The Outdoor Report
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Come on out to the Wonders of Winter
Join the District for the “Wonders of Winter” event at Mayslake Peabody Estate on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We’ll be demonstrating seasonal fun whether we have sun or snow! This free event will include fishing, horse-drawn hayrides, nature hikes, crafts, hot and tasty s’mores and much more. Activities take place outdoors and inside Mayslake Hall and are a great way to discover new ways to enjoy the forest preserves. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. Mayslake Peabody Estate is located at 1717 W. 31st Street in Oak Brook.
Stay safe on the ice
Whether skating or fishing, all ice activities are done at the visitor’s own risk. Rangers do not monitor ice safety. At least 4 inches of clear ice are recommended, and anglers should always check conditions as they move around. Some signs of unsafe ice include cracks, ridges or faults in the ice, gray or black ice, areas of open water, ice that looks rotten or porous, and objects protruding from the ice. Please also note that due to fluctuating water levels, ice fishing is never allowed at Spring Creek Reservoir.
Outdoor Notes: Feb. 3
Recent fishing catches at Silver Lake at Blackwell include a 17-inch trout, several walleye and bluegills biting on wax worms.
A northern harrier was noted flying overhead near the off-leash dog area at Springbrook Prairie, and a group of trumpeter swans was seen and heard flying over West DuPage Woods near the main parking lot. Naturalists at Willowbrook Wildlife Center have noticed an uptick in bird activity as we’ve had a full week of mild weather. Flocks of foraging American robins and cedar waxwings have recently moved through. These birds generally eat berries in winter since insect and earthworms are unavailable. Flocks move from location to location to find new food sources. Other winter birds to look for include dark-eyed juncos, pine siskins and northern cardinals.
Bald eagle sightings continue along the Des Plaines River at Waterfall Glen. This week, a ranger added a juvenile eagle to the many sightings of adults.
The mild weather week also led to activity as fox and gray squirrels searched for buried food caches. A District ecologist noted that 2011 was a good year for acorns, so squirrels should have ample supplies. We may see a population increase in 2012 since squirrels should be quite healthy going into spring.
One more sign of the warmth was seen at West DuPage Woods. A few skunk cabbage plants poked through the remaining snow with their thick leaves.
Snapshot: This is a red-tailed hawk, the most common bird of prey in DuPage County and throughout the U.S. These hawks are quite hardy with layers of down to keep them insulated from our cold winters. They can live in a variety of habitats so long as they have open sightlines to perch and watch for prey. The generally eat small mammals such as voles and mice but may even be able to catch squirrels, cottontail rabbits and small birds. The pictured hawk had retreated to a tree after being harassed by a blue jay and a Cooper’s hawk.
Outdoor Notes: Jan. 27
Anglers were out over the past weekend at several frozen lakes. Participants in an ice fishing clinic at Songbird Slough pulled in two crappies and a yellow bass.
Recent bird sightings include a red-tailed hawk eating its catch while perched in a tree. These hawks are some of the most common in the area, and in winter can readily be seen in the tops of trees and on light and utility poles scanning the ground for small prey. A visitor to Hidden Lake noted a great blue heron, black ducks, a green-winged teal, a kingfisher, a killdeer and a crow. Also observed were several species of sparrow; tree, song, fox, swamp and white-throated sparrows were present at the preserve.
Coyotes have been seen on the move in at Blackwell, Mallard Lake, West DuPage Woods and Pratt’s Wayne Woods. This time of year, coyotes may be especially easy to see against snowy backgrounds and with a lack of vegetation. They must also work even harder to hunt when prey is more difficult to find in winter. Coyotes pairs will be breeding in February and March and will have pups born by April or May.
Snapshot: These are the remains of tunnels made by meadow voles through a layer of snow, visible now because the top layer of snow has melted. The fluffy texture of snow makes it a great insulator to protect these small mammals from cold winter temperatures as they travel from their nests to gather food. These tunnels also shield the voles from the keen eyes of hawks and coyotes looking for a meal. Wild animals employ many different strategies to survive the challenges of winter. Check out the article “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” in the Winter 2006 issue of The Conservationist to learn more winter survival strategies. Go to The Conservationist archive >>
