Adult Coloring

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Adult Coloring
August 7, 1- 3 PM

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There is no better way to relax and achieve a state of mindfulness than adult coloring. This trend in artful expression is a chance to be creative without any prior artistic experience. We will supply the sheets, coloring tools, and a bit of guidance. So join us on the Prairie House porch, 11225 Constitution Dr.  from 1 to 3 pm. $5 fee for supplies. For more information, call 708-354-5512.

2016 Insect Safari

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Insect Safari
Saturday, July 16 at 10 am to 12:30

Join us for our annual Insect Safari day. The noted insect expert, Mike Rush, will guide participants out onto the Prairie and along the Prairie House garden to collect insects for examination and study on the porch of the Prairie House. Later, all insects will be released.

Participants are urged to wear socks and long pants. Sandals are not advised.

There is a $5 fee for adult non-members;  Children are free.

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2016 NATIVE PLANT SALE

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IMGP2608NATIVE PLANT SALE
STPS is hosting Linda Love’s Gardens on Sunday, June 26th – 1 pm at the Prairie  House. Linda has been growing native Illinois plants for many years and has a reputation for raising healthy quality plants at reasonable prices. Linda will gladly help you with your selections if you need advice in regards to degree of difficulty or positioning for light. STPS members will be available to talk to you about Wolf Road Prairie. If you have any questions, email info@savetheprairiesociety.org.
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This is a wonderful way to help the environment. Studies have shown that butterflies and moths prefer to lay their eggs on native plants. In turn, the resulting caterpillars provide the protein that immature birds must have to develop bone and muscle. A decline in native insects is directly related to a growing decline in our bird populations.

Effects of Climate Change on Bird Migration

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Naturalist Ron Skleney will discuss . . .
– What effect does climate change have on bird migration?
– What factors determine the timing of their migration?
– feather2How is the food they depend upon impacted by temperature differences?
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Ron will help us sort through the research and find emerging patterns
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La Grange Park Library
555 N LaGrange Park Library
North of Ogden and South of 31st Street
May 17, Tuesday at 7 pm
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Questions and discussion to follow.
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For more information, call 708-354-5512.

Have you ever seen a prairie burn?

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Before the Europeans came to North America prairies burned regularly — sometimes many square miles at a time due to natural events such as lightning. Those natural burns usually occurred at least once very two or three years. Now prairies have to be burned to keep the woody plants from taking over.

Here’s a link to a YouTube video of a burn performed last November. Be sure to watch the end as new GREEN starts to appear.


https://youtu.be/kAcFc90p5mE

The Contested Land: The Changing Flora and Fauna of the Chicago Region

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Noted author and researcher, Joel Greenberg will be speaking on              Joel Greenberg

                                        Tuesday, April 12 at 7 pm
          Plymouth Place [Dole Hall] – 315 N LaGrange Road, LaGrange Park
                                   Between Ogden and 31st Street
                   Admission  $20   –     Members and STPS Volunteers  Free
                         Joel is the author of several noted books including
                            The Natural History of The Chicago Region &
                                    A Feathered River Across The Sky

Joel will discuss ecosystems like prairies and woodlands, as well as
individual species,to see how their status has been affected by
modern humans. Habitat loss, direct take,introduced species,
pollution, and climate change are all factors that will have
impactedthe biological richness that this area once held. But
even in the face of such challengessome species, like the coyote
and sandhill crane, have increased over the years. He will look
at some of those stories too.  (He is a consultant for the Chicago
Field Museum &  the Academy of Science at the Peggy Notebaert
Museum.)

 

Woodcock Watches

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Four Friday Woodcock Gatherings on The Deck of The Prairie House (11225 Constitution Drive, Westchester, IL — West of Wolf Road between 22nd and 31st Streets)
Starting Time: Sunset.
March 18, March 25, April 1, April 8
The north side of Wolf Road Prairie has had as many as four males performing their dramatic courtship flight, in which the male ascends in ever widening spirals and ends in a  zig-zag descent. Upon landing, the woodcock waits for a response from a female while calling to her with a vocalization that  sounds somewhat like that of an insect. Birders often compare it to the call of the nighthawk.
 
If a female does not respond, the male will repeat his performance again until finally ending his exhausting performance after about an hour in either failure or success. Either way the next evening, he will try his luck again.
Here is a link to their dance – which is pretty funny.

Indian Mounds of Illinois Including the Chicago Area

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Illinois has more Indian Mounds than you would think, each one with its own story. Jack has explored, studied, and compared the different sites. Join us and find out what he has learned. indian mounds 2

This is a free event.

Sunday, February 14 at 2 pm
LaGrange Park Library – 555 N LaGrange Road
Presenter Jack MacRae, retired DuPage Forest Preserve Naturalist