Birds

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Blog Posts
a bird with a berry in its beak
Beyond the bird feeder: Grow an autumn food web with native plants
As leaves change color, fall migration brings many birds through central Illinois. Warblers, vireos, thrushes, and other songbirds stop along the way...
a bird with a berry in its beak
From serviceberries to winterberries: Native fruits for birds year-round
Native trees and shrubs provide more than flowers, fall color, and wildlife habitat. They also create a diverse selection of food for birds...
Nesting birds
Coexisting with nesting birds: protecting the home and supporting wildlife
Every spring and summer, increased bird activity becomes noticeable around the home. I love sitting outside on my patio and watching my yard...
Ruby-throated hummingbird sipping nectar from a red tubular flower in soft bokeh light
More than feeders: Attracting hummingbirds to your landscape
As temperatures warm and spring progresses, our landscapes come alive. Plants resume growth and begin flowering, insects emerge, and hummingbirds...
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News Releases
Snowflake
Celebrate the season at WinterFest set for Jan. 17
GENOA, Ill.—The annual WinterFest, held at the Natural Resources Education Center (NREC) in Russell Woods Forest Preserve, will be Saturday, Jan. 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Russell Woods is located 1 mile west of Genoa on state route 72.University of Illinois Extension and DeKalb...
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Videos
Uncovering the Winter Secrets of Whip-poor-wills

Often heard and rarely seen, the eastern whip-poor-will and its namesake nighttime call is an iconic Midwestern woodland bird. But like many other insect-eating birds, its numbers are declining. University of Illinois avian researchers are working to uncover the secrets of where this elusive...

Create a Winter Bird Haven

The garden doesn’t stop being a haven in the winter months. Lots of wildlife can use your yard for over-wintering and provide a delightful spectacle on cold days as we look out dreaming of warmer weather. Attracting birds to the winter landscape can be incredibly rewarding for people of all ages...
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Staff