Wildlife Diversity Impresses at Pecatonica Wetlands Forest Preserve Near Rockford, Illinois

 

Pecatonica Wetlands Forest Preserve in Pecatonica, Illinois Enchants With Serene Ponds and Diverse Wildlife

Pecatonica Wetlands Forest Preserve in Pecatonica, Illinois enchanted us with an afternoon of wildlife watching. Visiting on a recent spring day, we benefitted from a nice temperature for wandering during spring migration. The opportunity to observe busy, spring wildlife awaited us!

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Thriving Restoration at Jelke Creek Bird Sanctuary in Dundee, Illinois

 

Jelke Creek Bird Sanctuary Treats Visitors to a Peaceful Spot for Hiking, Birding, Biking, Horseback Riding and Fishing

On a warm, sunny spring day during the height of bird migration, we ventured to Jelke Creek Bird Sanctuary in Dundee, Illinois for our first time. What once was a gravel mining site now is the location of a preserve established to provide vital habitat to birds and other wildlife. Additionally, the trails provide avenues of nature exploring and bird watching for visitors.

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Exploring the World of Birds Along the Boardwalks of Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in Oak Harbor, Ohio

 

Wandering Ohio Birding Hot Spot Magee Marsh Wildlife Area

Magee Marsh Wildlife Area along the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio welcomes visitors to truly walk among the birds. During our summer visit, we not only reveled in the sounds and sights of birds but also soaked up the lush flora of the preserve . As we embarked on the boardwalk through the marsh, we felt transported far away. The completely flourishing environment wrapped us in the greens of nature.

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10 Tips for Birding from Your Window

10 Tips for Birding from Your Window

**Disclosure: I do work with The Wildbird Shack and help them with their social media outreach. They are sponsors of the blog. All opinions are 100% my own.

Ever since I moved into my house, I have been entertained by the antics of the cardinals and sparrows in my yard. Over the years, I have added some more bird friendly elements. If you are looking for a great way to entertain your family while enjoying and learning about nature, backyard birding is a great activity to start. Here are 10 tips to get you started so you can even bird from your window!

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Backyard Bird Care for Winter

Backyard Bird Care for Winter:

**Disclosure: I do manage The Wildbird Shack's  social media outreach. All opinions are 100% my own.

Birds experience a scarcity of resources during winter months and need a little help from us. My friends a The Wildbird Shack in Mount Prospect, Illinois have a few suggestions on how you can help birds this winter and keep them coming to your yard:

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Penny Road Pond in Barrington, Illinois

Looking for a new place to hike, we headed over to Penny Road Pond in Barrington over the weekend. The trails adjacent to the pond area are a bit less defined than in other preserves. In general, the area experiences less traffic which lends to a particularly peaceful experience.

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Nahant Marsh in Davenport, Iowa

Nahant Marsh in Davenport, Iowa is an ecological success story. Once the site of a sportsman's club, the area had been contaminated with lead due to skeet shooting. The site was declared a Superfund Site. After the lead was cleaned up, the marsh was designated as a nature preserve. Today, we can all witness the amazing recovery of the marsh. The marsh is now the home to over 150 species of birds, over 400 species of plants, some mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects. The preserve provides for a tranquil nature adventure that most of us are not treated to everyday!

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Fall Bird Migration and Reminder to Stock Up on Bird Food for Winter

Cedar waxwings who will be migrating soon!

**Disclosure: I do help The Wildbird Shack with their social media outreach. All opinions in this post are 100% mine.

While we have still been enjoying some summer-like days, I am sure you have felt some of fall's crispness in the air on others. Just as we are beginning to turn our minds to weather changes to come, our wildlife is also preparing. In fact, my resident chipmunk has been sporting seed-filled jowls quite regularly the past few weeks. Birds are already migrating to their winter homes. During this migration period, we all have a chance to see birds that we do not normally see in the area. This is a great time of year to go on a bird walk--many of which are offered through the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

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Exploration of The Wildbird Shack in Mt. Prospect Reveals Locally Made Items and Sense of Community

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

The Wildbird Shack in Mount Prospect easily illustrates what you miss if you are not visiting unique, local small businesses. During my first visit last Friday, I discovered not only a trove of birding items but a real community haven. I met with one of the owners, Alyse Burman, during my visit and found her to be warm, welcoming and eager to share her knowledge about birding. Quickly, I learned that The Wildbird Shack hosts community events, engages in school programs, develops sensory gardens at senior homes and purveys locally made items. A true sense of community!

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