Birds are tough little creatures, enduring harsh conditions that we tend to avoid at all costs. Many birds build up fat stores before winter, which can serve dual purposes. For birds that migrate south, this acts primarily as an energy source, while birds that maintain their territory use the fat as insulation. Some birds, such […]

Imagine you are enjoying a nice walk on one of the many Great Parks trails and in a nearby stream you see this: What is it? A)  Some strange chemical B)  An incredibly large orange juice spill C)  Water stained from autumn leaves D)  Iron bacteria If you chose option “B,” you might be thirsty. […]

In ecology jargon, “species richness” is a term we use to describe a habitat that teems with many plant and animal species. While biking the Shaker Trace Trail at Miami Whitewater Forest with my family last weekend, we were watching tree swallows swooping in amongst a large group of dragonflies darting over the prairie. Were […]

Over the past few years, the Great Parks Stewardship department has been aware of declining monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) sightings. The department has since taken steps to help promote and protect their habitat. In the fall, monarch butterflies from our region start their migration to Mexico for the winter. When winter is over, they will […]

Most commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs, these interesting insects are in fact a beetle and members of the family Lampyridae, Greek for “shining ones.” The familiar luminescent beetles are recognized for their nighttime display of flashes in the summer. Most of us have fond memories of catching these gentle and harmless beetles as kids […]

Every year throughout the spring, summer and fall, we see thousands of insects around us outdoors. The majority of these insects are not a problem for us. However, some are a problem for certain plants, and some are a problem for certain other insects. Aphids, which are sometimes referred to as “plant lice,” are among […]

Your everyday interactions with those around you can have a lifelong impact. I have early childhood memories that I now realize helped shape who I am today. I can remember when my school principal shared a paw paw fruit with my kindergarten class. Our elementary school was also visited by a naturalist who showed us […]

The Stewardship Department really knows the parks inside and out. They’re almost always out in the field collecting water samples, conducting plant surveys, tracking native species or any number of behind-the-scenes conservation activities. As the days get longer and there’s more time for exploring outdoors, a few members of the Stewardship team shared their favorite […]