A Follow-up from Last Month’s Reflections Column In last month’s column, I wrote about the plight of one of the peregrine falcon hatchlings from the downtown Aurora nest whose initial flight ended in near disaster in the Fox River. The little falcon, subsequently named Hope, was rescued from the river through the coordinated efforts of a number of people … Read more
My husband and I moved to Kane County because of the Fox River. We wanted to live near this vibrant living being. This summer when my grandson spent a week at a Kane County Forest Preserve Camp that met in Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve, I stayed every day while he was at camp. So … Read more
As many prepare for the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, we may wonder how our Fox River Valley developed from a wild land up to July 4th, 1776 and the next 250 years to today. Backstory As the climate warmed, the melting glaciers receded to form our watershed’s current landscape. 17,000 years … Read more
When the Carpenter Dam was removed in late 2024, it was a dream come true for river restoration advocates. It opened-up the longest free flowing stretch of the Fox River in Kane County. This was also great news for anglers and paddlers. We celebrated the event with our ribbon-tying ceremony with the Village of Carpentersville, … Read more
Those of you who have followed my Reflections on the Fox blog for the last several months know that I have been following the progress of a Peregrine Falcon nest in downtown Aurora. For the past several years, the falcon pair has nested in a beautiful nest box on the top of the Leland Towers, … Read more
You’ve probably read the research that says time spent in nature is good for you, and you believe that. Maybe you’ve even felt that. That’s probably why you’re getting the Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) newsletter. Maybe you already go for walks or paddles along the river. When I retired in 2018, my goal … Read more
Earlier this year, I spent some time in downtown Aurora looking for birds. You might wonder why I would go to such an unlikely place as the second most populous city in Illinois to engage in an activity that is typically thought of as done in a more bucolic setting. It’s because I was looking … Read more
Possibly and probably the most important single act of being a better Friend to the Fox River is to introduce an oak tree to the watershed. No Joke, Get Your Free Oak April Fool’s Day has passed so it’s not an April Fool’s joke. No joke, these oaks are FREE. Friends of the Fox River is offering … Read more
In the News With some exceptions, it is usually not good when your river is part of a network news story. I recall images of whole houses and vehicles floating down the Mississippi River during my adult life. 100-year floods had occurred twice in a decade. The Fox River’s recent flood crested on 4/23, but … Read more
I struggled with deciding what my topic for this month’s Reflections on the Fox should be, not because there wasn’t enough to write about, but because there is too much! Should I write about the Peregrine Falcons nesting along the Fox River in Aurora or should I write about the Bald Eagle nesting season that’s … Read more
