Embrace winter's beauty through outdoor exploration and indoor inspiration at the University of Illinois Extension's Winter Trails & Naturalist Tales from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Winter Trails & Naturalist Tales will be held at Torstenson's Education Center, 13735 Cook Road, Pecatonica, and includes three "naturalist tales" keynote speakers and an opportunity for a winter hike. 
 

The first naturalist tale, Climate, Critters, and Nature, will be presented by Duane Friend. Duane will discuss weather trends and how these trends can affect Illinois wildlife and ecosystems, such as wetlands

The second naturalist tale, Fabulous Frogs, will be presented by Connie McIntosh. Connie will discuss the unique sounds we will hear frogs make in the springtime. She will talk about frogs' lifecycles, distinctive calls, habitats, food resources, and what they can tell us about our changing environment.

The third naturalist tale, Cloud Basics, will be presented by Duane Friend. Clouds are something that constantly provide a new scene to observe, from peaceful to violent.  This talk by Duane will focus on how they form, discuss several types of clouds, and provide basic weather forecasting that can be done by cloud observation.

The fourth naturalist tale, Birds of a Feather at a Birding Hotspot, Nygren Wetland Preserve, will be presented by Kim Johnsen. Kim will share photos of birds from Nygren Wetland Preserve, which has a variety of habitats from prairie to wetlands to woodlands. This preserve is considered a birding hotspot in northern Illinois and attracts all kinds of birds. Johnsen will give tips on how to identify birds that have been seen at this preserve, describe their behavior, and tell you what kind of environment they like.