Male red-winged blackbirds don't wait around for females to be ready to migrate - when it's time to leave, they go. This isn't because they're rude & impatient, rather, it's to establish territory before breeding season begins. Look for males in Jan. - Feb., & females in spring.

Happy Leap Day!!! Blackwell Forest Preserve (Warrenville, IL)

Illinois sees more wintering American bald eagles than any other state outside of Alaska. February is the best time to see them before they migrate back north in March. Plenty of great birding activity these days, so get out and observe!

Register here anc.apm.activecommunities.com/fpddc/activity…

See you tonight at the public premiere of “Mussel Matters: Saving Critical Species in DuPage County.” Details below.

🌱Ah yes, the first week of spring. Please enjoy this totally accurate depiction of the forest preserves that we definitely just took on the trails. 😅😩❄️ (At least the days are getting longer.)

Solar eclipse 2024 captured by Senior Ranger Dan Walker at Greene Valley using an iPhone and a pair of eclipse glasses over the lens.

Happy Earth Day! Stop to smell the flowers. 🌸 Redbud (cercis canadensis)

CICADA WATCH! This is the BEST recreation of what cicadas will be doing when they finally come up from the ground, courtesy of the talented people at the DuPage County Forest Preserve! WGN Morning News @DuPageForest

People can’t stop buzzing about our cicada video! It was even featured on The Late Show. Forest Preserve District President Dan Hebreard has a special message for Stephen Colbert. Take a look! 🪰 Stephen Colbert #cicada #cicadas #Colbert

17-year periodical cicadas are just about to emerge in DuPage! Forest Preserve District ecology supervisor Tom Velat walks us through the fascinating life cycle of a 17-year cicada with some help from District staff. #cicadas #cicada #cicadaseason

"We were not dropping acid." If you haven't already seen this video of cicadas -- starring HUMAN re-enactors -- you're in for a treat. If you have, the making-of story is so fun. dupageforest news.wttw.com/2024/05/16/we-…

The cicadas have emerged! But what does that mean for humanity? Ecology Supervisor Tom Velat is back with a message of hope. 💚🪰

📸 We’re pleased to announce the start of the 2024 Summer Photo Contest! Enter now through Labor Day for the chance to win. We can’t wait to see what you capture in YOUR DuPage forest preserves. ⭐️View contest details and enter here woobox.com/4ra3jq

Don’t get ticked off! Learn tips for avoiding ticks. #ticks #lymesdisease

West Chicago was ranked the 20th best place to live for families by FORTUNE! Access to the DuPage forest preserves, particularly Kline Creek Farm, played a role in securing its spot. Read more here fortune.com/well/ranking/b…

Have you ever seen a bobcat in the wild in DuPage? Read the latest edition of The Conservationist to learn how likely you are to see this elusive critter in our neck of the woods. dupageforest.org/what-we-do/new…

Thanks for having us on to talk about the issues with pumpkin dumping FOX 32 News ! 🎃