Happy Holidays & Thank You!

Many thanks to everyone for your support all year long!  From those who've provided financially to those who've come out to lend a helping hand to the natural areas - THANK YOU!

Best wishes for a wonderful 2012!

Many thanks also to Gordon Koizumi for providing beautiful photographs all year long, including these two beauties.  Gordon writes: 

I hope you have been able to get out and go for a walk. Today was a cold day but there are still very interesting things to observe. I thought I would include something a bit different from my usual photos as well. The second photo was taken with my point and shoot at the pond near the Science Education Center. What you are looking at are just some bubbles trapped in the clear ice that has formed over the pond. I thought they were interesting so I took some amateur photos of them. Although you can't see it in this photo, these bubbles look like they were left above a route taken underwater by some fairly large animal such as a muskrat or a fisher. You can see a clear "trail" where there's no underwater vegitation that leads from one bank toward the other. I have seen some weasel like creature near by very briefly not too long ago but not well enough to be able to identify it with any certainty. I've been told that a fisher has been observed. Has anyone seen him/her?

December Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the December 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

 

Brush Cutting Workdays

We need your help. Come out and directly improve habitat for wildlife. We are hosting weekly bush-cutting workdays on Mondays from 1-3 PM. Training, tools, ecology tips, and safety gear will be provided. Meet us on the west side of Fermilab in the parking lot of the Lederman Science Center.

Many thanks to Corona tools for their donation of hand saws and loppers to FNA to help with this effort.

Read more about this effort and the tool donation at Shawna Coronado's The Casual Gardener blog.

November / December 2011 Newsletter Published

The latest FNA newsletter includes a review of the October volunteer prairie harvests, including what happens AFTER the seed is collected.  You can also read about some research efforts behind a grant application that is currently in progress and Julie Allen bids farewell to Fermilab and Fermilab Natural Areas.

Thanks for all of your efforts, Julie - we will miss you!

Read the latest news online.

November Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the November 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

Trying something new

Establishing uncommon trees and shrubs in restored areas can be difficult.   We often collect the seed of species such as hazelnut (Corylus americana), wild plums (Prunus americanus) or kingnut hickory (Carya laciniosa), and either spread the seed in new places hoping nature will take its course, or give the seed to organizations who have greenhouse facilities.  This fall we are assembling a small cold frame to start tree and shrub seedlings to see if we have better luck with them.  Other species we are going to plant include wafer ash (Ptelea trifoliata) and blue-fruited dogwood (Cornus obliqua). 

Pictured:  Jessica Meyers building the cold frame.



October Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the October 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

Photo of the Day: Red Hawk (& Talons!)

Fermilab employee Gordon Koizumi writes, "It isn't hard to imagine that a red tail hawk has some of the genes that a distant relative such as the velociraptor had when I look at raptor talons.  Attached is an amateur photo taken on the 9th [of September] when the red tail hawk was perched on the ledge on WH13W [Wilson Hall's 13th floor, west side].  If I was a rodent I would have nightmares about those talons. . . ."

Photo of the Day: Herons

Fermilab employee Gordon Koizumi photographed a green hero (above) & a night heron (below), though he says the green heron isn't green, but is a bit shy. 

Coming Soon: Prairie Harvests

The annual volunteer prairie harvests are scheduled for Saturday, October 1 and Saturday, October 29, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.  Both harvests will take place in Fermilab's Main Ring prairie, with a hot dog lunch for all participants!

Photo of the Day: Early Fall Colors

from Fermilab employee Gordon Koizumi:

Thank you to our 3rd Thursday Volunteers!

Many thanks to our Third Thursday Volunteers who helped clean-up the Fermilab site throughout the summer!  We appreciate your efforts - and your enthusiasm.  See you next summer!

Fermilab employee Gordon Koizumi captured this image during the August clean-up.  Thanks Gordon!

September / October Newsletter

The Fermilab Natural Areas' September/October newsletter is now available online!  Read all about summer activities, our upcoming fall prairie harvests, FNA's new relationship with Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership and the Chicago area STEW map.

New Trail adds mileage/diversity to Fermilab Natural Areas

Please enjoy the newest trail through restored oak-hickory savanna. This trail will be available year round for birdwatching, cross-country skiing, hiking, etc. Please enjoy and bring a friend! 



September Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the September 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).
2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

Photo of the Day: Monkey Flower

Gordon Koizumi, with some help from Julie Allen, found this monkey flower in one of Fermilab's ponds:

Photo of the Day: Cardinal Flower

Thanks to Gordon Koizumi, Fermilab employee & FNA supporter for this photo of cardinal flower:

August Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the August 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

Photo of the Day: St. John's Wort

Gordon Koizumi captured this photo of St. John's Wort in bloom:

July / August Newsletter

Catch up on the latest news from FNA, including updates from our interns and a full report from the picnic in June!

Photo:  Tom Peterson & butterfly walk participants, July 7, 2011

Photo of the Day: Starry Campion

Thanks to Fermilab employee & FNA member Gordon Koizumi for this photo of starry campion (July 22):

Photo of the Day: Red Milkweed Beetle

From the prairie, Gordon Koizumi's photo of a red milkweed beetle:

July Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the July 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

Picnic Fun

On Sunday, June 26, more than 50 FNA members gathered under the oaks in the center of the Betz Prairie to enjoy extraordinary sunshine, beautiful breezes, a tasty lunch and each other's company.

In addition to historical musings by Bob Lootens, attendees enjoyed a prairie walk & talk by FNA Board Member Mitch Adamus, a guided bird walk with Peter Kasper and Dave Spleha and a butterfly walk with Tom Peterson.  In the village, Martin Valenzuela offered a presentation about processing prairie seed.

Many thanks to Bob Lootens, Marlene Rosecrans & Evalyn Campbell for their planning efforts!

More photos from the event are available online:

FNA Picnic, June 26, 2011

Photo of the Day: Cow Parsnip

Fermilab employee Gordon Koizumi snapped this photo of an unidentified insect on cow parsnip back on May 31st.

Photo of the Day: Red Crayfish

After the rain last Thursday, Fermilab employee Gordon Koizumi found this red crayfish!

Photo of the Day: Wild Hyacinth

Thanks to Fermilab employee Gordon Koizumi for sharing this photo of Wild Hyacinth taken in late May!

Get Outside this Sunday: Fermilab Family Outdoor Fair

Bring your family to Fermilab this Sunday, June 12, from 1 til 4 p.m.to explore the outdoor world at the Lederman Science Center through hands-on exploration with nature. Sweep for insects. Visit a real bison herd, net for pond critters. Compare yourself to a bison.Go on a nature scavenger hunt. See how raptors see and much more! Open to all ages, rain or shine, this event is free. No registration needed.

For more information, call (630)840-5588 or email edreg@fnal.gov

June Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the June 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

Birds, Butterflies, and Blooms: A walk through Fermilab’s Big Woods

A group of 7 had an exciting mid-day walk.  It was an adventure going along the south path of the Big Woods heading east and looping through the woods back to the Margaret Pearson Trail.  Experts and friends abounded.  Patches of twinleaf and Jacob’s ladder greeted us first, the latter with petals of lavender and soft blue.  Neon red quickly turned our attention to the tree canopy as a Scarlet Tanager was seen, a first for many.  An angle-wing butterfly took off from its resting place.  Two large Red-bellied Woodpeckers courted.  Sunlight dappled through the newly emerging leaves of red oak and sugar maple and we saw a Tiger Swallowtail franticly fly south.  The air was humid like summer.  The group next came upon literally hundreds of large white trilliums, red trilliums, and even a few nodding white trilliums.  The deer had not nibbled them away.  A bridge crossing the creek held an empty chrysalis from an unknown species of butterfly, perhaps a Grey Comma (rare to the Chicago region but common in Fermilab’s restored woodlands).  As ground squirrels hid, we continued down the path and saw a blue-headed vireo, Dutchmen’s breeches, and broad-leaved puccoon (the latter rated a 10 of 10 on the conservative scale).  We looped back to see the hepatica and heard, then saw a Baltimore Oriole.  At the edge of the woods was a nice treat.  Several Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were feeding on the newly emerged catkins of a red oak tree.  Marsh marigold blossomed in the nearby wetland.  What a nice way to spend our lunch break, witnessing the ecology of Fermilab’s natural areas.  Hope to see you next time!

FNA May/June Newsletter Published

The online version of the May/June 2011 Fermilab Natural Areas newsletter is available and includes a recap of Earth Week activities and spring burns as well as details about our upcoming FNA five-year celebration picnic planned for Sunday, June 26!

Photo of the Day: Bellwort

Gordon Koizumi photographed Bellwort in the Big Woods at Fermilab, back in April:

Photo of the Day: Goldenseal

Thanks to Gordon Koizumi for the photo of Big Woods Goldenseal:

Photo of the Day: White Trillium

Last week Gordon Koizumi photographed white trillium in Fermilab's Big Woods:

Photo of the Day: Red Trillium

FNA supporter & friend Gordon Koizumi captured this photo of red trillium last week:

Volunteer Workday: Garlic Mustard Pull

FNA will be hosting a garlic mustard pulling event at Fermilab on Wednesday May 11th from 4-6 pm.


Please meet at the Lederman Science Center parking lot at 4:00PM (Across from the guard shack at the Pine Street Entrance).  Wear mud boots or shoes and long sleeves. Bring gloves if you have any as poison ivy is starting to leaf out.

We will be focusing on Morgan's woods at the corner of Kirk and Pine St.

Photo of the Day: Shooting Star

Thanks to Gordon Koizumi for the photo of shooting star, from the Fermilab prairie:

Photo of the Day: Dutchman's Breeches

Thanks to Gordon Koizumi for the photo of Dutchman's Breeches:

May Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the May 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

Online Viewing: FNA as a Restoring Force?

Ryan Campbell's Earth Day talk, "FNA as a Restoring Force?" is available for online viewing.  Fermilab Today also highlighted Ryan's talk in today's edition.

Photo:  Ryan Campbell, Julia Allen & 2009 FNA intern Courtney Gill

in Fermilab's main ring prairie.

Photo of the Day: Trout Lilly & Twin Leaf

Enjoy these photos from Gordon Koizumi:

Trout Lilly

Twin Leaf

Today's Woodland Walk Cancelled

The walk in the Big Woods, originally scheduled for today at noon, has been cancelled due to muddy conditions on the trails.

Earth Day Talk: Fermilab Natural Areas as a Restoring Force?

Fermilab Ecologist Ryan Campbell will present his talk, "Fermilab Natural Areas as a Restoring Force?" today at noon in Fermilab’s Wilson Hall One West conference room.  This presentation offers a comprehensive presentation on the goals and efforts of Fermilab and FNA’s ecological efforts.
 

Happy Earth Day!

some photos from Gordon Koizumi, taken at Fermilab:

Virginia Bluebell

Spring Beauty

Today's Planting Cancelled

Due to the unfortunate weather, we will be canceling the native shrub planting. Our official Arbor Day event is scheduled for May 3rd from 11:30 AM - 1 PM.

The seed planting scheduled for tomorrow, April 20th is still on. 11:30 AM at the Interpretive Prairie trail.

April Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the April 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.