By Jack MacRae I think everyone should have at least one wahoo (Euonymus atropupureus) in their backyard. They’re small, shrubby native trees that prefer average to moist conditions and do well in today’s crazy world. They thrive in the filtered shade of wide-open woods and forest edges, creating a picturesque colony over the years. Shrubs such as … Read more
Fifty Years of Environmental Protection In this year’s live presentation of the State of the Fox River, I shared my challenge in answering the complex question that I often receive: “How is the Fox River doing?” Since the enactment of the Clean Water Act in 1970 things have been improving. That legislation was a federally … Read more
By Brandon Combs and Jenni Schiavone Friends of the Fox River Second Saturday Outdoor Adventures is a new program initiative we’re starting this year. We hope this monthly program will engage young community members and their families in regular outdoor educational activities as we explore the Fox River’s watershed. We are proud to report that … Read more
By Jack MacRae Groundhogs and badgers are both local, grayish mammals that live in holes in the ground. But that’s where the similarities end. Groundhogs (Marmota monax) are grazing members of the rodent family; badgers are hunting members of the weasel family, (Mustelidae). Groundhogs live all over, badgers are restricted in their local range. Groundhogs have a holiday … Read more
By Gary Swick, President “How is the river doing?” and “What’s new with Friends of the Fox River (FOFR)?” are the two most common questions that I hear related to the Fox River. In January, I will answer the first question during my State of the Fox River 2020 report at Schweitzer Environmental Center (SEC) … Read more
By Jack MacRae House finches are common birds with a common name. They are moderate sized birds with a conical, sparrow-like bill. Male house finches are red/pink on their forehead, face, throat, and breast. They have a pink rump. Their wings, backs, and bellies are streaked with shades of brown. Female house finches are streaky, blurry gray and brown all … Read more
By Jack MacRae Our wildlife neighbors adjust to the approach of winter in various ways. Some creatures migrate (red bats), some hibernate (fox snakes), and some grow a layer of insulating fat (raccoons and many humans). And some birds grow big brains. Seriously. Long ago, scientists learned that black capped chickadees’ brains expand during autumn when the birds … Read more
by Gary Swick We are all connected on many levels and in many ways; as family, community, culturally, professionally and as members of our watershed’s ecosystems. I’m going to suggest that you may also have a spiritual connection to the Friends of the Fox River. Genetic Connections The origin of our species, DNA, and Ancestry.com … Read more
By Jack MacRae The burgundy leaves of sumac fill the Fox Valley’s fall woods. The hue comes from the pigment anthocyanin and is greatly influenced by the weather. Here is how: Cool nights (below 45f) inhibit the tree’s chlorophyll production. Without chlorophyll, sugars accumulate in the leaves. Increased sugar leads to a rise in anthocyanin in the leaf. The more … Read more
By Gary Swick, President While in Waubonsee Creek in Oswego, with 7th graders from the Aurora University STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) school, I got a surprise. We were doing a physical-feature analysis to make a map of the creek segment that we were monitoring. Students focused upon two concrete pipes which were discharging a … Read more