Birds

Events

Northern Saw-Whet Owl sitting on a branch, looking forward

The Northern Saw-Whet Owl: Our Secretive Winter Neighbors

December 14, 2023

Winter scene with birds hanging out on feeders

Winter Birding 101 | Savanna Library

January 23, 2024

County

Carroll

Blog Posts

Is it an alien? Is it a plane? They're Sandhill Cranes!

November 20, 2023

Walking outside on a nice fall day, you may be greeted by a strange, primal rattling sound coming from way high up in the sky. No, it’s not an...

Burning bush threatens migrating birds

November 4, 2023

Some years ago, it was shocking to learn that one of my favorite ornamental shrubs, burning bush (Euonymus alatus), is invasive. It took a...

Cantankerous cavities

September 13, 2023

Most cavities in a tree are caused by some type of living organism, either an animal or a pathogen of some sort. Some cavities will only be found in...

Redbuds: a great addition to any landscape. Branches of a redbud tree coer

Redbuds are a great addition to any landscape

April 14, 2023

While spring-blooming bulbs get much of our attention in the spring, flowering trees shouldn’t be overlooked. One of the best trees for spring color...

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News Releases

October 19, 2023

Extension Master Naturalists give nature a hand with bluebird monitoring
LEWISTOWN, Ill. - It’s not easy to be a bluebird family. Aggressive birds discourage nesting; predators steal eggs and chicks; competing cavity nesters claim the boxes; insects attack featherless hatchlings. Even the weather impacts bluebirds. Altogether, these conditions will result in bluebird...

A blue bird flying with a graphic of snowflakes behind it.

October 17, 2023

Extension offers free bird count workshops in November
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. –Do you want to understand how to participate in your local Christmas Bird Count (CBC)? Learn the ABCs of a CBC during one of the free workshops offered during the month of November. The CBC is the nation’s longest-running community science bird project, which has been...

a group of people in a home flower garden

August 17, 2023

U of I Extension brings Conservation@Home program to West Central Illinois
LEWISTOWN, Ill. - The “typical” yard can easily be improved to help reduce water run-off, increase wildlife habitat, and improve the soil, which ultimately improves the environment. The Conservation@Home (C@H) program was created...

March 9, 2023

Get Inspiration for your gardens at Spring Series of Home Horticulture
(ROCK ISLAND, Ill.) As spring arrives, gardeners turn their thoughts to their home gardens. University of Illinois Extension is here to help with its annual Spring Series of Home Horticulture offerings on Mondays, April 10, 17 and 24 from 6 to 8 pm at the Holiday Inn, Rock Island, IL. Each night...

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