Archive for September, 2006
Friday, September 29th, 2006
This week’s birds — Winnebago County whooping cranes?
A caller from Winnebago township reported seeing two large white birds with red on their heads and black wing tips flying near a pond a week ago, near Severson Dells.
Could they have been a pair of endangered adult whooping cranes — among the rarest birds in the world — that had been last […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Observing Nature by Brian Leaf
Thursday, September 28th, 2006
The true value of trees
What’s a tree worth?
An estimator will tell you the value of its lumber. A developer may tell you that it has negative value if he has to pay to remove it. An environmentalist will tell you the tree is priceless.
Canadian ecological economist Mark Anielski figures the globe-spanning boreal forest is worth $225 billion a year […]
No Comments » - Posted in Info by Brian Leaf
Wednesday, September 27th, 2006
Ivory-billed woodpecker redux
Another sighting of the ivory-billed woodpecker, this time in Florida. The ornithological world was set aflutter in 2004 when Cornell University researchers recorded the bird’s call and released a grainy video shot in an Arkansas swamp — the first confirmed sighting in 60 years.
The Florida bird was seen by Auburn University ornithologists. They published their […]
No Comments » - Posted in Observing Nature by Brian Leaf
Tuesday, September 26th, 2006
Preview: Dave Foreman
Dave Foreman, who will speak in Rockford Oct. 12 as part of Severson Dells Nature Center’s “The Beauty and Awe of Nature” program, is profiled in the Aspen Times.
Click here to read the story.
No Comments » - Posted in Info, Events by Brian Leaf
Monday, September 25th, 2006
Farmland vs. Sprawl
There’s an interesting story on sprawl by Lester Graham of the Great Lakes Radio Consortium that mentions development around DeKalb. The story says that some counties are trying to protect farmland by pointing out “some of that difference between farmland value and development value. “
Scott Everette with the American Farmland Trust, says the argument […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Sprawl by Brian Leaf
Friday, September 22nd, 2006
Now let’s get something straight . . .
Here is a test.
What exactly is Severson Dells?
A) A forest preserve
B) A gorge
C) A nature center
D) All of the above
If you answered all of the above, give yourself a point. And here’s why D is the correct answer.
A) Severson Dells is a Winnebago County Forest Preserve. Fannie Severson gave the 369-acre property to the […]
No Comments » - Posted in Info by Brian Leaf
Thursday, September 21st, 2006
The Stripping of the Pokeweed
The annual stripping of the pokeweed has begun at the Nature Center. Cedar waxwings love pokeweed berries and flocks have descended on the beautiful pokeweed growing in our butterfly garden. Catbirds, robins, thrushes are among migrants enjoying the ripened fruit.
Pokeweed is a great plant for bird and butterfly gardens. But be forewarned: it can grow […]
No Comments » - Posted in Observing Nature by Brian Leaf
Wednesday, September 20th, 2006
Signs of fall
September is two-thirds gone and the trees are still pretty green. But there are signs at Severson Dells that fall is here.
The New England and smooth blue asters are blooming in their late season brilliance. The honeybees in our hive are thankful.
Monarch butterflies are fueling up on thistle nectar as they ride the breeze south […]
