it takes them to spot you, the better your chances are of getting a good look at them. 2. It’s called bird-watching, not bird talking. Loud noises can scare birds, so keep conversation as quiet as possible, and turn off cell phones. 3. Take your time, and slowly scan an area. Often, birds are silent and will reveal themselves only with subtle movements. 4. Leave Fido at home. A recent study showed that dog walking in woodlands leads to a 35 percent reduction in bird diversity and a 41 percent reduction in abundance. 5. In spring, attend “FullersBird Fridays” at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center and “Birding at Willowbrook” at Willowbrook Wildlife Center. These naturalist-led bird walks are great for beginning birders.

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explore

Timber Ridge Forest Preserve

More Than Meets

the Eye

by JAYNE BOHNER, OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

6 F

or many people driving down County

Farm Road, Timber Ridge Forest Preserve in West Chicago is the home of Kline Creek Farm, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s 200-acre 1890s livinghistory farm; but the farm is just a part of a remarkable 1,148-acre forest preserve. The crops at Kline Creek Farm and a few dozen tillable acres to the north serve as reminders of the area’s agricultural roots, but within a stretch of land north of the Great Western Trail, the Forest Preserve District has converted former fields to more native habitat. By removing clay tiles that farmers once installed to drain the soil, District ecologists have restored the natural hydrology to the land, where they have subsequently planted native wetland species like cattails, bulrushes and water plantains. In drier areas, by removing tree lines that once grew along old fence rows, they have created more open grasslands, which they’ve seeded with flora like big and little bluestem, black-eyed Susans, lead plant and prairie clover. In summer, the prairie plants accommodate ground-nesting birds like eastern meadowlarks and savanna sparrows; but this time of year, they feed American tree sparrows, juncos, fox sparrows and white-throated sparrows while their stems, pods and dried leaves create a natural architecture that displays the season’s powdery snows. Timber Ridge Forest Preserve is also home to a natural savanna, Klein Savanna, which borders the

The Conservationist

| Winter 2010

north side of the Illinois Prairie Path just west of Klein Creek. Its diversity of plant life makes it one of the highest quality ecosystems in the District. Here, dormant Allegheny shadblows, also known as Allegheny serviceberries, wait for spring to trigger their production of fragrant clusters of white flowers and juicy fruits. Bare white and bur oaks and shagbark hickories stand over frozen ground that in a few months will erupt with trilliums, spring beauties and trout lilies or thaw into ephemeral ponds that will broadcast the sounds of chorus frogs and American toads. In summer, when foxglove beard tongues and Jacob’s ladders bloom, the verdant savanna will sing with woodland birds like northern orioles, nuthatches, black-capped chickadees and scarlet tanagers. Winter, though, promises glimpses of great horned owls, which begin nesting in February when the barren landscape makes it easier for adults and fledglings to spot prey. For fans of either the Great Western Trail or the Illinois Prairie Path, Timber Ridge Forest Preserve is an ideal starting point. Those who want to begin their excursions farther west often use the small lot on Prince Crossing Road just north of the Great Western Trail. (An upland grove east of the parking lot on the south side of the trail is home to a stately white oak roughly 50 inches in diameter, 90 feet tall and two to three centuries old.) Hikers, bikers and cross-country skiers looking for more amenities may instead choose the Kline Creek Farm parking lot on

Fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

American tree sparrow (Spizella arborea)

Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)

County Farm Rd.

Quick Look

North A ve. 64

St C h ar l e

s Rd

G reat W estern T rail

Hawthorne Ln.

i an

Kline Creek Farm

o Kn

ll R

I lli

no is

Prince Crossing Rd.

Hawthorne Ln. In d Opening Spring 2010

Geneva Rd.

Pa th

Visitor Center

Klein Savanna E lg in

Klein Creek

Timber Lake

u r

West Branch DuPage River

Spring Lake

Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve

I llinois P rairie P ath

P ra irie

Winfield Rd

County Farm Road near the Timber Ridge Visitor Center. The center’s drinking fountains and heated restrooms are open daily from one hour after sunrise until one hour after sunset. The interior of the center, which houses displays relating to the farmstead and a gift shop, is only open during Kline Creek Farm’s regular operating hours, Thursdays through Mondays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. For information on Kline Creek Farm exhibits, educational programs and special events, call the farm at (630) 876-5900. The County Farm Road parking lot connects to a 1-mile north-south Forest Preserve District trail that joins the Great Western Trail with the Illinois Prairie Path. It also leads to a moderate 0.5-mile gravel trail that takes anglers to Timber Lake. The 17-acre lake has a maximum depth of 7 feet and offers largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, green sunfish, carp and black bullheads. (A second, smaller lake, Spring Lake, lies in the interior of the forest preserve. It boasts being one of only two natural lakes in the county but is inaccessible by trail.) An anticipated addition to Timber Ridge Forest Preserve is a 30-car parking lot on Prince Crossing Road roughly 0.4 mile north of Geneva Road. Opening in spring 2010, the area will give visitors access to a western portion of the preserve via a 0.75-mile looped trail with two overlooks near the wetland informally known as the Geneva Road Marsh. This time of year, oases of open water on the marsh are packed with mallards dabbling for seeds and aquatic vegetation; but by summer, egrets and great blue herons will again be standing in the shallows, picking frogs from the white water lilies that will eventually unfurl over the entire marsh. •

White-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

G enev a Spu r

North

For a detailed map of Timber Ridge, visit www.dupageforest.org.

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