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Environmental Almanac

Weekly commentaries on the environment and appreciating the natural world, by Rob Kanter from the School of Earth, Society, and Environment at the University of Illinois.

A bicentennial oak, one more than 200 years old

L. Brody Dunn

September 29, 2016 - Environmental Almanac

Ancient Oaks a Living Link to Big Grove

When people think about the landscape of central Illinois prior to European settlement they tend to think “prairie,” vast expanses of flat land covered in tall grass and tall flowers. And for the most part, that image is accurate. But groves of trees intruded on the grasslands here and there, especially on the eastern edges of rivers and streams, creating natural breaks to prairie fires driven by winds from the west.


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(Duration: 3:59)
Tight shot of a hummingbird, iridescent green above and white below, perched on the edge of a red plastic feeder.

Rob Kanter

September 16, 2016 - Environmental Almanac

Late summer a great time to appreciate nature close to home

Even though there’s time on the calendar before Autumn begins officially, we’ve passed some important marks on the cultural calendar. Labor Day is a memory, the new school year is in full swing, and the season of traveling to outdoor destinations is over. For me, that means it’s a great time to renew appreciation for the undramatic nature that surrounds us every day.


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(Duration: 4:00)
A gray squirrel eats an acorn in a Chinkapin oak tree

Rob Kanter

September 08, 2016 - Environmental Almanac

An Ecological Look at Acorns

Acorns are everywhere in the fall, as anyone who bicycles where there are oaks can attest. While these seeds may be a minor annoyance on the road, they’re much more interesting and important from an ecological perspective.


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(Duration: 4:00)