Winter is a great time to go birding. Birds are often easier to spot without the coverage of thick foliage. Some common winter birds to look out for include juncos, woodpeckers, and cardinals. Some birding hotspots include LaBagh Woods in Chicago, Thatcher Woods in Maywood, Whistler Woods in Riverdale, Saganashkee Slough in Palos Township, Little […]
Eggers Woods is a mosaic of wooded ridges where spring wildflowers thrive and narrow wetlands are filled with sedges, marsh grasses, and waterfowl. Help remove invasive species that threaten to crowd out native plants. Trained leaders will show you how to identify which plants to remove and demonstrate how to safely use hand tools. Masks […]
Help us remove woody invasive species that deplete the health of the soil, prevent native plants from thriving, and severely affect the health of the ecosystem they invade. Make sure to bring your own water; dress for the weather by wearing layers; wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and avoid synthetic materials; sturdy, closed-toe […]
Whistler Woods contains oak trees up to 300 years old, but invasive brush prevents their acorns from sprouting. Join a volunteer group that is cutting back invasives and improving the habitat at this preserve. Learn what it takes to restore health to our forest preserves and river system, by nurturing diverse wildlife, trees, and wildflowers. […]
The Skokie River and Middle Fork of the Chicago River come together to give Watersmeet Woods its name. But Watersmeet is also a wet place with numerous special types of wetlands that support rare plants and wildlife, including the only “calcareous seep” on the North Branch preserves. This seep environment is fed by cool groundwater […]
This site protects a large area of one of the rarest plant communities in Illinois, known as a Northern Flatwoods. Flatwoods are found where a dense layer of clay lies near the surface of the soil. This clay prevents rain from draining in the spring, although flatwoods can become very dry in the summer. Plants […]
Help us remove woody invasive species that deplete the health of the soil, prevent native plants from thriving, and severely affect the health of the ecosystem they invade. Make sure to bring your own water; dress for the weather by wearing layers; wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and avoid synthetic materials; sturdy, closed-toe […]
Help us remove woody invasive species that deplete the health of the soil, prevent native plants from thriving, and severely affect the health of the ecosystem they invade. Make sure to bring your own water; dress for the weather by wearing layers; wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and avoid synthetic materials; sturdy, closed-toe […]
The Skokie River and Middle Fork of the Chicago River come together to give Watersmeet Woods its name. But Watersmeet is also a wet place with numerous special types of wetlands that support rare plants and wildlife, including the only “calcareous seep” on the North Branch preserves. This seep environment is fed by cool groundwater […]
Help restore habitat for plants and wildlife at this historic forest preserve. Blue Star Woods was once the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp and a WWII Prisoner of War Camp. During that period, most of the site was converted to barracks and buildings. Since then, the camp has been demolished and nature has […]
Great horned owls are one of the apex predators of Cook County. Sometimes known as "the tiger of the skies," they grow large, relying on their size and strength to ambush prey. They will even hunt other birds of prey. Because their chicks need time to grow large and to learn hunting skills before the […]
This site protects a large area of one of the rarest plant communities in Illinois, known as a Northern Flatwoods. Flatwoods are found where a dense layer of clay lies near the surface of the soil. This clay prevents rain from draining in the spring, although flatwoods can become very dry in the summer. Plants […]
Help us remove woody invasive species that deplete the health of the soil, prevent native plants from thriving, and severely affect the health of the ecosystem they invade. Make sure to bring your own water; dress for the weather by wearing layers; wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and avoid synthetic materials; sturdy, closed-toe […]
