conservation

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Parts of Monarch Migration 'A Great Mystery'

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Parts of Monarch Migration 'A Great Mystery'

When monarch butterflies migrate over 2,000 miles to Mexico during the winter, they head to the same places within the fir forests each year. This fact may not sound impressive, but the monarchs who fly to Mexico may be fourth generation butterflies who have never seen the mountain forests and do not have any living ancestors to lead the way from experience.

Doug Taron, chief curator at Chicago Academy of Sciences’ Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, will speak about the life cycle and migration of monarch butterflies at a West Cook Wild Ones monthly meeting from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 26, at the Oak Park Public Library Maze Branch, 845 Gunderson Ave.

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Book Review: A Sand County Almanac

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Book Review: A Sand County Almanac

If you curl up with A Sand County Almanac by a window, you may soon be looking outside and seeing a passing dog as a “professor” of scents. You may imagine how if a nearby chickadee worked, it would have a “Keep calm” sign above its desk. Aldo Leopold’s classic book combines such memorable and humorous observations of flora and fauna on his Wisconsin sand farm, as well as his thoughts and philosophy on conservation.

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We Can Be the Spark That Keeps Climate Action Ignited

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We Can Be the Spark That Keeps Climate Action Ignited

When 195 countries signed the Paris Agreement in December of 2015, it was an unprecedented expression of global solidarity on climate change.

The Administration's decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement is a serious blow to that international accord. This is the first time in my memory that the U.S. has become almost universally viewed as a rogue nation.

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Your Bucket List: Birding with Henry

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Your Bucket List: Birding with Henry

Some teens post on Instagram or tweet on Twitter. Henry Griffin also tweets…to real, actual birds. The Oak Park 17-year-old has become locally famous for leading bird walks during spring and fall migration seasons. He has been birding since a Cooper's Hawk flew into his backyard in 2012, when he was 11 years old.

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Big Year Birding Competition

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Big Year Birding Competition

Calling all new and experienced birders! The Big Year Birding Competition, sponsored by the Forest Preserves of Cook County, began March 1, and ends December 31. This is not a competition about stamina or skill, but about getting outside, observing wildlife, and convincing as many friends as possible to get involved.