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Bird reports from friends signal arrival of spring
Cardinals singing, turkey vultures soaring over head, red-winged blackbirds on territory, Cooper's hawks building nests--it must be spring in central Illinois.
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.
Appreciating Illinois amphibians and the habitats that support them
It may be too early in the year to contemplate April showers bringing May flowers. But in much of Illinois heavy rains in late February and early March trigger an astonishing and ancient natural phenomenon—the annual congregation of amphibians in the waters where they breed.
Exploding insects top bill at this year’s Insect Fear Film Festival
Sometimes you wonder how filmakers come up with their outlandish creatures. But then you meet a real life insect that shoots hot, toxic chemicals out it's anus . . .
Birding abroad: Part 2
Although the other members of my family enjoy a range of outdoor activities when we travel together, I like to spend more time birding than they do. I especially enjoy staking out a spot where I can spend some quality time with my camera early in the morning.
Contemplating courtship rituals
You don't have to look far to find some pretty amazing courtship rituals.
Birding abroad
Dakar is home base for my daughter Jane, a UI junior majoring in Global Studies who is studying in Senegal for the academic year. So that’s where our family’s two-week visit with her over the recent holidays began, and where I had my first opportunity to see African birds.
Earth materials in buildings—don’t take’m for granite [from the archive]
Teaching geology in east central Illinois is complicated - mostly by the fact that nearly all of our rock is covered by 300-foot deep glacial deposits
Wildlife moments from 2015
Why would a blackbird attack a deer? Why would a green heron drop a crabapple into a pond and fish it out again? Find out in this week's episode, as the author looks back at some puzzling observations from 2015.
2016 is the year for rooftop solar in Champaign County
Do you own a house, a business, or a farm in Champaign County? If so, you can benefit from a new program sponsored by the City of Urbana that secures a big discount in the price for rooftop solar by bringing consumers together to buy as a group, from a contractor selected through a competitive bidding process.
Deer management program yields multiple benefits at Allerton
At the University of Illinois' Allerton Park and Conference Center, a carefully regulated deer hunting program has enabled native plants to return and enlists hunters to contribute their time and expertise in the care of the facility.