Newsletter

Meet Your Neighbors: Crust Fungus Among Us

by Crusty Jack MacRae There are not too many forms of fungus you can spot from 60 yards away.  But the next time you’re visiting your favorite ancient oak woodlands in the Fox River’s watershed, take note of the wide, pale gray bands of smooth bark on the trunks. I grew up calling it “cow rub”, but … Read more

Who’s Protecting the Fox River?

 By Gary Swick What government agency is responsible for the Fox River’s shoreline and bottom, its water quality, the fish in it, or the bald eagles visiting it? The answer is four different agencies! Do you know who they are? Just deciphering who’s protecting the Fox River can be a huge challenge. If Hilary Clinton … Read more

Fox River gravel bar

Diversity and Stability

by Gary Swick One of the basic concepts of ecology is that diversity leads to stability. The Fox River watershed has two kinds of diversity! It can boast of biological diversity, and a diversity of groups that work to preserve and increase the biological diversity. Diverse Origins Illinois may seem like a simple landscape. Most … Read more

Carpentersville Dam

Dams of the Fox River, A Layperson’s View

by Eric Pepa When I became a member of Friends of the Fox River several years ago, one of the first things I learned was that we were not Friends of the dams of the Fox River. As a layperson (an architect by profession), my interest in the Fox River has been mostly recreational. I … Read more

Meet Your Neighbors: Where Do the Ducks Go in Winter?

by Gary Mechanic The hero of J.D.Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” Holden Caulfield famously wanted to know where the ducks go in winter, and who doesn’t? While some of us, and many of our furred and feathered neighbors leave before winter, some that stay survive by using clever tactics. Puff Up, Shiver & Eat Overwintering … Read more

challenge-v-comfort-zone

Meeting New Challenges

By Gary Mechanic, Executive Director 2017 was the worst of years, and the best of years, and I’ve seen a lot of years. I’m 70 and I’ve never seen federal protection of the environment take such giant steps backwards! Since the USEPA was created in 1970, it has dragged it’s feet creating pollution control standards, it’s refused to regulate … Read more

Meet Your Neighbors: The Duck with a Golden Eye

By Jack MacRae Goldeneyes don’t dabble. They are diving ducks with a talent of Olympic proportion. They’re synchronous divers. When feeding, all the birds in one section of a flock may dive at the same time. They swim to the bottom of lakes and rivers in search of crunchy food. Analyses of their stomach contents … Read more

resolutions 2018

Resolution 2018

Resolution 2018: Connect to Nature By Gary Swick It’s in the middle of the Friends of the Fox River’s mission statement; Connecting people to nature is what we do. It initiates a natural wonder within people that brings a sense of joy and a desire to care for what we love. We want people to love … Read more

Kayaking Fox River

Are You a Friend Indeed?

By Gary Swick Everybody is in favor of protecting water quality aren’t they? Clean water ranks in the top 5 most important interests in national citizen surveys. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, most Americans ranked the environment as a top policy issue that President Donald Trump and Congress should tackle this year. … Read more

Meet Your Neighbors: Happy Pines to All

By Jack MacRae December seems like an appropriate time to talk about evergreens. You see them growing on most landscaped properties in the region! Not only are these trees everywhere, this is the month when pines, firs, cedars, and spruce are bedecked as Christmas trees and wreaths. In spite of their ubiquitous nature and celebratory … Read more