March/April Newsletter published!

Read the latest FNA newsletter for information about last month's annual meeting, plans for next month's Arbor Day tree planting and lots of bird news.  Also, we've included ideas about how you can get more involved with Fermilab Natural Areas, including butterfly monitoring training, rain barrel assembly or becoming a volunteer steward.  

Osprey Nest available at Nepese Marsh

from Fermilab Today, January 26, 2012:

Fermi Natural Areas and Thorne Electric of Carol Stream situated a bird nesting platform at Nepese Marsh on the eastern side of the Fermilab site. Volunteering their services, FNA and Thorne Electric personnel hope that the structure will attract a pair of large birds of prey to nest.

Data suggest that osprey fledglings tend to stay within a couple miles of where they were born. Presently, there is a nesting pair of osprey on the western side of Fermilab's site. They have produced young, one of which may be the future tenant of the Nepese Marsh platform.

There are also bald eagles nesting on Randall Road in Batavia, which is a short flight. Perhaps, if the nesting platform does not interest an osprey, an eagle will take up residence in the coming months.

The platform was a joint effort by laboratory employees volunteering their time to complete various stages of the project, and Tom Eggleston, of the Housing Office, built the nest structure from scrap wood. Hopefully, a feathered friend will move in by spring.

—Dave Shemanske, FESS

See more photos of the nest installation online:

Nepese Osprey Nest

Heather Williams: A Volunteer's Perspective

Fermilab Natural Areas' volunteer & member Heather Williams' article, "Why I Volunteer with Fermilab Natural Areas," was published in Batavia's TribLocal online edition earlier this week!

Many thanks to Heather for all of her grant-writing and restoration workday efforts.

Read the article online.

January / February FNA Newsletter available

The latest news from Fermilab Natural Areas highlights the receipt of a grant from the DuPage Community Foundation, a tool donation from Corona Tools, and an Eagle Scout project to repair footbridges in the Big Woods.


Thanks to all of you for your support in 2011 and we look forward to many good things in 2012! As always, a high-resolution of the newsletter is available online.

Radio Talk

Rod Walton, FNA President and Fermilab ecologist, was interviewed by New England Public Radio's Inquiry program earlier this week.  The interview highlights the genesis of the Fermilab prairie as well as the current stewardship efforts.  You can listen to the interview online.

Press Coverage: Baltimore Checkerspot Release

Yesterday's Chicago Tribune featured the release of the Baltimore Checkerspots at Fermilab earlier this month.