Chicago EXPLORING NATURE & CULTURE

WFALILL 19D99 ERNES S

EXISTENTIAL MUSHROOMS • T URNSTONES AND ME What is Chicago Wilderness? Chicago Wilderness is some of the finest and most significant nature in the temperate world, with roughly 200,000 acres of protected natural lands harboring native plant and animal communities that are more rare— and their survival more globally threatened—than the tropical rain forests.

CHICAGO WILDERNESS is an unprecedented alliance of 92 public and private organizations working together to study and restore, protect and manage the precious natural resources of the Chicago region for the benefit of the public.

Chicago WILDERNES S is a quarterly magazine that celebrates the rich natural heritage of this region and tells the inspiring stories of the people and organizations working to heal and protect local nature. CHICAGO WILDERNESS A Regional Nature Reserve

Wildness and Boundaries

oes this photograph depict Chicago Wilderness? far apart from where we live. The birds and the bees and Is it beautiful, or is it grim? Noble maple leaf the butterflies do not respect such boundaries. Neither do D caught by an ugly cyclone fence? Or is the fence aggressive weeds, nor the shady maples that invade and a helpful barrier to protect some patch of nature? degrade oak woods, nor acid rain. Neither should we. In the early days of prairie conservation here, Dr. Consider this fact: Twice a year a colossal flood of Robert Betz labored heroically to put cyclone fences birds washes over this region, birds flocking south from around our few last beleaguered prairies—as a first step. the north woods in Wisconsin and Ontario, from the Some thought the work was over once nature was shores of Hudson Bay, from the Arctic tundra. Using protected from people. river valleys, moraines, Environmental histo - and lakefront as migra - rian William Cronon, tory corridors, many of author of Nature’s these birds find tempo - Metropolis, Chicago and the rary refuge and Great West, delivered an sustenance for their jour - address to the Kennicott neys in local preserves, Society of the Chicago but many also appear in Academy of Sciences in Chicago Wilderness June. As Cronon analyzed yards and alleys and it, wilderness is neither a streets. Many are eaten thing nor a place but is by house cats on the “a profoundly human loose, or carom into idea.” A product of buildings and cell tow - P h o t

European romanticism, o ers, or are poisoned by :

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the idea of wilderness o garden pesticides. For n

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emerges from European n good or ill, our entire d s e notions of the sublime: a y region becomes part of notion first embodied in artistic, theatrical images of this semi-annual nature story, part of this hemisphere’s waterfalls (Niagara!), canyons (Grand!), thunderclouds, wilderness. mountaintops. So the whole idea of wilderness came as Mushroom collectors fanning out through the woods, part of the cultural baggage that the European immi - maintaining Old World culture in this region, also are a grants among our ancestors brought to this new land. part of Chicago Wilderness, enjoying and appreciating There is, Cronon noted, a fundamental dualism and ingesting it too. woven into this idea of wilderness—the notion that In his essay on page 26, Peter Friederici tells a delight - humans are outside of and in opposition to nature. fully human story of nature, how boyhood visits to local Chicago Wilderness, as a vision for this region, pro - wilds inspired and changed him. People, birds, and foundly challenges that construct. Indeed, Chicago mushrooms take part in Chicago Wilderness. As hunter- Wilderness posits a different paradigm: that humans, gatherers on five continents, our species has been a part O

P rather than standing outside of nature, can be a healthy of wildness, as long as we have existed. P O

S part of healthy nature. So head out to the woods this fall, or stroll along city I T

E Chicago Wilderness seeks to deconstruct the artificial streets. Watch the maple leaves fight with the oaks, or :

P boundaries that would have us believe rare nature exists catch in a fence. Celebrate autumn with the illimitable h o t only where fenced into “no human impact” areas, places birds. Inside and outside of boundaries. o b y

C

a Debra Shore s e y

EDITOR G a l v i n

F ALL 1999

CONTENTS P h o t o :

FEATURES M i c h a e l

S h e d l EXISTENTIAL MUSHROOMS: 4 o c The Middle Kingdom of Chicago Wilderness k by Raymond Wiggers ...... 4 Where Old World houby hunters search for tasty morsels, and top-notch scientists explore the mysterious underground indispensability of fungi. THE FALL: A Harvest for Eyes and Soul ...... 10 Ripeness of summer fades into the last lush fall of the millennium. P h o t o

D E PA RTMENTS :

E r i c a

B e n s

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Into the Wild ...... 15 n Where to slush through the leaves, or plan a fall camping trip. How to volunteer. Working the Wilderness: The Burn That Wasn’t ...... 16 by Joe Neumann I

Meet Your Neighbors ...... 23 l l u s t

A Shaggy Bark Story: hickory nuts and nuttier. Story of a Lost Star. r a t i o n

South Side Tour Guides. :

M a t t h e Guest Essay ...... 26 w

V i n

Turnstones and Me by Peter Friederici c e

26 n t Family Quiz Game ...... 28 Test your local nature knowledge. Chicago News from Chicago Wilderness ...... 29 WILDERNES S Reading Pictures ...... 36 Volume III, Number 1 Photo and Synthesis. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President : Dr. George Rabb Vice-President : Dan Griffin Secretary : Laura Gates Treasurer : Barbara Whitney Carr Jerry Adelmann, Laura Hohnhold, John Rogner, Ron Wolk

EDITOR ...... Debra Shore SENIOR EDITOR ...... Stephen Packard ASSISTANT EDITORS ...... Sheryl De Vore Chris Howes

NEWS EDITORS ...... Elizabeth Sanders Alison Carney Brown ART DIRECTOR ...... Terri Wymore EDITORIAL CONSULTANT ...... Bill Aldrich

Chicago WILDERNESS is published quarterly. Subscriptions are $12/yr. Please address all subscription correspondence to Chicago WILDERNESS , P.O. Box 268, Downers Grove, IL 60515-0268. (630) 963-8010. Please direct editorial inquiries and correspondence to Editor, Chicago WILDERNESS , 9232 Avers Ave, Evanston, IL 60203. (847) 677-2470. e-mail: [email protected] Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned without a self- ABOVE: Bird’s nest fungi emerge from wood as flat-topped muffins (center). When they open, addressed stamped envelope. Chicago WILDERNESS is rain splashes out the egg-like spore capsules. Photo by Kohout Productions/Root Resources. printed on recycled paper and should be passed around OPPOSITE: Rough blazing stars in shifting sands of sand prairie at Illinois Beach State Park. from friend to friend. Chicago WILDERNESS is endorsed Photo by Willard Clay. by the Chicago Region Biodiversity Council. The opinions COVER: Shaggy mane mushrooms are common along woodland trails, but they might also come expressed in these pages, however, are the authors’ own. © up in your lawn. Photo by Joe Nowak. by Chicago Wilderness Magazine , Inc. ISSN 1097-8917. Postmaster, address service requested to Chicago WILDERNESS , PO Box 268, Downers Grove, IL F ALL 1999 60515-0268. 3 All rights reserved. 4 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS Mushrooms Exploring Chicagoland’s Middle Kingdom P h o t o :

P a t

by Raymond Wiggers r i c i a

A r m s t r o n g

f you need proof of this dom of highly proficient consumers, the ani - mals. Admitting to such shared ancestry world’s rottenness, con - might run counter to our preferences, so you sider the fungi. They may be relieved to know that most scientists now put fungi in a separate, middle king - are the insidious dom, between the plants and animals. agents of decay Unlike bacteria, fungi are eukaryotes— advanced organisms with cell nuclei and and untimely death. They compro - organelles. With a fossil record extending mise our crops, attack our favorite back four to eight hundred million years, fungi are now recognized, at least by the sci - P shade trees, undermine our wooden h entific community, as lead actors in the o t o :

drama of life. M i dwellings, stain our walls with c h a

Most fungus is invisible, underground or e l

S h mildew, and plague us with a host of inside rotting wood. Mushrooms are actually e d l o c diseases ranging from athlete’s foot to the short-lived fruiting bodies of larger, web - k like networks of hyphae, or fungal strands. lethal infections. For the sake of our own These networks, also called mycelia, grow in survival, we must keep these disgusting, alien soil, leaf litter, wood, and other substrates. forms of life at bay. (In one Michigan woodland, researchers Such anti-fungus prejudice brings out the have found a mycelium— one individual fighting side of Field Museum mycologist Dr. organism—that covers 35 acres and is Gregory Mueller. “This is a perfect example approximately 1,500 years old.) Mushrooms of ignorance breeding contempt,” he says and similar structures such as polypores, with a sense of authority born of much time earth stars, and puffballs, are the cleverly spent defending the planet’s most misunder - engineered mechanisms these fungi use to P h o t stood organisms. “Without fungi, we simply produce and disperse their spores. And this o :

K o wouldn’t exist. Without their skills as they do by relying on nature’s ancient, costly, h o u t decomposers, for example, we’d drown in an but effective game of large numbers. A single P r o d u ocean of organic debris. Literally.” He also morel mushroom casts several million spores; c t i o n s

cites the thousands of human lives saved by a giant puffball, an astounding twenty tril - / R o o drugs derived from fungi, such as penicillin, lion. It’s fortunate for the rest of us that t

R e s an acid that kills bacteria by preventing many are called, but few are chosen: if more o u r c e them from building cell walls; cyclosporin, than a tiny fraction of those spores were suc - s an immune-response inhibitor that aids in cessful, the fungi would quickly overwhelm organ transplants; and lovastatin, which low - their sister kingdoms, derail earth’s intricate ers cholesterol levels. interplay of ecosystems, and ultimately starve Until fairly recently, scientists considered to death on their own success. fungi to be plants. Yet most plants have After listening to Greg Mueller combat chlorophyll and roots and highly differenti - fungiphobia and extol his beloved middle ated tissues. Fungi lack all three. Plants are kingdom, one knows he has a flair for renowned for their ability to manufacture explaining the fine points of mycology—the their own food; fungi require an external source of nutrition but are expert at finding

Facing page: Caroline Murphy shows off a P h o and even digesting their food externally. t triumphant haul of morels. Photo by Joe Nowak. o :

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Indeed, some scientists argue that the fungi l l

This page from top: Parasol mushrooms, waxy H a l are more closely linked to that other king - caps, stinkhorn, red chanterelles. l

F ALL 1999 5 science that deals with the classification, In Chicagoland, many of the most pas - evolution, and ecological significance of the sionate adherents to the cult of edible fungi fungi. As a curator and botany department are the descendants of Central and Eastern chair at the Field Museum—one of the coun - European immigrants—people of Polish, try’s top two or three institutions in Italian, and Czech blood, who have inher - mycology—Mueller is also a prominent acad - ited a distinctly mushroom-centered emic and researcher. A native of Belleville, appreciation of nature and cuisine. In Illinois, who received his doctorate at the Berwyn, Cicero, and La Grange Park, resi - i k c

e University of Tennessee, Mueller first dents can still tell you the meaning and d a W

became intrigued by fungi when, as an deeper implications of the Czech term houby a i c i r t undergraduate at Southern Illinois (pronounced HOE-bee). If you search for the a P

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t University, he was unexpectedly enthralled term on the Internet, you’ll find yourself o h P by a mycology course he took. “I’d probably awash in a sea of Old Country websites, most have been hooked on the subject earlier,” he containing recipes or scenes of storybook admits, “but you can’t be excited by some - forests. Even without understanding a word thing until you know it exists.” of the language, you quickly get the sense Mueller’s career—which has included that houby merely means mushrooms, in the work in the Pacific Northwest, Scandinavia, same sense that caviar merely means seafood. China, and the New World tropics—has Each fall for the past 31 years the Czech- flourished in a period that can justly be American community has flaunted its love of called the golden age of his branch of biol - mushrooming through a fall Houby Festival. ogy. Mueller is well aware of his own good This year the festival occurs on October 2 & timing: “New technologies, new types of 3 with an Arts and Crafts show on Cermak research, and the current emphasis on biodi - Road from Austin to Wesley and a carnival versity have put fungi at the forefront.” on Cermak and Lombard Ave. (9 a.m.– Currently, he’s conducting a local study with 6 p.m.). The parade is on October 3rd along r e

m Field Museum colleagues Patrick Leacock Cermak from Central to Oakpark Ave. d e R

l and John Paul Schmit. The trio is scrutiniz - (12:30–2:30 p.m.). Visitors find, in addition e a h c i ing the impact of air pollution, specifically in to theme dishes and local merchants’ offer - M

: o t the form of inorganic nitrogen, on ecologi - ings, printed regulations for would-be houby o h P cally important mycorrhizal fungi. These hunters. One learns that proper dress is fungi and the root systems of their hosts— required (black felt cap with visor, long oaks and most other native trees—form underwear, heavy twill vest, leggings, and symbiotic associations known as ectomycor - rope belt) and that the hunter’s car must be rhizae. By comparing ectomycorrhizal at least 10 years old, have less than 3,000 communities at such sites as Cook County’s miles on the odometer, and be used only on Swallow Cliff Woods, located upwind of the rainless Sundays. One other regulation, city’s air-pollution plume, to those at the though, is less a play on the Bohemian immi - downwind site of Cowles Bog at Indiana grant stereotype than it is rooted in the Dunes National Lakeshore, the team has unassailable truth. On setting out from home, already found some alarming evidence. It so the instructions read, the houby hunter appears that the higher level of nitrogen must drive through alleys, circle the block deposition at Cowles Bog is linked to the several times, and always use the least direct smaller proportion of ectomycorrhizae there. route to the picking grounds, lest neighbors An appreciation of mycology and its n i v l a

G latter-day advances is a good way to over - y e s a come fungiphobia, but there are other ways, C

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o too, though they have little to do with h P science in the modern sense. Instead, they point to a world of rich ethnic traditions. If the Chicago region has become one of the best places to see mushrooms cherished by Science, it remains one of the finest locales to see them coveted as Food. And what a food! Mushrooms are delicacies that are skillfully, ritualistically, and often secretively hunted, lovingly prepared and happily consumed. l l a H

Photos from top: Fly agaric, morel, tawny l l i B

: grisette, destroying angel. o t o h

P Photo at right: Jack-o-lantern mushrooms.

6 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS learn where the best mushrooms sprout. Tony Jandacek, one descent poses a special challenge. The Silky Volvariella of the region’s most experienced Czech-American mush - (Volvariella bombycina ) is often found high on the trunks of roomers (see sidebar), vouches for the prevalence of this elms and other hardwood trees, and must be carefully dis - approach. “The last thing you want is someone learning lodged with a cutting blade attached to the end of a long where you’ve been.” pole. Most other edibles are much more accessible. The Opinions are somewhat divided on which edible fungi are choicest, but candidates include Chicken-of-the- Woods, alternatively called Sulfur Shelf ( Laetiporus Fungi are now recognized as lead actors sulphureus ), Hen-of-the-Woods ( Grifola frondosa ), in the drama of life…without fungi, we Chanterelle ( Cantarellus cibarius ), Giant Puffball ( Calvatia gigantea ), King Bolete ( Boletus edulis ), Honey Mushroom simply wouldn’t exist. (Armillaria mellaea ), and even that master of deconstruc - tion, Shaggy Mane ( Coprinus comatus ), notable for the first thing the apprentice mushroomer learns is the gear speed with which its cap disintegrates into blobs of black needed for the hunt: a good knife and a loose-slatted basket goo. (You have to eat it within an hour or two.) Perhaps or fishnet bag. Mushrooms should never be stored in plas - the general darling of Midwestern mushroom gourmets is tic, lest the fungus tissue sweat and swiftly decay. the morel (morchella species). Every veteran mushroomer agrees on one point: the need One species particularly favored by Chicagoans of Italian for expert identification of every specimen collected is

Within three years of the war’s end, Czechoslovakia fell to a Soviet-engineered, communist coup that placed the nation firmly behind the Iron Curtain. Tony’s father, a prominent pro-Western journalist, was fired and forced to emigrate first to West Germany, then to Chicago. The rest of the family prepared to follow suit. One member of the Czechoslovakian border patrol, though officially charged with preventing the escape of “deceitful enemies of the people’s democracy,” was sympathetic enough to the Jandaceks’ plight to show the fourteen-year-old-Tony P h

o the forest trails that would lead his family to West t o

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u German territory. r t e s

y On September 14th, 1948—a grim, drizzly day at the

o f

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i Czecho-German frontier—a mother and her three young - f e

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w sters, all casually dressed, faded into the forest. Even in a s p a

p land now infested with informers, the group excited no e r ,

C i

c suspicions. After all, the mother carried a large wicker e r o /

B basket, the sure sign of a family houby hunt. Though e r w y

n intent on reaching the border, the little group repeatedly Tony Jandacek with a fine hen-of-the-woods. paused to collect mushrooms from the forest floor. It was probably as much an expression of an unconscious ethnic HOUBY HUNTER imperative as it was a way of providing plausible cover. The Jandaceks made it safely through, but they had to f the accomplished houby hunter Tony Jandacek ever surrender their “contraband,” their basketful of choice Itells you that mushrooming can transform your life, mushrooms, to the German guards. Months of internment believe him. Born in Prague in 1934, Tony describes him - in a variety of European displacement camps followed, self as “genetically predisposed to become a mycophile.” until finally, at the end of 1950, the group reached the While being of Bohemian descent is probably genetic pre - United States and was reunited with Tony’s father. disposition enough—it’s claimed that half the inhabitants Nor did Tony’s passion for mushrooming wane when he of the modern Czech Republic are dedicated mushroom left his native land. Having led a busy and rewarding life enthusiasts—Tony’s interest in the national pastime was as a Chicagoland high school teacher, translator, and also carefully cultivated by his father, who took him and Czech-language instructor—and having taught a series of the rest of his family on collecting trips in their country’s courses in the field identification of mushrooms at Triton magnificent woodland habitats. College, the College of DuPage, and other institutions— During World War II, when Czechoslovakia was occu - he now pursues what he rightfully describes as a highly pied by the Germans, the Jandaceks’ houby-hunting skills active retirement. A frequent participant in forays spon - proved an especially valuable asset. At a time when meat sored by the North American Mycological Association, was severely rationed by the Nazi overlords, mushrooms he’s still as much of a houba ˇr—an avid mushroomer—as P h o t collected on forays provided needed protein and kept the he was decades ago, in the forests of Bohemia. o :

B i l family out of hunger’s clutches. —RW l

H a l l

F ALL 1999 7 paramount. It’s said that there are old mushroomers, and important,” states Mueller, “that your mentor isn’t just bold mushroomers, but no old and bold mushroomers. The someone who considers himself an expert.” Such self-pro - Chicago region is home to the Destroying Angel ( Amanita fessed authorities often cite “foolproof” tests for mushroom virosa ) and the equally well-named Deadly Galerina toxicity. To quote the most common: (Galerina autumnalis ) and to an assortment of nonlethal but • A silver coin or spoon placed in the pot with cooking still seriously toxic species. According to Connie Fischbein, mushrooms will turn black if poison is present? a certified specialist at the Illinois Poison Center in • Mushrooms are edible if they are white, if other animals Chicago, it isn’t difficult to confuse the early, egg-shaped eat them, or if they grow on wood? phase of Amanita mushrooms with small, edible puffballs. • Mushrooms can be eaten if the upper cuticle layer of In addition, she notes, some European immigrants have their caps peels back easily? confused the local Green-Spored Parasol ( Chlorophyllum All these tests are unreliable at best and tragically molybdites ), which contains gastrointestinal irritants, with misleading at worst. One should forego the folk wisdom choice look-alikes of their homeland. and never eat a mushroom until it has been conclusively Similarly, Greg Mueller has encountered cases of new identified. arrivals from Europe mistaking our Jack-O’-Lantern mush - Some mushrooms have developed chemical defenses room ( Omphalotus olearius) for their accustomed against would-be predators. According to Orson K. Miller, chanterelles. The eerily beautiful but poisonous Jack-O’- Jr., author of Mushrooms of North America , toxic fungi rely Lantern owes its common name to its orange color and on a wide assortment of poisons, including those that penchant for glowing in the dark. There are tales of ship - destroy kidney or liver tissue, provoke hallucinations, and wrecked sailors and trenchbound soldiers using the trigger acute gastrointestinal pain. “Sometimes, these symp - bioluminescence of this and other mushroom species as an toms are hard to interpret,” warns Connie Fischbein. “They organic flashlight. can have a delayed onset, and in some cases the symptoms Some aspects of the naturalist’s education—wildflower actually seem to get better for a while, before death or seri - identification say, or birding—may be done in the solitary, ous illness occurs.” There have been no mushroom-related Thoreauvian mode, but in matters mycological it’s best that deaths in the Chicago area in recent years, but there have beginners tag along with knowledgeable veterans. “And it’s been several grave cases requiring organ transplants. P h o t o :

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B e n s o n P n h o o s t n o e :

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c J i . r

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e : s o e t l o y h P Above left: Joanne Lahvic and a tree full of bracket fungi. Top right: Mushroom gurus: Dr .Greg Mueller and Tony Jandacek. Bottom right: Honey mushrooms drying on screens. They’ll be relished all winter.

8 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS Persons who suspect mushroom poi - soning should call the Illinois Poison Center hotline at (800) 942-5969; Indiana residents call (800) 382-9097. For aspiring mushroomers, the best introduction is to join the Illinois Mycological Association (IMA). Straddling the worlds of academic research and traditional mushrooming, and often taking much content and enthusiasm from both, the IMA is one of the state’s more enduring and well- Mushroom attended nature clubs. It currently boasts more than 100 members from Recipes a variety of towns, age groups, and P h o professional backgrounds. Not unex - t o :

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pectedly, many new members are e

N o motivated by the thrill of hunting edi - w a ble mushrooms. (Note: Conservation k agencies differ on rules for mushroom collectors. Check with the landowner PICKLED MUSHROOMS WILD CHICagO SOUP first.) But a surprisingly large number from Mrs. Carmella Jandacek from Russell Schnelle, Director of find that their curiosity exceeds its Food Services and Chef, Indiana 1 cup vinegar original scope. Not initially concerned Dunes Environmental Learning with learning the taxonomic names of 2 whole cloves Center fungi, IMA president Eileen Schutte is 1/2 cup water 1/4 c. olive oil now surprised by “how easily those 5 whole black peppercorns Latin names just roll off the tongue.” 1 c. chopped wild onions 1/2 bay leaf Many mushroomers are also drawn 1/4 c. chopped wild leeks to the aesthetics of fungal color and 5 pieces allspice 1 large onion diced form. On one IMA foray last July, the 3 tablespoons sugar high point occurred when the group, 8 oz. dried wild mushrooms hiking through dense wood land, came 2 teaspoons salt or 1 lb. fresh upon a striking stalked polypore, 2 cloves garlic (minced) 1 lb. asparagus, cut in 1-inch slices

Ganoderma lucidum . This august 1 lb. fresh mushrooms 4 stalks celery, cut in 1/4 in. slices Chicagoland native, the same species 2 tablespoons vegetable oil treasured for centuries by the Chinese, 2 medium carrots, in 1/4 in. slices In a 1-1/2 to 2 quart enameled or has been variously dubbed “the mush - 4 cloves minced garlic stainless steel saucepan combine room of immortality,” “the ginseng of vinegar, whole cloves, water, pepper - 1/2 c. chopped parsley for garnish mushrooms,” and “the herb of spiritual potency.” The foray group had as its corns, bay leaf, salt, garlic, allspice, and 8 oz. wild rice chief advisors Greg Mueller and Tony sugar. Bring to boil over high heat, drop salt and pepper to taste Jandacek, and both experts used this in the mushrooms, and reduce the heat Pour boiling water over mushrooms discovery to explain the species’ to low. Simmer uncovered for 10 min - to cover (approximately 2 cups) and set ancient medicinal and gastronomic utes, stirring the mushrooms occasion - aside for 10 min. Drain and save the uses. Still, most of the group seemed to ally, then cool to room temperature. liquor. Heat oil in large stock pot, add think that the highest function of this Pour the entire contents of the pan onion, celery and carrots and cook fungus lay in its intrinsic beauty. into a 1 quart jar. Slowly pour the until the onion starts to clear. Then Looking like a small, gracefully flaring vegetable oil on top. Secure the top add garlic, wild onions and wild leeks sculpture enameled cherry-brown, the with plastic wrap and cover the jar and continue cooking until the carrots ganoderma glistened even in the forest tightly. Marinate the mushrooms in the are half done. Add 1 gallon of water gloom. refrigerator for at least one week before and the mushrooms with the liquor, serving. The top layer of oil may be and rice. Bring to boil, adjust season - Raymond Wiggers is a science writer skimmed before serving, then replaced ings and add parsley and asparagus. specializing in the botanical and earth when the jar is returned to the refriger - Cook for 5 minutes, then turn heat off. sciences, with five published books, ator. (The amount of sugar and vinegar Let sit for 5 minutes for flavors to including Geology Underfoot in Illinois may be adjusted to suit one’s taste.) The develop. Chopped leaves of wild leeks (Mountain Press, 1997). Erica Benson, recipe may be doubled, tripled, etc. or more parsley can be sprinkled on Sara Billings, and Amelia Taylor provided individual servings for garnish if research and photographic assistance for desired. Makes 24 8oz. servings. this story.

F ALL 1999 9 LOCAL Fall Color P h o t o :

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S h o u b a

ur oaks and a disintegrating light pole at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois. Sidewalks and light Bpoles were installed for the envisioned subdivision there in the 1920s. They were not functional, since elec - tricity was never hooked up. There also was no water, sewer, streets, or anything else. The poles and sidewalks were probably a marketing gimmick. Today the sidewalks are used by thousands of nature visitors to what is now Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve. The light poles are left as a reminder of the history of the site.

10 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS P h o t o :

B i l l

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t one time sumac filled a niche between Athe prairie and the oak woods. These days their scarlet leaves most often brighten the edges of old fields. P h o t o :

M i c h a e l

R e d P m h e o r t o :

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w student from Chicago State University a k Ashows off a two-lined salamander. rowsy fall bumblebee on ironweed Students from Chicago State took part in a Dblossoms, brilliant in the crisp light study of the distribution of this rare species at of a great fall day. Kankakee River State Park in Will County.

F ALL 1999 11 P h o t o :

J o e

N o w a k owderhorn Marsh and Prairie. The photographer did not tell us what they saw. Northern shrike? PGolden garden spider? Gentian?

umac leaves fade Sfrom September scarlet to October yellow with elegant style. P h o t o :

J o e

N o w a k

12 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS P h o t o :

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C u r t i s P h o t o :

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t the Magic Hedge on Chicago’s lakefront, a e

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Athrush has met its end at the beak of a northern k shrike. To some people, this is just nature. nly after setting up the tripod for a photo Odid Joe Nowak notice that this fat female golden argiope spider had company—a scrawny male in nuptial embrace. After the picture was taken, the relationship was consummated twice. Once when the male fertilized the female, and again when she spun him up in silk and ate him, to provide added sustenance for the blessed events that will be contained in the P h o t

o couple’s eggs. :

W i l l a r d

C l a y entians are symbols of the Gend—of another season of life. They are most often col - ored, as D. H. Lawrence has put it, “a deep and hurtful blue.” Occasionally, as with all purplish flowers, a plant drops the color and goes with pure white. Thanks to bumblebees, the genes will all mix, the gentians will P h

o pass the winter as seeds, and t o :

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e we’ll see more of these annual

N o w a

k plants next year.

F ALL 1999 13 t “Stewardship Days ‘99” a future firefighter Atries on some special duds, after enjoying a program on the virtues and challenges of prescribed burning in this region’s prairies and oak woods. The event was sponsored by the Chicago Park District, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Field Museum, Brookfield Zoo, and many more. P h o t o :

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B e n s o n P h o t o :

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J a g o d z i n s k i all migrant birds face challenges. This FSwainson’s thrush is trussed up in the hated burs of stickseed. The photographer freed her.

ost of our waterfowl, like these wood Mducks, will soon head for the south. He’s the most colorful of North American ducks. She is almost invisible. Guess which one most often becomes some predator’s supper? But the species thrives just fine without a full complement of P h

males. After wintering in Dixie, most local wood o t o :

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ducks will return to their habitats in Chicago b

C u r t i Wilderness next March. s

14 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS Into the Wild OUR GUIDE TO THE WILD SIDE Bring field guides and binoculars—or just your senses and spirit. These lands are among our best and brightest gems of ancient nature. P h o t o :

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S h e d l o c k

1 BLACKWELL FOREST PRESERVE —DuPage County 5 2 BLACK PARTRIDGE FOREST PRESERVE —Cook County 4 1 2 3 JOHNSON’S MOUND —Kane County 4 5 3 4 OLD SCHOOL FOREST PRESERVE —Lake County 3 1 5 CHAIN O’LAKES STATE PARK —Lake and McHenry Counties 2

Maps: Lynda Wallis

F ALL 1999 15 Working the Wilderness

The Burn That Wasn’t by Joe Neumann

’m late. But my destination is finally in sight. Strip Today’s crew is composed about equally of FPD personnel mall…gas station…prairie. That’s my stop. I pull into a and volunteers. Barbara, Bill, and Steve have come from the Iparking space and leave the buzz of the traffic behind. northwest corner of the county to the near west suburb of I grab my gear—hard hat, flame-retardant Nomex suit, Westchester where the prairie resides. All of us, volunteer and leather gloves and some drinking water. A crew is just head - FPD employee alike, have earned the S-130/S-190 National ing into the prairie. I fall in with them. At a designated loca - Forest Service fire training certificate. This course does an tion, we begin to rake. We rake north into the interior of the excellent job of training burn crews for the national parks. But prairie. We are raking a “fire break.” In our wake we leave a Wolf Road Prairie and the rest of Cook County’s forest pre - line bare of stalks, stems and leaves. This line is as far west as serves are not Yosemite and Yellowstone. In the national parks today’s prescribed burn will go. We rake rake rake rake— there are fewer neighborhoods next to the nature. whew! Finally we hit the ready made fire break of a sidewalk. It is with this understanding that John introduces us to Plan We follow it back east. Wolf Road Prairie, like so many B. This plan calls for the eastern block to be burned in strips other preserves, almost wasn’t. So close did it come to being rather than all at once. This technique takes more time but developed that sidewalks were laid into it. The Great results in the smoke being released more slowly and given Depression halted the development plans. As we follow the more time to disperse. If even this “slow burn” option does not sidewalk, we come upon a gap. That’s where an alley would prove to be enough to control the smoke, then John has a have been. Plan C: “Just walk away.” We walk back south along another line of sidewalk. Our We light a “test burn.” This involves igniting a small area walk has encompassed the three blocks that comprise today’s to determine how the fire and smoke behave. The District’s prospective burn area. The prairie within this area does not restoration ecologist, Steve Thomas, monitors the weather look like the finest silt loam prairie east of the Mississippi. It radio. But it only relays the conditions at O’Hare at the top has been mowed. Mowing a prairie simulates the effects of a of the hour. Steve’s real job is to monitor conditions on-site. burn but does not replicate them sufficiently. Today we plan to He has already made a worrisome observation. The southerly give this prairie the real McCoy. wind reported on the radio has a distinctly western bent at To the south the topography gently rises and the prairie our location. gives way to woods. We plan to burn this area too. Young bur As the test burn starts to crackle, it quickly confirms the oak pack this woods. Few large oaks are evident. The spare wind’s fickle character. Also immediately obvious is that the number of mature trees reveals that this area was once a smoke is hugging the ground. District Land Manager Ralph savanna, an intermediate system between the extremes of a Thornton is in the nursing home’s parking lot. He is in radio well shaded forest and the full sun of the prairie. In the past contact with John. Given the bent of the wind and the utter fires thinned the oaks. The survivors prospered in the open - lack of lift in the smoke, Ralph’s directive to John is swift and ness, as did a host of native plants. Without fire, savannas and sure: “Shut it down.” prairies become clogged with woodies that shade out the The burn’s cancellation can only be a disappointment for groundcover of wild flowers and grasses. Today’s burn will both the volunteers and the FPD employees. Steve Thomas assure that this woodland will host even more impressive dis - reveals that out of the 55,000 acres of natural lands in the plays of rue anemone, wild hyacinth, and wild geranium. Cook County FPD, this prairie is the number one burn prior - “Let’s go! Get with your teams!” John Raudenbush, restora - ity. The reality of doing restoration on urban nature is that tion forester for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, sometimes even first priority plans must be set aside. Yet gathers us together in the prairie. We orient ourselves on a site today’s cancellation is only temporary. When conditions are map. John outlines “Plan A” in which the group will be split right for both the surrounding community and the prairie, into two crews. One crew will secure the north end of the we’ll be back. burn area while the other secures the east end. The wind is Note: In the 1999 spring burn season, the Cook County FPD out of the south so it will push the flames north. The east conducted 23 prescribed burns at 15 forest preserve sites totaling break is essential for a different, but no less critical reason. close to 433 acres. The FPD owns more than 67,000 acres, of Wolf Road and sensitive community structures, like a nursing which it is currently working to restore 8,061 acres (12 percent) home, reside there. to healthy habitat.

16 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS CHAIN O’LAKES STATE PARK — Lake and McHenry Counties

W ORK P ARTIES ne of the greatest the Illinois/Wisconsin Its’ museum section, with ork Parties are for anyone Obenefits of living border, the 6,023 acres of numerous exhibits, offers a interested in helping our in the Chicago Chain O’Lakes State Park great look at the indige - W natural areas. No experi - Wilderness is its many awaits those who are ready nous wildlife and ence is necessary. Volunteers get hidden, natural treasures. to venture, into the wild. history of this amazing training in how to do the restoration Chain O’Lakes State Park is, The park has several trail area. Next I looked for the necessary to maintain and restore without a doubt, one such systems: 2 1/2 miles of newest addition to the our native ecosystems. Typical activi - wild gem. Nature’s Way hiking trail; park, a migrating American ties include brush clearing, weed Heading west on Rte. 8 miles of equestrian trail; bald eagle. He’s been seen pulling, seed collecting, and seed 173, one passes a few tav - and another 5 miles of recently fishing the banks

P spreading. Long pants and sturdy h o

t erns, a handful of bait and biking/hiking trail. In of the Fox River along Gold o

: shoes are recommended. Call the

E v soda shops, several farms, winter, all are used by Finch Trail. But not by me.

T contact people before the workday y n e r even a rock quarry and a cross-country skiers. In speaking with a local to confirm times and directions. Also, housing development. Not In addition, Chain human fisherman, I learned all of the county forest preserve a single hint of undis - O’Lakes offers boating, he and his family have districts have many other workdays. turbed natural wilderness is canoeing, horseback riding spent their summer catching Contact them for a complete listing. detectable. and camping. There are 150 large-mouth bass, muskies, But Chain O’Lakes State class A campsites (with walleyes and catfish. MCHENRY COUNTY Park is just ahead, over the electricity, $11 per night) Note: In the fall, the park Lake in the Hills Fen land bridge that separates and 87 non-electric, class is closed from the begin - (Lake-in-the-Hills): Channel Lake and Lake B campground sites ($8) ning of November until mid- Every Saturday every month, 9 a.m. Marie. Approaching the Fox of which the park allots 25 December for all activities Special National Public Lands Day, River, nature begins to percent for advanced regis - except hunting (permitted Sept. 25. Call for meeting place. show me her cards. tration. In addition, there by registration only). Contact Alan & Barbara Wilson: Entering the park from is an impressive array of For more information, (847) 658-0024. Wilmot Road, I drop down playground equipment for call (847) 587-5512. Moraine Hills State Park into the magnificent rolling the young explorers, canoe (McHenry): hills of a vast grass and and rowboat rentals, and DIRECTIONS: Take I-94 2nd Saturday every month, wetland valley. At the end 6 class A accessible camp - north to Rte 173. Go west 9 a.m.–Noon. Call for meeting place. of the winding road up sites for the physically to Wilmot Rd. and follow Contact Park Office: (815) 385-1624. ahead, the woods await. challenged, including south. Entrance is on left. I follow the signs to the adapted restrooms and —Brian Brawdy Fox Den Camping Area and showers. (Both of which find a secluded site over - were meticulously clean). looking Turner Lake. About I found it difficult to 80 acres near here have leave the sur - e k been set aside as a state rounding a R L oute 17 l 3 e Nature Preserve to protect wilderness n n a the rare bog community with its Boat Launch h N C and the plants there. Just extensive d a o as I finish pitching my array of R

t tent, two sets of geese wild flow - o m l e have set up their shop ers in i Park & Region II ri W a Headquarters M e right in the center of the every k a water. Ever increasing shape and L numbers of their airborne color and friends answer their invita - nearly 200 Entrance tion. By the time I have bird species finished lunch, there are that have dozens of them floating been seen

around. there. That r e iv R Just 60 miles northwest being said, I x o F of Chicago, I find the did enjoy Turner Lake adventure I sought. No my short, Grass Lake sirens, just birds—and lots indoor Campgrounds of them. No traffic noise, adventure Boat just the wind taunting the at the Launch Jackson Bay peaceful trees. Located in park’s McHenry and Lake counties, main about four miles south of office. Mud Lake

F ALL 1999 17 BLACK PARTRIDGE FOREST PRESERVE —Cook County

W ORK P ARTIES urrents of rushing waters—can be found here. ing humans huff and buck, a COOK COUNTY: Cwaters carve the Although the majority of rare sight for those used to Somme Nature Preserve landscape and fill the preserve is covered by a deer more accustomed to (Northbrook): the air with soothing dense tree canopy, there are humans. Oct 24, 9 a.m - Noon. sounds at Black Partridge small clearings along the Just outside the 80-acre Meet in the Post Office parking lot, Forest Preserve in south - way that allow oak saplings preserve, wetland lovers can Dundee and Western Avenues. ern Cook County. This 80- to begin their long journey find a small fen by heading Contact North Branch Restoration acre site crisscrossed by towards the sky. In these east on Bluff Rd. toward Project hotline: (773) 878-3877. ravines contains riparian canopy breaks, life of all Lemont Rd. If you park forests dominated by sugar kinds gathers, bird songs along the side of the road Wayside Woods (Morton Grove): maple, basswood, birch, and are heard, and native wood - at the S curve, you can find Oct 31, 9 a.m. - Noon. red, white, and bur oak. land and even prairie plants a fen 50 feet from the Meet at Forest Preserve parking lot Named for the can be found. banks of the Des Plaines on Lehigh Ave., a few blocks east Potawatomi Indian chief Crossing many steep and River. Created by spring of Waukegan Rd. & just north of Black Partridge, who trav - winding ravines, the trails water percolating through Dempster Ave. eled through the Chicago at Black Partridge are chal - limestone, the water here is Contact North Branch Restoration Wilderness region into cen - lenging by most standards, much more basic (alkaline) Project hotline: (773) 878-3877. tral Illinois, this area was but the residents here don’t than other wetlands. This Bluff Spring Fen Nature Preserve dedicated as the second seem to mind. Visitors can small fen community har - (Elgin): nature preserve in Illinois in see snakes, such as the bors plants such as turtle - 1st and 3rd Saturday every month, 1965 in order to protect its northern water snake, coil - head, prairie cord grass, and 9 a.m. - Noon. spring-fed stream. The ing in between rocks along more. Take Rte. 20 to the stoplight on the stream, part of the Des stream banks, American east side of Elgin. Turn south onto Plaines River system, con - toads hopping along trails, DIRECTIONS: Bluff City Blvd. (North is Shales tains a wide variety of and downy woodpeckers Heading south on I-55, exit Parkway). Take Bluff City Blvd. to the invertebrates, indicating its making forest music and Lemont Rd. Continue south. Bluff City Cemetery. Enter the main high quality as habitat for finding lunch. Black Then head west (left) on gate of the cemetery and stay on fish, amphibians and rep - Partridge is not a frequently 111th St. (Bluff Rd.) for one the cemetery road to the southwest tiles. The rare mottled visited preserve, and the mile. The preserve is on the corner. Meet in the split-rail fence sculpin—a fish that requires surrounding area is largely right. parking lot. cool, highly oxygenated wooded, so deer encounter - —Amelia Taylor Contact Mel Manner: (847) 464-4426. Calumet Area (South Suburbs): Several sites in the area are holding workdays throughout the fall. Call for specific dates and times. Contact Joe & Marlene Nowak: (708) 333-3642. Black Partridge (Lemont): L e d. m 3rd Sunday every month, f R luf o B n 9 a.m.– Noon. t

R d Rte. 55 to Lemont Rd., south . to Bluff Rd., west one mile to lot. ke Contact Roger Keller: (708) 598-2234 La ose or Palos Restoration website Go www.members.xoom.com/palosrestor/ Entrance Wolf Road Prairie (Westchester): N nal Every Saturday every month, Ca hip & S 9 a.m.– Noon. ge ina Meet at kiosk on north side of Dra ry ita 31st St., just west of Wolf Rd. San Special National Public Lands Day, September 25. Gulf R.R. Call for directions and details. I & M Canal Contact Larry Godson: (708) 562-3280. = Parking

18 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS JOHNSON’S MOUND — Kane County

W ORK P ARTIES hroughout the ages, and hickory, blue ash, and woodpeckers, and some war - TJohnson’s Mound in alternate leaf dogwood. bur blers. Animals found at the KANE COUNTY Kane County has oak and white oak. But in preserve include red fox, Burlington Prairie (Burlington): been a hot (and cold) spot other areas, Forest Preserve coyote, chipmunk, white- Oct 16, 9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Date of activity. The mound is a volunteers have been tailed deer, among others. subject to change, call to confirm. kame, an ice age land for - working to restore the The wide, paved trail that Burlington Rd. to Plank Rd. West on mation created by a river or rare prairie ecosystem to leads through the 185-acre Plank to Engel Rd. North on Engel, depression in a glacier that Johnson’s Mound. Small preserve travels up to an just past the railroad tracks. deposited the accumulating relics of the once-thriving open area near the top of Contact Grace Koehler, Kane County sediment, thus forming a prairie located at the south - the kame that has a pavil - Forest Preserve District: mound. Historically, this west corner of the preserve ion, water fountain, and (847) 741-9798. mound was the site of a and on a separate field to bathroom. The main trail treaty-signing between the north of the mound tes - branches off into other Johnson’s Mound (Elburn): Native Americans and tify to much of this work. unpaved trails that wind 4th Saturday every month, European settlers. The sig - Some plants, such as cup through the preserve. This 9 a.m.– Noon. natories to the treaty gath - plant and big bluestem spot is sure to make an Keslinger Rd. to Bunker Rd. South ered under the famous sown as seeds, are now excellent spot for fall on Bunker to Hughes Rd. West on Shabbona elm tree on the thriving. Other restoration gatherings among the Hughes. mound, which was named efforts are being geared changing leaves. Contact Grace Koehler, Kane County after a Potawatomi Indian toward removing problem - Forest Preserve District: chief and had been used for atic black locust and garlic DIRECTIONS: Head west (847) 741-9798. centuries by Native mustard. Many species of on North Ave. Turn left Campton Hills Park Americans as a meeting woodland flowering plants on Kirk Rd. in St. Charles. (St. Charles): place. Hundreds of years old can also be found in the Then make a right on 1st Saturday every month, and measuring 36 feet in preserve such as spring Fabyan Pkwy. and a right 9 a.m.– Noon. circumference, the tree beauty, trout lily, wild on Hughes Rd. The preserve Special National Public Lands Day, unfortunately fell victim to bergamot, thimbleweed, is on the right. Sept. 25. Call for details. Dutch elm disease in 1972. celandine, Dutchman’s —Amelia Taylor West on Rt. 64, 1 mile past Randall This area was used by breeches and false mermaid. Rd. Turn left at Campton Hills Rd., settlers for many years. In continue past Peck Rd. Use 1836, Martha Beeler, born second Park entrance. on the mound, became the N Contact Mary O.: first white child born in (630) 513-3338. Kane County. Today some of the descendants of these LAKE COUNTY settlers still meet every year Chain O’Lakes State at the mound to commemo - Park (Spring Grove): rate those who came before Oct 2, Oct 30, 9 a.m. them. A signboard at the Rte. 12 to Wilmont Rd. k preserve tells the story of e e r Turn north and follow signs C the historic Shabbona elm y r to State Park entrance, r tree and the various families e b follow park road to fork, k that lived on the mound. c a take right branch to l Among them was the B maintenance area. Johnson family, for whom = Parking Contact Harry Horner: the preserve was named and (847) 546-4993. who were known to have A variety of raptors hosted many famous guests nest at the site includ - at their home, including ing Swainson’s hawk, Abraham Lincoln. red-tailed hawk, and The area’s geological and great horned owl. The natural importance was rec - high elevation—790 ognized early by conserva - feet!—makes Johnson’s tionists, and it was the first Mound an excellent parcel of land purchased by stopping point during the Kane County Forest migration, allowing Preserve District in 1926. birders to observe and Part of the site consists of a enjoy seasonal residents woodland of bur and white such as indigo oak, sugar and black maple, buntings, various

Entrance Hughes Rd. F ALL 1999 19 OLD SCHOOL FOREST PRESERVE — Lake County

W ORK P ARTIES nlike many of this are interconnected with consist of a 3-mile crushed LAKE COUNTY (CONT.) Uregion’s forest pre - small prairie areas. gravel loop that winds serves, which seem Volunteer groups such as through the oak woodlands Old School Forest Preserve like best-kept secrets, the “Preservation Partners” have and prairies. Three 1.5 mile (Mettawa): word is definitely out been clearing buckthorn and trails offer a variety of 3rd Saturday every month, 2 p.m.– about Old School Forest other non-native plants and recreation options. For 4 p.m. Meet at Shelter C parking lot. Preserve. Located just east maintaining the prairies. example, there is a physical Special National Public Lands Day, of Libertyville in south cen - Preservation Partners con - fitness loop open only to Sept. 25. 9 a.m.-Noon. Meet at Shelter tral Lake County, Old School sists of middle and high foot traffic, which has 19 B parking lot. is one of the most visited of school students who are workout stations along the Preserve is on St. Mary’s Rd., 1/2 mile all the Lake County pre - supported in their volunteer route. In-line skaters and south of Rte. 76. serves. The name comes efforts by local corpora - bicycle riders will want to Contact Tom Smith, Conservation from the Bradley School, tions, notably G. D. Searle. use the mile and a half Volunteer Coordinator, Lake County which once stood near the The students clear brush, black-topped one way trail. Forest Preserves: (847) 948-7750, preserve’s southeast corner. pull weeds, and plant native There is one 12-acre lake ext. 212. The log cabin schoolhouse species of vegetation, all on the grounds and it is Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve served the community as the while learning valuable regularly stocked with bass (Deer Park): early as 1873. lessons in conservation. and bluegills. It has a maxi - 2nd Saturday every month, 9 a.m.– The county acquired this The volunteer programs mum depth of 16 feet and Noon. Special National Public Lands parcel between 1974 and have been so successful is great for shoreline fisher - Day, Sept. 25. Call for meeting place. 1976 for a present total of and important to the Old men. The lake and many wet Contact Tom Smith, Conservation 380 acres. It has the dis - School Forest Preserve that areas and ponds are a Volunteer Coordinator, Lake County tinction of being the first it will be a designated site refuge for chorus frogs and Forest Preserves: (847) 948-7750, forest preserve in Illinois to in September for National wetland plants. ext. 212. use native prairie restora - Public Lands Day to Winter recreation consists WILL COUNTY tion to enhance recreational honor volunteer work of hiking, cross country ski - facilities and beautify the in conservation. ing and a large sled hill, Goodenow Grove (Beecher): park. This innovative native The trail system here not plus other scheduled activi - Oct 30, 8 a.m.–Noon. From the plant landscaping has led to only runs within the pre - ties. A winter sports hotline intersection of Rtes. 1 & 394, head national awards for the Lake serve but connects it with is available for information 1.25 miles east on Goodenow Rd. to County Forest Preserves. The other forest preserves along and conditions at (847) Dutton Rd. Meet at Plum Creek Nature preserve’s natural landscap - the Des Plaines River Trail 367-3676 x165. For more Center, 27064 S. Dutton Rd. Contact ing also provides ideal habi - system. Eventually, this trail information call (847) 367- Volunteer Office, Forest Preserve tat for birds, mammals, system will extend for 33 6640 or e-mailforestpre - District of Will County: (708) 479- insects, and other animals. miles, unbroken from the IL [email protected] 2255. Large oaks dominate the state line to Half Day Road. Braidwood Dunes (Braidwood): woodland areas, which Other trails within the park DIRECTIONS: Nov 20, 8 a.m.– Noon. On Rte. Old School Forest 113, east of Rt. 53. Route 176 Preserve is east of Contact Volunteer Office, Libertyville in Forest Preserve District of Will south central d N Lake County. The County: (708) 479-2255. nd Roa Rockla

Old 4 entrance is on 9

Hickory Creek - I St. Mary’s Rd., Barrens (Mokena): and one half Oct 16, 8 a.m.–Noon. mile south of From Wolf Rd., turn west Rte. 176. on Kluth (1 mile north —Jim Kostohrys of Rte. 30), and go to S.

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20 Old School Road C HICAGO W ILDERNESS BLACKWELL FOREST PRESERVE — DuPage County

W ORK P ARTIES he invitation stands: the top of this high point in court, and many picnic TCome to Blackwell DuPage County to watch the tables. The campground at DUPAGE COUNTY Forest Preserve near biannual travelers fly by. Mt. Blackwell has 60 campsites Warrenville for open Hoy is also used as part of with newly installed flush Meacham Grove: spaces, quiet trails, even an orienteering course for toilet facilities and electri - Oct 2, 9 a.m–Noon. a chance for overnight youngsters and as a tubing cal hook-ups. Call for meeting place. camping. More than eight hill in the winter. Contact Forest Preserve District of miles of crushed limestone Visitors who are geologi - DIRECTIONS: DuPage County: (630) 876-5929. trails within the preserve cally inclined can find silt, Traveling west on I-90, Churchill Prairie Nature Preserve are designed for use by clay, and gravel in the soil take Rte. 59 south. For trails (Glen Ellyn): hikers, cyclists, horseback here, all materials carried by around Mckee Marsh, turn Oct 16, 9 a.m–Noon. riders, and cross country the most recent glacier and left on Mack Rd., (pass dog Call for meeting place. skiers. The majority of the left behind when it melted. training area) preserve is Contact Forest Preserve District of trail system is contained During the last Ice Age, a on the left. For recreational DuPage County: (630) 876-5929. within the northern portion woolly mammoth inhabited areas and facilities, contin - West Chicago Prairie (West of the preserve and winds this territory and left its ue south on Rte. 59. Turn Chicago): around Mckee Marsh and skeletal remains preserved left on Butterfield Rd. Oct 2, Nov 6, Nov 21, Dec 4, through open meadow in clay only to be discov - (Rte. 56). Look for signs 9 a.m–Noon. Oct 16, 1 pm. areas. Mckee Marsh is an ered in 1977 by forest pre - on the left. From Rte. 59, head west on Hawthorne excellent place to observe serve employees! Today, the —Amelia Taylor Ln. to Industrial Dr. Turn south on wetland creatures of all mammoth’s remains are on Industrial Dr. Parking lot is on the sorts. At any moment one display at the Fullersburg east side. is sure to spot frogs ready Woods Contact Mel Hoff: (630) 393-4715. to sound an alarm at the Environmental Gary’s Mill Rd. slightest threat, turtles Center in Wilson St. soaking up the rays, or wet - Oak Brook. P u land birds searching for food The rn e ll in the shallow waters. From southern R o a two newly built observation portion of the d decks, visitors can see vari - preserve offers ous raptors, black crowned many

night herons, cormorants, recreational 9 5

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F ALL 1999 21 Natural Events CALENDAR Here’s what’s debuting on nature’s stage in Chicago Wilderness by Jack MacRae

F ALL 1999

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER the oak-covered dunes of north - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER region of the jugular vein. They west Indiana when he came tend to eat the head area first. Local Giants across an amazing sight. There Traditional Entrée On occasion, weasels will go on A sunny day in late were scores of blue racers slith - The turkeys that live in our a killing spree, caching a supply September is an ideal time to ering on and around an old county forest preserves needn’t of dead voles or mice under a visit the magnificent grove of dune. These large, dark snakes worry about being served for log. They do not, it seems, eat bur oaks at Lake County’s Van were soaking up the last rays Thanksgiving. But the wild carrion. Patten Woods, near the Illinois- of autumn sun before heading turkeys that lived here in the Chicago Wilderness is home to Wisconsin border. These grand underground for the winter. 19th century weren’t so fortu - two species of weasel, the least trees have witnessed a lot, from Blue racers, today commonly nate—they were hunted to extir - and the long-tailed, with the flocks of passenger pigeons to known as eastern yellow-bellied pation. According to reports from latter more common. The least herds of elk. They have provided racers, are agile, graceful, and the turn of century, some of the weasel is our smallest known food for hundreds of generations possess a nervous temperament. last of our native turkeys were carnivore, rarely attaining the of fox squirrels and homes to They are quick to strike when gunned down in the 1870’s; an length of an un-sharpened No.2 dozens of species of birds. Some handled. individual was shot in 1871 near pencil. The long-tailed weasel people think the biggest bur oak the Kankakee Marsh and a small can grow to be 20 inches long. in the region can be found in OCTOBER/NOVEMBER flock was shot by market hunters Weasles’ homes appear as Van Patten Woods. in what is now the Englewood small holes in the ground. Of course you don’t have to Cranes neighborhood in 1878. Bluebottle flies humming drive far to find some of our History probably won’t repeat The turkeys that have been at the entrance indicate the local giants. The Chicago itself, but you might want to reintroduced into the Chicago burrow is used by a carnivore, Wilderness is filled with massive pay closer attention to the Wilderness during recent not a seed eater. old bur oaks. Search one out flocks of sandhill cranes that are decades are doing well in our and pay your respects. Bring a currently passing through the oak woodlands. They eat a var - Traditional Side Dish friend. You’ll be glad you did! Chicago Wilderness. On ied diet of acorns, hickory nuts, My earliest recollection of November 11 last year, a whoop - and insects. You can find the cranberries on our dinner table Aerial Invasion ing crane, the poster child of huge (six inches!), four-toed was as a cylinder of reddish I’m not recommending that federally endangered species, turkey tracks along the trails in gelatin, with horizontal ridges you do this while you’re dri - was seen (and photographed!) Herrick Lake Forest Preserve near made from the can, plopped ving—BUT—keep your eyes to while cruising south along the Wheaton. onto a serving dish. Astound- the skies as you travel through lakefront at Illinois Beach State Many people know Ben ingly, this is not the way the Chicago Wilderness during Park in the company of some Franklin promoted the turkey as cranberries appear in the wild. the next couple of months, sandhills. An expert thinks this our national symbol, but few Two species of native cranber - especially on days when a high individual may have encountered realize how close the election ries can be found in this region, pressure zone has entered the unusually strong westerly winds actually was. The bald eagle both restricted to the cold, area, bringing cool air, clear during its migration and was became our national symbol by acidic water of bogs. While nei - skies, and favorable winds. blown into a flight path that a single vote in Congress. ther the large cranberry nor These are the ideal conditions took it through our area. small cranberry are common, the for hawks to continue their The great majority of migrat - Weasels former can be found in several annual trip to warmer climes. On ing cranes fly through our skies It’s the time of year for our areas, while the latter probably some days, thousands of hawks, at midday, having left the local populations of weasels to survives in only a few boggy including broad-wings, merlins, marshes of south central undergo an amazing transforma - sites in southern Wisconsin. goshawks, and Cooper’s, will fly Wisconsin after the early morn - tion in color. Triggered by through our air space. ing sun warms the air. Listen for declining hours of daylight, the Owls with Short Ears Some excellent locations for their peculiar warbling call dur - weasel’s summer coat—a rich, Short-eared owls arrive in mid- viewing the hawk migration are ing your lunch break. brown color—is replaced by a autumn and may stick around, or on Mt. Hoy in DuPage County’s pelage of white. This adaptation roost, for only a few days before Blackwell Forest Preserve (see Oh Deer allows for the weasel to blend in migrating further south. page 21), atop the Camelback Testosterone is surging with the snow-covered ground These owls are fond of sedge Kame at Glacial Park in McHenry through male white tail deer. as it searches for food. A skilled, meadows and other open areas, County, and along the Lake They’ve rubbed the soft velvet furtive hunter, the weasel moves where they roost on the ground Michigan shoreline at Illinois off their antlers to expose the sinuously along the ground in in small groups. They can be Beach State Park. raw bone. It’s rutting season search of its prey. Fond of eat - spotted at Fermilab and Spring- and the deer with the biggest ing small mammals and young brook Prairie in the diminishing Blue Racers rack usually manages the largest birds, weasels will also tackle afternoon sun, flying low with On a warm October afternoon harem. The antlers will remain larger animals, jumping onto the their feet dangling. They hover in the 1950s, the late, great in place for a while longer, until neck of a cottontail rabbit and in mid-air for a second, before Field Museum herpetologist Karl the does have lost interest and biting savagely at the base of swooping down to grab an P. Schmidt was hiking through the racks will fall to the ground. the victim’s skull or in the unsuspecting mouse or vole.

22 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS Meet your neighbors s e c r u o s e R t o o R / s n o i t c u d o r P t u o h P o h K

o : t o o t : o

P h a P t

W a d e c k i / R o o

A Shaggy Bark Story: t

R e s o u r hickory nuts and nuttier c e s f I had to pick just one tree as a withstand hard use. cated by any other tree I know,” Isymbol of the early days of Chicago Hickory wood’s density causes it to Johnson said. “The shagbark hickory is Wilderness, I’d pick shagbark hickory generate great heat. According to a fall color virtuoso, performing in a (Carya ovata ). Peattie, “a cord of hickory is almost the stellar manner but never overstating “The shagbark seems like a symbol equivalent in thermal units of a ton of its presence.” of the pioneer age, with its hard anthracite.” Pioneers burned it night Due to its great usefulness, much of sinewy limbs and rude, shaggy coat, and day to keep their cabins warm. the old-growth shagbark hickory was like the pioneer himself in fringed Green hickory wood is still prized for cleared during the 1800s. Sadly, it is deerskin hunting shirt,” wrote Donald the flavor its smoke gives to meat. not being reintroduced in today’s home Culross Peattie in his Natural History “You can see a shagbark hickory at a landscapes. “It’s a challenging plant to of Trees of Eastern & Central North great distance,” according to the grow in a nursery field because it has a America . Pioneers and Native Morton Arboretum’s Craig Johnson. taproot that makes it difficult to trans - Americans alike made daily use of the “It announces itself by its famous exfo - plant,” Johnson noted. “It’s not readily shagbark hickory’s many virtues. First, liating bark and remarkable silhou - available, so it is seldom planted.” there was its value for food. Hickory ette.” True to its name, this hickory’s If you’re willing to wait a little nuts are not only edible, they’re deli - smoke-gray bark warps away from the longer, Young notes that you can have cious. Many people who grew up in trunk in strips six to eight inches wide a hickory in your yard by planting the Chicago Wilderness remember fondly and a foot or more in length. nuts—or letting the squirrels help the old tradition of gathering and eat - Sometimes, in an amazing bit of natur - plant them. That’s what happens in ing these nuts each fall. al engineering, the bark strips are the woods, where shagbark—and its Some people still gather them, but loose and curling at both ends, cousins bitternut ( Carya cordiformis ) others claim it’s harder to experience attached to the trunk in the middle. and king nut ( Carya laciniosa )— the pleasure of hickory nuts today. Around older trees, the ground may be reproduces easily. “In the new parcels “People who want to gather hickory littered with the cast-off scales. we’re buying in Kane County,” says nuts to eat are the losers,” says Dick The shagbark has an impressive Young, “we plant hickory nuts and Young, environmental consultant for stature, sometimes growing 120 feet encourage their regeneration. They the Kane County Forest Preserve tall. (The biggest shagbark hickory come back readily.” District. “Squirrels and ground squirrels identified so far in the Chicago Although the proliferation of non- and all other sorts of creepy, crawly Wilderness region through the native trees and shrubs such as Eastern critters delight in the nuts, and they get Treemendous Trees program of the sugar maple and European buckthorn them first. Somehow they just seem to Openlands Project is in Bemis Woods, are compromising the growth of hick - know which ones are the best.” one of Cook County’s forest preserves. ories and oaks alike, Wayne Andrew Jackson, the battle-hard - The tree is 5.8 feet in circumference, Schennum, Natural Resource Manager ened seventh president of the United 89.75 feet tall, and has a crown spread for McHenry County Conservation States, was dubbed “Old Hickory” by of 50 feet.) The hickory’s leaves, too, District, says hickories have an effec - his troops as a testament to his tough - are large. Made of five (and sometimes tive survival strategy. “Hickories can ness. Pioneers took advantage of the seven) leaflets, the overall leaf is 8 to survive in shade longer than oaks,” he hickory’s toughness, using its wood to 14 inches long. Early in the fall, the explains. “As a sapling, shagbark will make axe handles, wagon wheel leaves briefly burst into a mustard yel - persist and persist and persist—waiting spokes, and other tools that had to low show. “It’s a color that’s undupli - for an opening (in the canopy) so it continued on next page F ALL 1999 23 Meet your neighbors

can grow to size.” gy coat and ponder for a moment and national contests. Openlands is Those who want to witness this those people of long ago who collect - focusing its 1999 effort on native great friend of the pioneers can visit a ed its nuts for food, burned its branch - North American trees. Winners majestic open-grown specimen at the es for fuel, and paused for a moment, will be announced in December. To Morton Arboretum, where it stands just like you, to enjoy its shade. receive an entry form with measuring sentinel in Parking lot 25 at the instructions, contact Glenda Daniel, entrance to the Schulenberg Prairie. The Treemendous Trees program is (312) 427-4256, x228, email to her Smaller specimens are easy to find in an annual contest to determine the attention, [email protected], or most any forest preserve that still has biggest trees of every species (both fax your name and address to some original oak woods. Say hello to native and non-native) in the region. (312) 427-6251. one this fall. You can admire its shag - Winners are also submitted to state —Patti Peltier

Savanna Blazing Star: lost plant of lost ecosystem ow many of us have ever tried nieuwlandii ), a species that had not have a long history of medicinal use Hto use a reference book to find been identified for many decades in among Native American tribes. The something when we were very new the Chicago region, or anywhere in Pawnee boiled the leaves and root - to the subject? We look at the object, Illinois. “People think the flora’s well stock to prepare a decoction for then at the book, then back at the known in this region,” said Wilhelm. children with diarrhea. Meskwaki object until we are sure we know what “But we’re finding surprises like this women used it to treat urinary prob - we are seeing. So what is a young all the time.” The savanna blazing star lems. Members of the Omaha tribe scout to do upon finding a plant in chewed the rootstock and blew the wild that cannot be identified the resulting paste into the nos - using any of the standard reference trils of horses to increase their texts? endurance in battle. On a fine fall day in 1978, Steve What is the species up to today? Packard was walking through the According to Rich Hyerczyk, who St. Mihiel Woods Forest Preserve monitors plants in the Palos area, in Oak Forest in southern Cook the savanna blazing star benefits County, when he encountered a from disturbance but likes to be plant that was familiar, yet dif - left alone. Does this sound like a ferent. His Peterson’s Field Guide to contradiction—or like Mae West Wildflowers seemed to show the meeting Greta Garbo? Hyerczyk plant to be the New England explained, “ Liatris scariosa grows blazing star, a plant known from best in very poor soil with one of Maine and New Jersey all the way its associates, poverty oats west to central Pennsylvania. (Danthonia spicata ). After we burn, Unlike our local blazing stars, we see hundreds of yearlings that these had flower heads on indi - sometimes blossom when they are d r

vidual stalks, not attached to the a only six inches tall. As the sur - k c a P main stem. As someone then new rounding plants such as big n e h p

to the study of plants, Packard e bluestem and gray goldenrod grow t S

: o

said, “Many of my identifications t taller, though, the plant is shaded o h didn’t quite check out. I did not P out and virtually disappears after think much of it. It was just a hand - was added to Plants of the Chicago two or three years. But it comes right some plant I’d never seen before.” Region and eventually was placed on back when we burn again.” The early editions of Floyd Swink’s the Illinois Threatened Species list. At this time of year, you may be authoritative Plants of the Chicago Historical research revealed that lucky enough to find it at several sites Region did not contain this plant, yet Samuel Barnum Mead, a frontier in the region—including Cap Sauers examples of this unusual blazing star doctor, had mentioned this species as a Holdings and Bergman Slough in the kept turning up in oak savannas, a denizen of the “oak barrens” of Illinois Palos area and St. Mihiel Woods in natural community that itself had in an article published in 1846. Dr. Oak Forest. Look for it under the nearly been lost to this region. Mead (yes, he was related to the P.T. of branches of the bur and white oaks Eventually plant taxonomist Gerould circus fame, but that is a very different and shagbark hickory trees. Its native Wilhelm and botanist Marlin Bowles, story for a very different venue) was a bouquet will include nodding wild both at the Morton Arbor-etum at the country doctor who rode in his horse- onion, great Solomon’s seal, golden time, realized that they had a signifi - drawn carriage to visit patients and to Alexanders, thimbleweed and meadow cant find: a western relative of record the plants of the area. parsnip. It will not be easy to find, but Peterson’s New England plant, the It is interesting that this plant was what a find it is! savanna blazing star ( Liatris scariosa recorded by a doctor. Blazing stars —Judy Mellin

24 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS Rough blazing star has flower heads attached directly to the central stalks (see photo, p.2). It is characteristic of drier prairies. Savanna blazing star, often with long-stemmed flowerheads (above), grows in openings among oaks (habitat photo, p.36).

Guest Essay

Ruddy turnstones

Turnstones and Me Essay by Peter Friederici Illustrations by Matthew Vincent cologists know that the survival of myriad wild animal those impossibly large birds surprisingly close to us. Snap: species relies on their having sufficient room in which suddenly a red fox—the first I’ve ever seen, a glowing Eto live. I am persuaded that the health of the human ember of an animal, is running toward one of the goose species is no less dependent on our ability to experience nests. Snap: two geese lunge toward the fox, necks out - connections to the natural world. I know in my bones that stretched. Snap: wings beating, ferocious, they drive the it’s especially important for children to be able to witness intruder away. Snap: we stand there, awestruck. some of the countless other glimmers of consciousness that I’m sure I’d seen episodes of Wild Kingdom or other exist in wild animals. In looking back on my own child - animal television shows by then, I’d been reading my copies hood, in the Chicago suburbs, I remember a few incidents of Ranger Rick , and I think I was powerfully impressed by that stand out as defining moments, as mileposts that help knowing that the same dramas I watched on TV or saw me to understand not only how I became a naturalist, but photographed in the magazine existed only a mile from my how I indeed came to chart the course of my life by the home. I have thought about it ever since. workings of the natural world around me. I want to revisit The next episode occurred on the lakefront. One spring two of those incidents, not because they are any more sig - weekend the fog rolled in and made the Lake Michigan nificant than others but because they illustrate the beach seem endless. It continued on forever into nothing, importance of having places nearby where such experiences which in my eyes only increased its appeal, even if the fog can be lived. reduced my chances of seeing birds. I had walked to the I remember my father taking me on a nature walk in the beach that day with a pair of binoculars because I had been Chicago Botanic Garden. He was not a naturalist but he reading about birds and bird watching—the Golden Guide did enjoy a good walk, and some organization offered a Birds of North America was my newly discovered bible, group outing early one spring morning. The garden was new those days. then and I remember scraped hills and raw earth. In my Out of nothing, suddenly, I saw movement at the edge of memory this experience consists of a few silent snapshots. the water. Four little birds. I crouched on the sand and Down along a marshy section Canada geese were nesting. stalked slowly forward. I didn’t recognize them. They were Back then it was still a rare experience to see geese in the small birds on long legs. They ran swiftly but comically, Chicago area and, for me, a transfixing one. Snap: we see seeming to move their bodies hardly at all as their legs

26 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS Ruddy turnstones winter along beaches in the Gulf of Mexico. They fly through Chicago twice a year going to and from their summer nesting grounds on the shores of Arctic islands. flicked. Then they stopped and investigated the Piping plover spaces between pebbles. This behavior was nothing new—spotted sandpipers and sander - lings were common visitors to the beach. But I had never seen anything like the color pattern on these birds. Their legs were orange, their bellies pure white as the snow of the Arctic to which, I found out later, they were migrating. Their brown backs were riven with patches of cinnamon orange. But most arresting were their heads, which were splotched with a complex pattern of white and black—a dark eyeline like a glowering brow, another faint dark line below it that stretched to the nape, and a large black bib. I was mesmerized. I had always accepted, unconsciously, the appearance of the common back - yard birds—the brilliant red of Bonaparte’s gull the male cardinal, the yellow of the goldfinch, the glossy speckled plumage of the noisy starling. These were the looks of the world into which I had been born and I never ques - tioned them. And now here were these strangers, and I These unexpected encounters with the natural world found myself fascinated by their bizarrely complex plumage. etched themselves deeply into my memory. There were No matter how much I drank it in, I was unable to look at wonders, I learned, right on my doorstep. And they were it closely enough. I wanted to imprint on my mind the way there because there was room for them: because the turn - every feather lay. What possible purpose could those colors stones were able to find food on the beach, because the serve? I wondered. For what audience were these garish fox could find sufficient refuge from people in the ravines feathers intended? All too soon the birds vanished for good and brushy edges of the North Shore. into the fog. Looking back, I am struck in equal parts by the potency I soon learned from the field guide that these were ruddy of these experiences, resonating still after some 30 years, turnstones—a beautiful name for a beautiful bird, I and by their tenuousness: in a place booming with new thought. I felt proud of myself for having identified them. roads and houses and strip malls, we could easily wipe out It was one of the first times I had seen an unknown bird, the possibility of such experiences. It is my hope that we noted its markings, and successfully looked it up later in as a species can be wiser than that. It is my hope that we the guide. I still have the bird list I later drew up, and I recognize no greater gift to our children and grandchildren turn to the page where ruddy turnstone is listed, between than the ability to learn, in their own backyards and in piping plover and Bonaparte’s gull. I even included the natural places nearby, that they constitute only one sort Golden Guide’s accents that guided my fumbling tongue of animal among many. over the scientific name: Arenária intérpres . It was years before I saw others of the same species. But it didn’t matter. Those brilliant shorebirds stayed alive in Peter Friederici grew up in my memory. I found myself almost pleased that I had only the Chicago suburbs and now seen them once, and that they had run off so swiftly into works as a field biologist and the fog. Their seeming rarity made the experience of seeing freelance writer. The Suburban them that much more valuable. I began reading up on the Wild , a collection of his essays mysteries of migration and evolution. I prowled the beach exploring the importance of our in subsequent springs and autumns and got to know other connection with the natural migrants. With new eyes I began appreciating the more world, history, and memory will common resident birds, whose plumage and behavior be published by the University proved equally complex and unfathomable. Those four of Georgia Press in mid- little birds were no more important ecologically than any November. Copies will be others, but to me they became an entree into the infinite available at local bookstores or world of animals and of nature, an introduction to a world from the University of Georgia of wings and color and far distances that has fascinated me Press ($22.95 hardcover ). Call ever since. (800 )266-5842.

F ALL 1999 27 Family Quiz Game Test your local nature knowledge!

FOR THE BEGINNING NATURALIST—6 to 8 years FOR THE ADOLESCENT NATURALIST (Reading helper may be needed) —13 to 17 years 1. What shape are the leaves on pine trees? 1. Which is a type of wetland found in Chicago 2. Caterpillars eat: a) cats b) chips c) leaves. Wilderness that has alkaline water (alkaline means basic on the pH scale)? a) marsh b) bog c) fen 3. True or False: Butterflies drink nectar from flowers. For extra credit, what does pH stand for? 4. A monarch is a type of a) fossil b) butterfly 2. Name a famous bog in the Chicago Wilderness c) rap artist. region. 5. How can you tell the difference between a male and 3. Name the dominant bedrock found throughout the a female cardinal? state of Illinois. 6. What special body part do fish have that lets them 4. The sleepy catchfly is a type of a) lazy bug breathe under water? b) flowering plant c) moth. 7. Baby toads are called a) froggies b) warties c) toadlets. 5. True or false: A conifer known as the American tamarack is deciduous (meaning it loses its needles FOR THE JUNIOR NATURALIST—9 to 12 years every autumn). 1. What do we call the solid mass of ice that covered 6. Which large waterfowl species of the Chicago region much of this region during several ice ages? was considered extinct in 1957 by the American 2. What is the name for the hard outer coating that Ornithologists’ Union? a) great blue heron supports insects’ bodies? b) great egret c) the giant Canada goose

3. True or false: Spiders are insects. FOR THE SENIOR NATURALIST 4. Name the insect that skates on the surface of the 1. The Hine’s emerald is a federally endangered water in quiet streams, lakes, and marshes to find a) damsel fly b) precious gem c) dragonfly. prey. 2. How many ice ages were there? 5. True or false: Before Europeans arrived, the American robin was once an uncommon bird of 3. What does Chicago’s name mean, and where did it open woodlands. come from? 6. Name the process that converts energy from the sun 4. True or false? Male mosquitoes get their nourishment into food in plants. from plant sap. 5. Name three ducks that regularly breed in the region

besides the mallard.

r e l e v o h s n r e h t r o n , l a e t d e g n i w - e u l b , k c u d y d d u r , k c u d k c a l b , k c u d

d o o w . 5 . d o o l b k c u s o t r e d r o n i e t i b s e o t i u q s o m e l a m e f y l n O . e u r t . 4 This quiz was developed by Sara Billings, Laura

. s r e v i r d n a s m a e r t s l a c o l f o s k n a b e h t g n o l a e c n a d n u b a n i s w o r

g Rericha, and Amelia Taylor.

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. n o i t u l o s a f o y t i n i l a k l a r o y t i d i c a e h t f o e r u s a e m a s i H p . ) n e g o r d y ( H d e r y l t s o m s i l a n i d r a c e l a m e h T . 5 y l f r e t t u b ) b . 4 . e u r t . 3 s e v a e l ) c . 2

) f o l a i t n e t o ( p ; n e f ) c . 1 T S I L A R U T A N T N E C S E L O D A E H T R O F d e p a h s e l d e e n e r a s e v a e l e h T . 1 T S I L A R U T A N G N I N N I G E B E H T R O F News of the wild

1 BIRD HABITAT CONFERENCE 2 ONE STEP AHEAD OF plugs are doing very well, “It’s virtually The ecology and habitat needs of THE BULLDOZERS impossible to get these plants any other migrating birds as they pass through our Last spring, Bob LeFevre of Barrington- way. You can’t get the seeds—once the local preserves, parks, and neighborhoods based Citizens for Conservation (CFC) flower is gone it’s almost impossible to find is the focus of “Just Passing Through: heard of a soon-to-be-developed property them. These plants are protected now and Habitat for Migrant Birds,” the Bird in Lake Zurich that was home to yellow we hope they’ll spread.” Conservation Network’s second all-day star grass ( Hypoxis hirsuta ), a dainty —Alison Carney Brown conference. Speakers include John member of the amaryllis family. Tom Fitzpatrick , director of the Cornell Vanderpoel located the grass, whose bright 3 GREAT EVENTS Laboratory of Ornithology; Chandler stars had just bloomed, surrounding a bull - On December 5-8 , the 61st annual Robbins , biologist at the US Geological dozer, brush cutter, and trucks. A quick Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference, Survey’s Patuxent Environmental Science conference with the equipment operator “Pathways to the Future,” will lead fish Center and originator of the North led to a rescue plan. The next day, CFC and wildlife management into the 21st American Breeding Bird Survey, the volunteers worked frantically because in century. Take advantage of over 400 country’s biggest volunteer scientific moni - more than a decade they had never speakers and nearly 15 special symposia toring program; Frank Moore , researcher encountered yellow star grass in such num - about issues such as maintaining biodiver - of migrants’ habitat needs during migra - bers (nurseries do not even offer the seed). sity in urban landscapes, the effects of tion, at the University of Southern They dug about 75 plugs, each containing habitat fragmentation on biological com - Mississippi; Scott Robinson , ornithologist a few yellow star grasses—plus the bonus of munities, monitoring techniques for with the Illinois Department of Natural intermixed blue-green sedge, ideal for amphibians and reptiles, and citizen moni - Resources; and Ronald P. Larkin , wildlife some of CFC’s wet prairies. “I’ve got an old toring programs. The conference will be biologist for the Illinois Natural History beat-up truck I keep for prairie restora - held at Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Survey. The conference is co-sponsored by tion,” said Jerry Masino, a long-time Towers. For more information, call (217) US Fish and Wildlife Service and National volunteer. “We had short notice and we 690-8141 or go to http://dnr.state.il.us/mid - Audubon Society’s Chicago Area Program, were just a few steps ahead of the bull - west99/. with funding from Chicago Wilderness. dozers. That’s the way it goes with Perpetuate the species—native prairie Date: November 13 progress.” A rough estimate indicates that species, that is. Volunteers for Prairie Seed Place: Prairie State College, Chicago CFC volunteers brought as many as 300 of Harvest are invited to collect precious Heights, IL the little amaryllises, along with 500-600 seeds on October 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Inform ation: Chicago Audubon Society sedges, to safe new homes at Grisby Prairie at Fermilab in Batavia. Wear field clothes at (773) 539-6793 and Flint Creek Savanna. LeFevre says the and gloves; bring pruning shears and paper CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN WILDS OF ILLINOIS SEPTEMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 14

Coming soon to the Chicago Botanic Garden, “Wilds of Illinois” exhibit showcases the range of the state’s natural diversity. The exhibit spotlights 17 of the 93 native habitats remaining wild in Illinois—from canyons to forests, tallgrass prairies to swamps, cliffs to duneslands. Seventeen display panels bring these diverse environments alive by combining photo murals with informative text and natural objects. “Wilds of Illinois” is funded by a grant from the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation.

1000 LAKE COOK ROAD, GLENCOE, IL 60022 (847) 835-5440 www.chicago-botanic.org

F ALL 1999 29 News of the wild

grocery bags. Large groups please call in 1928. Taron noted that this is not the (630) 840-3303. For rainout information, only southern lepidopteran to make an call (630) 840-3000. unusual appearance in Illinois this year. The local journal Seeding the Snow is Butterfly Monitoring Network volunteers sponsoring “Seeding the Snow: Women spotted the funereal duskywing and white Connecting with Nature,” an art exhibit M hairstreak (which only gets to the from October 15 to November 12 at Chicago region a couple times a century). Womanmade Gallery, 1900 S. Prairie Ave Plus they saw unusually large numbers of in Chicago. Juried by local artists Terry firey skippers and buckeye butterflies Evans, Sue Sommers, and Corasue (which migrate through this region, but Nicholas, the show should have entries normally not until mid- or late July). from all over the United States. The While this may sound like evidence of opening reception is October 15, 6 p.m. to global warming, the scientific community 9 p.m. Plus there will be a reading from is not so sure. Chris Dietrich of the Illinois the Fall ‘99 issue of the journal on October Natural History Survey and Taron point to P h

24, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gallery. o many other possibilities explaining these t o :

Contact Womanmade Gallery for more C unusual sightings: a mild winter can allow a r o l insects to overwinter farther north than

information: (312) 328-0038. F r e e

Giant floaters, creek heelsplitters, and m usual; storm systems can blow insects out a Wabash pigtoes? They’re freshwater mus - n of their usual ranges; and shipments of sels, among the most overlooked and 4 QUEEN FOR A DAY nursery stock or even family cars can carry endangered animal groups in North “It was truly amazing! Thrilling!” immatures and adults far from home. “It is America. On November 13 from 9 a.m. Chicago WILDERNESS magazine contrib - a stretch to attribute this to global to noon , come to Shoemaker Nature utor Carol Freeman couldn’t decide if she warming, unless we see many of these Center in St. Charles, IL, and learn how was more surprised by finding the only southern species for several years in a row,” to find and identify them with Dr. Kevin queen butterfly seen in Illinois in over 70 said Dietrich. Cummings, author of Field Guide to years or by finding herself on the front Freshwater Mussels of the Midwest and page of the Sunday Chicago Tribune . “I was 5 LAND FOR EXPERIMENTS mussel expert with the Illinois Natural excited that the Trib followed my story Calling all bug counters, soil scientists, History Survey. The class Mussels or and expected to find it in the Style or prairie lovers, and others: If you’re looking Freshwater Clams is offered by the St. Home and Garden sections,” said the pro - for experimental land space, Fermilab may Charles Park District; to register, call fessional photographer and graphic be your new laboratory. Fermilab is the site (630) 513-3338. designer. But the paper splayed it up front, of the Department of Energy’s smallest thrilling Freeman and educating thousands (and least-polluted) National about her “once-in-a-lifetime” find. Environmental Research Park (NERP), “Whenever I’m in nature, I always see and now NERP staffperson Rod Walton something I haven’t seen before, and each has announced that portions of Fermilab’s time, I take as many pictures of it as I 6800-acre site are being made available for 9 can,” said Freeman. Then she goes home scientific projects fitting NERP’s mandate: 6 and uses the photos to identify the subject to study the impact of human activities on } in question. So when Freeman saw an the environment in various ecoregions. } unusual butterfly at the Chicago Botanic Since the radical plan to create a prairie at } } Garden on July 18, she followed it and the lab, was launched in 1975, Fermi has 2 snapped away. Puzzled, she called Chicago been a place of cutting-edge experimenta -

x WILDERNESS editor Debra Shore, who tion. For the last 15 years, Argonne o 4

F D

e referred her to Doug Taron, curator of

s National Laboratory scientists have studied

P

l a biology at the Chicago Academy of i n soil dynamics of prairie restoration there. e s Sciences. Taron confirmed that it was a And now they’re examining carbon 3 r queen butterfly ( Danaus galippus ), a rela - sequestration in the soil to help under - u tive of the monarch that lives in the far stand the threat of global warming due to southern parts of the US and has been 5 83 greenhouse gas accumulation. The Morton yt {u spotted in Illinois only once before— Arboretum has used the site to study re- 3 introduction of the American hazel. Others have studied the dynamics of mam - LAKE i 7 MICHIGAN malian populations and plant resistance to

e insects. Walton’s wish-list for future g a P u { research includes continuing prairie D Little Calumet restoration experiments, as well as baseline N e 0 surveys of the plant, insect, fish, and q mammal populations. Professionals, volun - 1 teer groups, and citizen scientists with 0510 Miles these or other interests are invited to submit proposals. For more information, contact Rod Walton at (630) 840-2565.

K a nk C HICAGO W ILDERNESS 30 akee Conservation lesson learned: amount of food discarded after dinner on Day One of a week-long camp for kids at Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center: 5 pounds. Amount discarded on last night of camp: 1 pound. partly shaded to simulate an oak wood - land. After two-to-three years, the plants should produce seeds of their own. Nyberg then intends to seek permission from the Commission to plant the seeds at Cranberry Slough, expanding the existing population and establishing a second one. —Gerald D. Tang 8 GREENING CHICAGO P h

o Inch by inch, square foot by square t o :

G foot, the City of Chicago is getting e r a l d greener. In July the City Council passed a

T a n

g revised landscape ordinance requiring property owners and developers to take a 6 IT’S A BOY—AND A GIRL! bigger role in installing and maintaining Well, there are really lots of boys and girls. Blackchin shiners, blacknose shiners, larger planted areas. Parking lots are a Iowa darters, and banded killifish are reproducing at their new home, Prairie Crossing, prime focus for greening. The old ordi - Lake County, IL. Integrated Lakes Management, the Liberty Prairie Foundation, and nance required parking lots to be set back Prairie Crossing Homeowners Association announced the birth of lots of larval fish at five feet; this one requires a seven-foot set - the first endangered and threatened fish refuge in Illinois. Dr. John Janssen of Loyola back, meaning more unpaved land. Large University’s Department of Biology confirmed that successful reproduction is taking “vehicular use areas” must be landscaped place for these rare species, carefully collected from source lakes last fall and released on a larger percentage of their total area. into the Upper Pond at Prairie Crossing in Grayslake (Winter ‘99, p. 29). “A real big Not only will these provisions improve the home run,” said Jim Bland, Director of Integrated Lakes Management. “This is a rein - beauty of the Windy City, they will help troduction into the Des Plaines drainage, from which these species had been manage storm water by increasing perme - extirpated. The success here ought to contribute substantially to any restoration plan able surfaces, thereby reducing flooding for these fish. Now Upper Pond will be a secondary source population from which we and dependence on projects like Deep can eventually reintroduce the fish elsewhere in northern Illinois.” To establish the Tunnel. The ordinance will help air fish refuge, the Prairie Crossing Homeowners Association has planted the entire quality, too, as more vegetation is planted water’s edge with native vegetation, which controls invasion by non-natives and as part of landscaping requirements. To maintains the outstanding water quality. ensure that these positive effects continue, —Gerald D. Tang the revised law makes parkways, previously

7 MILLENNIUM GRASS CHOOSE FROM OVER A DOZEN MIDWEST HOME DESIGNS FROM $200,000-400,000 O S R Imagine Cranberry Slough Steward E G H A C

Dennis Nyberg’s surprise in July 1998, N R I C O P

when he identified a small patch of narrow C

T melic grass ( Melica mutica ) at this forest O N M O M

preserve site in southwestern Cook R U F

N

County. According to his dog-eared 1994 S I T U Y O

edition of Swink and Wilhelm’s Plants of I G C A A

the Chicago Region , this rare woodland grass R P D S

E

has not been documented in this region • N

E Live where you can see since 1899. It was considered locally • M

F A O

extinct. Steward at the site for 16 years, R H

M Y E

Nyberg said, “The find indicates that once R R E the sun rise and set. S V stewardship takes place, our native biodi - ’

E M

A versity has potential to flourish…I’m pretty M R O K R sure that burning this area a couple times E F T

With more than 350 acres of open land, you can D allowed this grass finally to flower—and be O N N A

enjoy the beginning and end of each day. recognized.” A biology professor at the S L

A T N It’s a simple pleasure that’s hard to find these days. University of Illinois at Chicago, Nyberg U E R P D received permission from the Illinois O

A F Y

Nature Preserves Commission to collect O M

S seeds of the plants. A small portion of the O R W N E I seeds from each stalk, about 100 in all, I N V

G • now await the spring in cold storage. As S L

D O

the calendar turns 2000, they will be U O R H I placed in a moist, sterile soil mix, and N C G S

in April they will be brought to room R ONE OF THE COUNTR Y’S FIRS T CONSERVATIO N COMMUNITIES S U E T temperature to germinate in trays at the M R

847-548-5400 or www.prairiecrossing.com M A

UIC greenhouse. Next they will be potted E H R individually and later planted in a garden C TRAINS TO CHICAGO & O’HARE FROM THE PRAIRIE CROSSING/LIBERTYVILLE STATION

F ALL 1999 31 News of the wild

the maintenance responsibility of property owners for only 5 years, now their respon - THREE VIEWS OF NEW LENOX, WILL COUNTY sibility forever. Chicago is becoming, little by little, an even more hospitable place for plants, people, and other critters.

9 AUDUBON ACQUISITION In its second major acquisition within months, the Illinois Audubon Society pur - chased in McHenry, County Black-crown Marsh in June. Located between Moraine Hills State Park and the Lake County border, the 80-acre marsh provides nesting habitat for the state-listed black-crowned night heron, black tern, sandhill crane, Existing Conditions Typical Development Compact Development pied-billed grebe, common moorhen and yellow-headed blackbird. The endangered SMART GROWTH OR SPRAWL? Urban sprawl now stands at the political platform with education, health care, American bittern and great egret also use and economics. Sprawl and its alternative, “smart growth,” are the subjects of two the area for foraging and breeding during new publications. The Environmental Law and Policy Center published “Visions: the spring and summer. The area was pur - Choosing a Future for Growing Communities” which includes drawings of what the chased with the help of $100,000 from future would look like in four different areas of the region, depending on how growth CorLands, the non-profit land acquisition occurs. Using a planning technique pioneered by internationally recognized land - affiliate of Openlands Project. The Black- scape architect Harry Dodson, the drawings illustrate how the environment we hold crown purchase is part of a planned in trust for future generations is shaped by policies adopted today (see above). acquisition and restoration project that “Beyond Sprawl: A Guide to Land Use in the Chicago Region For Reporters and will eventually include 460 acres of wet - Policy Makers” is a simple, easy to understand guide for anyone who wants to under - lands and their associated uplands. The stand the Who, What, Where, and Why of land use in Northeastern Illinois. The marsh itself is part of a larger complex of publication also highlights solutions and the organizations that initiate them. For a wetlands that includes Volo Bog Nature copy of the guide, visit the Sustain website at www.sustainusa.org. Preserve, Moraine Hills State Park, Stickney Run Preserve and Singing Hills —Alison Carney Brown Forest Preserve. Together they provide nesting, foraging, and roosting habitat to healthy, and we need to do it in a way that opportunities.” This year, 75 JET members over 100 species of migratory birds. leaves patches of unburned refuges from had the chance to hike and camp; conduct which recently burned habitat can be natural resource surveys in Chicago parks; —Mark Sheehy recolonized.” Already, Bess has confirmed learn about local, regional, national, and 0 that some species have begun reestablishing international environmental issues; teach INSECT HEAVEN themselves in previously burned areas. environmental concepts to younger Cressmoor Prairie in Hobart, IN, a “This study supports the common practice, designated state nature preserve owned and campers; and represent the Chicago Park used by burn management programs across District at environmental events across the managed by the Shirley Heinze the region, of not burning entire sites all at Environmental Fund, has long been country. The program is year-round, but once,” says Indiana Department of Natural during six weeks of the summer, eligible recognized as a site with outstanding biodi - Resources regional ecologist Tom Post. versity. And insects are no exception. This JET participants are employed in their fall, entomologist Jim Bess will complete a —Ronald Trigg local parks as paid interns through the two year survey of the 38-acre black-soil Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development. prairie (one of only three sizable ones in { JET-SETTING “Our goal is to offer teens both environ - the state). He has recorded 370 insect “We went for a three hour hike and saw mental knowledge and job skills,” said species, including at least 21 that were all types of woodlands and other habitats. Saulsbury. “And so, as the teens gain more previously undocumented in Indiana, such We also saw frogs and raccoons. We even experience, the JET program seeks as the sedge leafhopper, switch grass heard woodpeckers,” said an enthusiastic opportunities for them to learn from leafhopper, and hop borer moth. Fully 16 Junior Earth Team (JET) member about and work with other Chicago Wilderness percent of the species are considered “rem - camping at the Indiana Dunes State Park organizations.” nant-dependent,” meaning that they occur this past May. JET is a collaborative youth only on remnants of ancient natural com - program launched three years ago by } KUDOS TO McHENRY munities and are absent from the Chicago Wilderness partners US Fish & COUNTY! surrounding altered landscape. In the past, Wildlife Service, the Chicago Park The McHenry County Conservation says Bess, these prairies were shaped and District, and the Field Museum. “For a lot District (MCCD) recently finalized the maintained by wildfires burning in a mosaic of urban youth, the environment isn’t purchase of more than 700 acres of land— pattern, leaving unburned areas to act as something they think of right away,” said 237-acre Rose parcel (northwest side of refuges. “Many remnant-dependent insects Nancy Saulsbury, Outdoor and Marengo), 78-acre Wigginton parcel overwinter as eggs, larvae, or adults in dead Environmental Education Manager with (Prairie Grove), 37-acre Boger parcel (Bull vegetation, making them vulnerable to the Chicago Park District. “The JET pro - Valley), 220-acre Lusky parcel (adjacent to fire,” says Bess. “For these insects to sur - gram is designed to change that by Crystal Lake), and 165-acre Napier South vive, we must burn to keep the prairie exposing them to a variety of environ - parcel (west side of Marengo). The Napier mental activities and professional and Rose parcels connect to existing land

32 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS At one time, 594 towns, villages, and unincorporated municipalities in northeastern Illinois carried the last name “Grove.” For example, the original name of Glen Ellyn was Babcock Grove. holdings along the Kishwaukee River, which has been identified by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as one of FALL the top three river systems in the state. The Wigginton parcel has the only geolog - ical esker found in the county, according BirdSeed to the MCCD Executive Director Craig Hubert. The MCCD plans prairie restora - ALe tion at the Rose and Lusky parcels and S ! needs site stewards. Call (815) 678-4431 if September 23- you are interested. —Kathy Kowal November 7, 1999 q NEW MEMBERS Arlington Heights On July 13, Chicago Wilderness wel - 321 E. Rand Rd. comed four new members. A coalition of (847) 259-7286 ten bird clubs, the Bird Conservation Network promotes the conservation of bird habitat in the Chicago region. Ducks Glenview Unlimited seeks to protect, enhance, 1460 Waukegan Rd. restore, and manage wetlands and uplands (847) 729-4688 needed by North American waterfowl. The Fox Valley Land Foundation works for the Lisle protection, management, and restoration 1601 Ogden Ave. of natural areas, especially the Fox Valley (630) 968-6332 of northeastern Illinois. The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning E SEED Birdseed • Feeders Commission is a metropolitan planning FRE GE • organization offering a forum for elected STORA Birdbaths Optics ! officials and other decision-makers to AVAILABLE Nature Gifts develop and implement solutions in north - www.wbu.com western Indiana. Information about Chicago Wilderness organizations is avail - able from the Chicagoland Environmental CHOOSE FROM OVER A DOZEN MIDWEST HOME DESIGNS FROM $200,000-400,000 O S

Network at (708) 485-0263 x 369. R E G H A C N R I C w O P ORCHID BONANZA

C T This year, the captivating and feder - O N M O ally-threatened eastern prairie M R U F

N

white-fringed orchid bloomed at 13 S I T U Y

Orchid Recovery Project sites, spread O

I G C A

across Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Henry, A R P D S

Iroquois, Lake, Kane, McHenry, Ogle, and E • N

E

Will Counties (Fall ‘97, pp.29-30). Good for families. • M

F O According to project coordinator June A R H

M

Keibler, it was an average year—with two Y E R R E S astounding exceptions. “The orchids at V ’

E Good for the land. M

two sites just went bonkers. Both of them A M R O K had over twice as many orchids as they R E F T

D had ever had in the past.” Both sites are O N First we replenished the land. N A only about five acres in size, yet one S L

A

Then we invited families to live here. T sported 152 blooming plants, and the N U E R P So far, both are getting along just fine. other had 270, compared to the five and D O

A F one respectively in 1991. Although the Won’t you join us? Y

O M

S other sites did not show the same dra - O R W N E matic numbers this year, Keibler says all I I N V

G •

have shown increases since the project S L

D began. “The only downside is that more O U O R H awareness of this rare flower increases I N C G S potential for plant poaching. This has

R ONE OF THE COUNTR Y’S FIRS T CONSERVATIO N COMMUNITIES S U E T always been a problem for native orchids; M R

847-548-5400 or www.prairiecrossing.com M A

that is why we do not release information E H R about their locations,” says Keibler. The C Orchid Recovery Project is a program sup - TRAINS TO CHICAGO & O’HARE FROM THE PRAIRIE CROSSING/LIBERTYVILLE STATION

F ALL 1999 33 News of the wild

ported by the US Fish and Wildlife tected birds or active nests. (If the swal - Wilderness Walk. The Nature Museum Service. For more information, contact lows had been endangered species, the will feature a kid-friendly Children’s June Keibler at (847) 428-5594. habitat too would have been protected.) Gallery designed to teach children aged “It probably wasn’t easy to work around three to eight about the environment. The e PAY DIRT that pile of dirt, but the swallows weren’t Academy is also working with area resi - Marianne Hahn often drives by Witt disturbed, and there was plenty of time to dents to restore nearby North Pond and Voet & Company’s excavated soil piles in raise their young. It was very gratifying,” the surrounding park as a viable habitat for Lansing, IL. When Hahn, a board member said Hahn. To report a concern or ask native plants and wildlife. about wildlife law, call the US Fish and of Thorn Creek Audubon Society, saw Date: Opens Saturday, October 23 Wildlife Service at (847) 298-3250. holes in one of the piles, she realized a Locat ion: 2430 North Cannon Drive, colony of bank swallows was nesting there. —Alison Carney Brown Chicago Knowing these birds are protected by the Information: (773) 549-0606 1996 Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Hahn r 21st CENTURY NATURE Admi ssion: Adult $6, Senior $4, called the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s The Chicago Academy of Sciences’ new Child/Student $3 Division of Law Enforcement. In one call, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, opens Hahn reached right person, special agent October 23, 1999. Visitors can walk among t SALT CREEK WILDERNESS Joseph E. Budzyn. “We see situations like 15 to 25 different Midwest species of but - On August this more and more with all the develop - terflies in Butterfly Haven meet the tiny 14, the ment going on in the region,” said Budzyn. creatures that inhabit every city home in Brookfield “We talk to the property owners and find City Science participate in problem- Zoo opened out what their intentions are. In this case, solving simulations based on probable the Salt Mr. Witt Voet was very receptive.” While environmental issues in Environmental Creek habitat itself is not protected under the Central learn the impact of rivers and Wilderness, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, property lakes on daily life in Water Lab and 10 acres owners must obtain a permit to move pro - explore the biodiversity of the Midwest in including Indian Lake, Ellen Thorne Smith Nature The Natural Garden, Inc. Trail, sur - Specializing In Native & Ornamental Perennials & Grasses rounding woodlands, and a new Grower of native forbs, grasses, sedges, shrubs and demonstration wetland exhibit called Dragonfly Marsh, a one-acre home for vines representing local/regional eco-types more than 12,000 plants typical of north - Native seed sold individually by weight, or in mixes eastern Illinois wetlands. Learn more about for a dry prairie to sedge meadow or open woodland Dragonfly Marsh and our region’s wetland Plants propagated and seed collected from stock heritage in Wetlands , a new publication beds on site at our nursery from the zoo. Wetlands describes these Custom growing for the green industry important ecosystems, their benefits to ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ Call for our catalog people and animals, and efforts to protect and restore them. Copies are available for 38W443 Hwy. 64, St.Charles, IL 60175 - Phone (630)584-0150 / Fax (630)584-0185 $2 in the Zoo’s bookstore or by sending a check to Brookfield Zoo’s Publications Department at 3300 Golf Rd., Brookfield, IL 60513. 4641 W. 20th Street Cicero, IL 60804 y CW VIDEO AWARDS The compelling Chicago Wilderness Serving the tri-state video, produced by Brookfield Zoo’s ECOLC O L OGICALO G I C A L RESTORAE S T O R ATIONT I O N area and beyond. Howard Greenblatt, recently won two awards: a Merit Award for Presentation of Invasive Plant Control Wildlife/Cultural Interrelationships at the 22nd International Wildlife Film Festival, Truax Drill Seeding competing with 244 entries from 19 dif - Controlled Burns ferent countries, and an Award of Distinction from the Communicator Bioengineered Erosion Control Awards. This beautiful video amazes with Plant Inventory its stunning photography, informs through interviews with local conservationists, and Native Landscap e-Design & Installation inspires with quotes from people who simply enjoy what Chicago’s natural areas Consulting have to offer. Copies are available for $6. Call Howard Greenblatt at (708) 485- (708) 209-1600 0263 x853. —Andrea Frederici Ross

34 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS One of the world’s great mushroom collections, the Field Museum houses approximately 20,000 specimens representing ca. 650 species. Most of these are species of “fleshy macrofungi” mushrooms and the like. very conservative plant, meaning it’s usu - ally first to disappear when its habitat is altered,” says Milde. Yet the sea rockets seem to be surviving and even flourishing in the heart of the city. Borns notes that during an August Bird Conservation Network/Openlands tour, masses of it were also discovered behind the South Shore Cultural Center at 71st St. and the lake - front, on a site many are seeking to preserve as a natural area.

i STREAMS TONS CLEANER More than 650 volunteers removed approximately 10 tons of trash from DuPage County streams at the Conservation Foundation’s River Sweep ‘99 on June 5th. It was a record number of volunteers for the nine year old program. n o s n e Since 1991, this annual event has B a c i involved more than 3,000 volunteers who r E

: o

t have removed an estimated 118 tons of o h P garbage. u EXPLODING ROCKETS and early summer.” Back in 1993, nobody It’s been a bumper year for Cakile thought sea rockets—or any Great Lakes For their help with the news, thanks to: edentula , also known as sea rocket, a state- coastal plants—still survived at Montrose. Michael Graff, Debbie Hillman, and Nicole threatened coastal plant in Illinois. Said But one September morning that year, Kamins. local birder and activist Leslie Borns, botanist Margo Milde was birding there “Every summer we’ve noticed a few at when she recognized the purple flowers, If you know of news leads or exciting tidbits, Montrose beach, but for some reason this succulent leaves, and swollen seed pods of contact editor Alison Carney Brown at year there’s an explosion of this plant! sea rockets. “It was very exciting to find it [email protected] or P.O. Box 101, Could be all the rain we had last spring in such an urbanized area. Sea rocket is a Wilmette, IL 60091.

Treading Lightly ...... We’ve Left Footprints

From Prairie Wolf Slough to the Midewin Grasslands, Applied Ecological Services has left its mark on scores of Chicago Wilderness natural areas.

For 20 years, we’ve helped to restore the ecological health, biodiversity and wildlife habitat of the prairies, oak savannas, woodlands, wetlands, fens, sedge meadows and river systems in the six-county region.

Creativity in problem-solving and integrity in scientific investigation are the hallmarks of AES consulting ecologists, environmental designers and restoration contracting professionals.

As partners in this exciting, pioneering effort to restore our natural systems, we applaud the efforts of all Chicago Wilderness organizations. And we invite your inquiry regarding our ecological consulting qualifications or seed and plant availability (Chicago region ecotype) from our native seed nursery, Taylor Creek Restoration Nurseries.

Staff Locations: Applied Brodhead, Wisconsin 608.897.8641 • email: [email protected] ecologicAl West Dundee, Illlinois 847.844.9385 • email: [email protected] ServiceS , i nc . Website under construction – www.appliedeco.com

F ALL 1999 35 Reading pictures

Photo and Synthesis

n undistinguished photograph In the foreground is a tree—a dead The bigger, branchier brown-eyed of a nice little patch of forest tree, but a good tree. As they planted, often likes the shifting edges of the Apreserve. You might walk the stewards burned parts of the site woods. Indian grass, in bloom on the through it and get a pleasant feeling every couple of years, and cut back right, would smother out both of these for early fall. Then again, if you knew the advancing brush. Some of the wildflowers in the prairie, in time. But the site well, you might stop to marvel. larger invasive trees they killed by here, in semi-shade, the tall grasses The purple flower stalks give the girdling, cutting off a ring of sapwood and woodland-edge flowers strike an first hint—one of the rarest plants of near the base. The idea of girdling was uneasy balance. Brush grows, driving the region, savanna blazing star. a shock to some people. But it’s an back both grass and flowers; fire or Because no one knew to care for it, age-old way of thinning overdense restoration crews push the brush back; this species might have been lost alto - trees, an herbicide-free horticultural and certain species thrive together for gether. Judy Mellin tells a bit of its tool that has been used by foresters for a time in the intermediate light. story in Meet Your Neighbors, a few generations. One young steward suddenly under - pages back. And like the savanna blaz - Check out the dark brush-choked stood, as the crew cut the brush and ing star, its open oak habitat, until tangle to the left rear in this photo; it made openings to the sky. He said recently, was imperceptibly vanishing shows the fate of unburned areas. Like brightly to his Dad, “Oh! I get it. You from the region. larger areas throughout our forest pre - need the photo to have the synthesis.” When a group of restoration volun - serves, such land is not much good for This tree died for our sins. Had it teers (then called the North Branch recreation, or cleaning polluted sum - not, in fact, been a sin to let the last Prairie Project) first saw the site of this mer air, or for the rare wildlife of nat - of our native ecosystems degrade into photo, many rare birds, butterflies and ural woodlands. The gloom of these oblivion on conservation lands? With flowers survived in the shrinking degradations is also death to the good stewardship, threatened nature openings among the oaks and hicko - threatened blazing star. revives as we too are restored and ries. Other species, like the freshly Now brown-eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia redeemed. rediscovered savanna blazing star, were triloba ) blooms here too—not the in the restoration seed mix that the black-eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia hirta ) Words and photo by Stephen Packard. Forest Preserve stewards planted. more typical of old fields and prairies. Photo on facing page by Brian Bates.

36 C HICAGO W ILDERNESS Red clusters of acid sumac seeds can be made into a kind of lemonade. Later in winter, they become an important food source for birds in the sumac’s natural habitat—open woods and shrublands. CHICAGO WILDERNESS MEMBERS:

Bird Conservation Network Brookfield Zoo Geneva Park District Butterfield Creek Steering Committee Glenview Prairie Preservation Project Calumet Ecological Park Association The Grove National Historic Landmark Calumet Environmental Resource Center Hammond Environmental Education Center Campton Historic Agricultural Lands, Inc. Illinois Audubon Society Canal Corridor Association Illinois Department of Natural Resources Center for Neighborhood Technology Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program Chicago Academy of Sciences Illinois Natural History Survey Chicago Audubon Society Illinois Nature Preserves Commission Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Chicago Botanic Garden Commission Indiana Department of Natural Resources Chicago Ornithological Society Openlands Project Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center Chicago Park District Prairie Woods Audubon Society Indiana University Northwest Citizens for Conservation Save the Dunes Conservation Fund Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center City of Chicago, Department Save the Prairie Society Jurica Nature Museum of Environment Schaumburg Park District College of DuPage Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District John G. Shedd Aquarium The Conservation Fund Lake County Forest Preserves Shirley Heinze Environmental Fund Crystal Lake Park District Lake County Stormwater Management Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter The Conservation Foundation Commission St. Charles Park District Conservation Research Institute Lake Forest Open Lands Association Sustain, The Environmental Information Downers Grove Park District Lake Michigan Federation Group Ducks Unlimited Lake View Nature Center Thorn Creek Audubon Society DuPage Audubon Society Liberty Prairie Conservancy The Trust for Public Land Environmental Law and Policy Center Lincoln Park Zoo Urban Resources Partnership of the Midwest Long Grove Park District US Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District The Field Museum Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation US Dept. of Energy, Argonne National Forest Preserve District of Cook County Laboratory McHenry County Conservation District Forest Preserve District of DuPage County US Dept. of Energy, Fermi National Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Accelerator Laboratory Forest Preserve District of Kane County of Greater Chicago US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 Forest Preserve District of Will County Morton Arboretum US EPA Great Lakes National Program Office Fort Dearborn Chapter, National Audubon Society Illinois Audubon Society USDA Forest Service The Nature Conservancy Fox Valley Land Foundation USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service North Cook County Soil & Water Conservation Friends of the Chicago River District USDI Fish & Wildlife Service Friends of the Parks Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission USDI National Park Service Friends of Ryerson Woods Northwest Indiana Forum The Wetlands Initiative Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance Foundation, Inc. Wild Ones Natural Landscapers, Ltd.

F ALL 1999 37 Citizens of the wilderness—back to our roots. Photo by Michael Shedlock.

PRSRT STD Chicago U.S. POSTAGE PAID WILDERNES S Permit No. 16 P. O. Box 268 New Richmond , WI 54017 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515-0268