You’ll have to take my word for it — that’s what it says (photo taken from moving taxi).
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Monthly Archives: November 2024
Owl presentation at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center
November 24, 2024
This week’s presentation at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center was on owls. It was somewhat better attended the slime mold presentation. Despite my history with raptors, including owls, I did learn a few new things. The presenter chose fabulous photos.
After a stop at Pulaski Woods overlooking Camp Bullfrog Lake to watch the sun set, a drink at Imperial Oak accompanied by a pizza from their neighbor, Pizza 750. Then time to check out a few lights in Willow Springs.
Slime mold presentation at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, plus coyotes
November 17, 2024
Ever since I learned about slime molds at school (elementary? junior high?) and my class went searching for them, I’ve wanted to learn more about and observe them in their different forms. I don’t have much opportunity to see them, and I don’t remember where to look or what to look for. This presentation solved that. Unfortunately, I was distracted from most of it by expected phone calls from the maintenance technician I’d called earlier to fix a plumbing problem, but I got the gist. The best part, however, was getting outside, crossing the stream that runs through Sagawau Canyon, and along with the group looking for and finding slime mold fruiting bodies. I managed to take a non-blurry photo of only one, however.
Afterward, we took the pleasant drive down hilly Wolf Road toward Pulaski and Wolf Road Woods, where a coyote crossed the road in front of us at the top of one of the hills (the first?). I didn’t get a photo and put the phone down. A second one crossed of course. No photo of that one either, nor of the one J spotted before I saw what I thought was the first crossing. It’s always a little magical seeing coyotes. Even without photographic evidence/proof.
(The bathroom sign is from Ashbary Coffee House.)
Clouds, moon, and rabbit
“Indige-Facts” at Isle a la Cache Museum
November 10, 2024
Today seemed like a good opportunity to see “Indige-Facts” at Isle a la Cache Museum, which is focused primarily on Native American life and the voyageurs. For some reason, I didn’t take any photos of the exhibit, which I regret. There were many names and details I wanted to look up. Here’s how it was described.
“The exhibit raises and answers questions such as: Are Native Americans U.S. citizens? How many Indigenous people live in this country? Do all American Indians live on reservations? What are the right words to describe the people who have always lived here?,” according to a release.
The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian in Evanston created the traveling exhibit, which is on loan to the Forest Preserve District’s Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville.
It was only after I got there I realized the exhibit came from Evanston, which would have been closer.
(As a side note, loved the sky along the lakefront on the way to I-55.)
12 photos
Dam removal, here and along the Klamath River
Starting in 2011 with Ryerson Woods Dam, many of the low dams along the upper Des Plaines River have been removed. They hinder a healthy ecosystem, endanger kayakers, and don’t serve a purpose. There’s more on these dam removals here.
A bigger project has been happening on the Klamath in the Pacific Northwest, where much larger dams have been removed. It appears that chinook salmon are returning.
Enjoy the peaceful tinkling sounds of the flowing river.
Saw-whet owl banding, 2024
November 2, 2024
This year I was vigilant or lucky enough to reserve places on a convenient dte for saw-whet owl banding at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, part of Project Owlnet. The weekend spots sometimes go quickly. Who doesn’t want to spend their Saturday night watching saw-whet owls get measured, weighed, and banded before taking flight while wondering, “What was that all about?”
First, though, there was Casper, the ambassador barn owl from Humane Indiana Wildlife. She reminded me how much I miss handling birds of prey, especially barn owl Alba.
After that, there was a wait — it felt like at least 45 minutes. I thought I felt the buzz of an owl being delivered. Until then, I’d been worried this might be a wasted trip. Nope. I lost track, but I’d guess we saw at least five saw-whet owls. This particular set seemed more expressive than some in the past. I think all of them clicked their displeasure or indignation to the handlers.
The last owl, however, didn’t fly off immediately when offered freedom from atop a participant’s arm. It perched for several minutes, so long I began to wonder if it would ever leave. At last, it flew toward the woods, accompanied by the usual “ooohs” from the awestruck participants.
In the middle of the program, J told me there was an owl in a tree. So there was, visible in the harsh lights of the parking lot. I don’t know if it was one of the newly banded owls or one that had escaped being caught in the clutches of the mist nets. It attracted its own fan club, several of them with long lenses.
What started out as a slow night for owl banding turned into a successful one. If only I were six inches taller so I could see better (and get better photos and videos).
19 photos
