Growing up with a forest in my backyard, I thought I knew all the sounds that Indiana spring nights had to offer, from the distinctive hoots of owls to the occasional chirp of bats. Apart from these somewhat rare springtime noises, it seemed like the forest, for the most part, held on to the blanket […]
Frogs Hopping Around Lydick Bog Nature Preserve Read More »
By Evan Kaiafas The sand prairie regions of Northwest Indiana and Northeast Illinois are filled with an incredible diversity of reptiles and amphibians. Many of these species are what I like to call “sand specialists” because, through evolution, they have become perfectly equipped to deal with the unique conditions of a sand prairie ecosystem. These
The Secretive Legless Lizard Read More »
By: Jim Haniford Well, here we are. It’s the fourth blog already. Hard to believe it’s been over a month since I started sharing these experiences with you. They’re the field notes of our ongoing campaign to monitor the American mink along a tributary of Salt Creek that snakes its way through Meadowbrook Nature Preserve.
Snowy Scenes: Mink Monitoring Part 4 Read More »
By: Jim Haniford A few scattered reports have come in from around the preserve about a small, furry creature, glimpsed for just a matter of seconds in each instance. One staff member saw it run out from the tall grass as she approached on a riding mower. Another encountered it running up a trail in
Monitoring the American Mink: Part 1 Read More »
Join us for a discussion of the various habitats of Northwest Indiana and the reptiles and amphibians that live there.
Amphibians and Reptiles of Northwest Indiana Read More »
This story is part of an ongoing wildlife monitoring project along a tributary of Salt Creek, Damon Run, that meanders through Meadowbrook Nature Preserve. Check out Part 1 and Part 2 to catch up! By: Jim Haniford Nothing prepared me for winter through the lens of the trail camera. Once Sarah fine-tuned its sensitivity,
Drama on Damon Run: Mink Monitoring Part 3 Read More »
By: Jim Haniford As I mentioned in my first blog entry, we are in search of the American Mink (Neovison vison). In case you missed it, I wrote about a few random encounters that led to the initiation of a creekside monitoring project, enlisting the use of a trail cam in order to capture this
Monitoring the American Mink: Part 2 Read More »
By Warren Buckler When Peg Mohar and I embarked on our Bringing Nature Home project ten years ago, in part as a way for older members to remain active, we had no idea what response we’d get from the gardening public. Our goal, inspired by Doug Tallamy’s book “Bringing Nature Home,” was to recognize
On the 10th Season of our “Bringing Nature Home” Program, a Look Back – and Forward. Read More »
The tenth season of our Bringing Nature Home Program was not to be deterred by a pandemic. The ability to spend time outdoors, tending to gardens and landscapes has become a great source of respite for many, and the applications came in. Plantings ranged from small city gardens to multi-acre rural landscapes. While we were
Bringing Nature Home Garden Recognitions Read More »
