#Cook County Forest Preserve

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Welcome to the world, June babies!

Photo: Brookfield Zoo, Illinois

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The Cook County Forest Preserve acquired the area and, in 1929, drafted a plan to clear the marsh and create a recreation area with forests and a series of lagoons. These lagoon

[onehungryhumorist]

Skokie Lagoon Trail Review: Black Loop Trail

Part of Cook County’s North Branch Trail System and wrapping around the Skokie Lagoon, the Black Trail is the perfect trail for an after-work walk. Clocking in a 4.4 miles, this dog-friendly loop connects to neighborhoods in Glencoe and Winnetka, the Chicago Botanic Garden, and the Tower Road and Forest Way Grove entrances. Overall Thoughts on the Skokie Lagoon Trail: Difficulty (Lower is…

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there is a sense in this of all that was and what has ceased to be.

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Today we thank Jordan Wright for nearly 3 years of hard work! Thank you, Jordan! We will miss you! We asked Jordan to pick a favorite item from the collections:

"During my time working here, I took an interest in the papers of Henry Chandler Cowles. He researched plant succession in the Indiana Dunes, and was influential in conservation work in the area. Since high school I’ve loved going to the Dunes, so seeing the history, photographs, and research he did there was very interesting.

His conservation activities also contributed to a few national and regional parks, including the Forest Preserves of Cook County. I’ve volunteered with the Forest Preserves for a couple years, helping manage invasive plants and encourage native habitat restoration.

While looking through some of the artifacts for a blog post on the Dunes, I saw this Forest Preserve warden’s badge. I was already interested in Cowles for the Dunes connection. Seeing another connection in something so concrete was especially exciting!"

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Guys we have some honey bees right under our stairs to our house. Do you know of any ethical way to move them? we don’t want to kill them if it can be avoided but understandably my roommate who owns the place doesn’t want them there.

It would be stupid but if there was an easy way for me to put them to sleep I could drive them to a forest preserve or something… probably would get stung a shit ton since I’m not a professional. Got any tips for relocating honey bees? Anyone who I could call? I live in cook county if that helps ?

[rjzimmerman]

A mini-fan cools down an osprey chick following its examination at Baker’s Lake Younghusband Prairie on June 12, 2024, in Barrington. Over the next couple of weeks, staff at the Forest Preserves of Cook County are banding, performing health care checks, and recording data on more than a dozen osprey chicks scattered throughout forest preserve properties. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Excerpt from this story from the Chicago Tribune:

Wildlife biologist Chuck Rizzo climbs into what looks like an enormous white bucket and slowly begins to rise.

The metal arm of an aerial lift truck propels him higher and higher, above thick underbrush and then even some treetops, toward a striking sight in an otherwise ordinary Cook County forest preserve: a sturdy, stick-strewn platform built on top of a 50-foot telephone pole.

“How is it?” the lift operator yells as he maneuvers the bucket carrying the wildlife biologist. “Want it over?”

“Yeah, get it closer,” Rizzo says.

Then he reaches toward the sticks and lifts out two pudgy osprey chicks with bulging chocolate-brown eyes and bellies covered in fluff.

The chicks, which will be examined by a vet and returned to their high-rise home, are a sign of success for a Forest Preserves of Cook County program that aims to increase the number of once-endangered ospreys in the Chicago area by constructing towering nesting platforms.

The Forest Preserves program now bands up to 30 chicks a year, all raised by wild osprey — also known as sea hawks — that choose to build their massive nests on human-built platforms standing 50 to 80 feet above the ground.

That’s up from a handful of chicks in the first year of banding in the 1990s, according to Forest Preserves wildlife biologist Chris Anchor, who started the osprey nesting program after spotting nesting platforms in northern Wisconsin.

“What we’ve done is we’ve greatly increased the speed at which ospreys have populated Cook County,” Anchor said.

Studies of similar programs have found that the platforms attract ospreys and produce successful nests, and the platforms are widely used in many areas of the United States.

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Don Pollack - Miami Woods, North Branch Trail, Cook County Forest Preserve, Illinois, 2024 - Oil on canvas

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Discover the Best Picnic Spots in Niles

Niles, Illinois, a charming village located just outside Chicago, is known for its blend of suburban tranquility and vibrant community life. Among its many attractions, Niles boasts several picturesque picnic spots perfect for family outings, romantic dates, or a peaceful day in nature. Whether you're a local resident or a visitor, these picnic spots offer a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

1. Bunker Hill Forest Preserve

Bunker Hill Forest Preserve is a gem within the Cook County Forest Preserves, offering a serene environment for picnicking. This expansive area features open fields, wooded areas, and the tranquil North Branch of the Chicago River. With numerous picnic tables and shelters, it’s an ideal spot for families and groups. The preserve also has hiking and biking trails, making it a great place to explore before settling down for a meal.

2. Nico Park

Located in the heart of Niles, Nico Park is a small but charming park perfect for a quick picnic. The park features a playground, a gazebo, and plenty of green space for spreading out a blanket. Its central location makes it convenient for those looking to enjoy a leisurely afternoon without venturing too far from town.

3. Golf Mill Park

Golf Mill Park is another excellent option for a picnic in Niles. Situated near the popular Golf Mill Shopping Center, this park offers a peaceful retreat with its beautifully landscaped areas and shaded picnic spots. The park also includes a playground and a pond, adding to its appeal for families with children.

4. Tam O’Shanter Park

Tam O’Shanter Park, part of the Tam O’Shanter Golf Course, provides a unique picnic setting with a view of the golf greens. The park has several picnic tables and a serene atmosphere, making it a perfect spot for a quiet meal or a leisurely afternoon. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy a round of golf before or after their picnic.

5. St. Adalbert Cemetery and Mausoleum Grounds

While a cemetery might not be the first place that comes to mind for a picnic, the grounds of St. Adalbert Cemetery and Mausoleum offer a surprisingly peaceful and beautiful setting. The meticulously maintained gardens and quiet atmosphere provide a unique backdrop for a reflective and tranquil picnic experience.

Conclusion

Niles, with its variety of picturesque and peaceful parks, is a fantastic destination for anyone looking to enjoy a picnic. Whether you prefer the expansive beauty of Bunker Hill Forest Preserve or the convenient charm of Nico Park, there’s a spot for everyone. To make your picnic outing even more enjoyable, consider a sprinter van rental in Niles, which provides ample space and comfort for transporting your picnic supplies and family or friends to your chosen spot.

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Photo: Brookfield Zoo, Illinois

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Moonbattery Applied to Zoology and Medicine

A totalitarian ideology like moonbattery is applied to everything, even fields that would seem completely unrelated to politics, like zoology and medicine.

The new purpose of studying the animal kingdom is to cherry-pick observations that can be used to support the narrative that sexual perversion is natural. Raquel García-Álvarez is a guide at the Sand Ridge Nature Center in suburban Chicago:

“Wildlife does not live within the context of us assigning them, ‘Oh, you’re gay, you’re straight.’ They show homosocial behavior because they use it to bond. It also just brings them joy,” said García-Álvarez, the policy and sustainability manager at the Forest Preserves of Cook County. On a sunny September afternoon, about 20 community members embarked on the “Queerness of Nature Walk” at the South Holland nature preserve. Naturalists used plants and animals like geese to teach queer ecology…

Queerness (a.k.a. depravity) is the TOE of the liberal establishment.

Lanie Rambo, a Forest Preserve naturalist, … said there’s evidence that 1,500 animal species, from insects to mammals, engage in same-sex behavior.

If it’s good enough for animals, it’s good enough for us. You’re not an anthropocentrist are you?

These relations weren’t historically recognized largely due to homophobia, she said.

With homophobia vanquished, social engineers are free to subordinate the natural world to their unnatural ideology by asserting false equivalencies between human and animal behavior.

When applied to medicine, moonbattery crosses from absurd to nightmarish:

A society that would allow monsters like this to practice surgery is doomed. But no doubt there is a monkey somewhere with a hermaphroditic birth defect that can be exploited to prove that multiple-genital hybrids are natural.

[onehungryhumorist]

Salt Creek Red Trail: Cook Co. Forest Preserve Trail Review

The Salt Creek Trail Systems Red Trail is a non-looping path linking local neighborhoods and over 5 Cook County Forest Preserves in the nearwest suburbs. Located roughly 30 to 45 minutes west of the Loop, the trail starts at Brookfield Woods, next to the Brookfield Zoo, and follows Salt Creek for 7.2 miles, terminating in the Bemis Woods Forest Preserve, in Oakbrook. One thing to note is that the…

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75 HACC Youth Graduate from Summer Jobs Program in the Forest Preserves of Cook County | Chicago Defender

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Next Generation Youth Outdoor Ambassador with Forest Preserves of Cook County!

Teens between the ages of 16-22? Are you ready to start a paid summer job as a part of a 10 week program to learn about conservation skills and assist with programs at nature centers, schools, outdoor events, and more? Apply for the Youth Outdoor Ambassador Program today and become an advocate for the environment and natural areas at Forest Preserves of Cook County through the links below.…

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JC Heating and Cooling

Homeowners should never take an air conditioner repair for granted. Otherwise, this can lead to soaring electricity bill and uncomfortable indoor temperature. Even without the signs of damage, make it a habit to call heating and cooling companies near me for regular maintenance. JC Heating & Cooling is a trusted ac repair near me. Their exceptional service and honest appraisals make them stand out from the other hvac near me. If you are satisfied with their work, you can even refer them to your friends who need furnace repair and enjoy the perks from their referral program. No other heating repair company offers such incentives to their clients. But for JC Heating and Cooling, this is their way of saying thank you for trusting them for your air conditioning repair service.

Hodgkins, IL

When moving to another place, the cost of living is one of the major factors to consider as it can impact your finances. In Hodgkins, you do not have to adjust so much because it has the same index as most average US cities. House rental range from $1000 for a studio type to $1900 for a 4-bedroom apartment. An single person can expect to spend an additional of $1000 for his basic needs while a family of four needs $3800 on top of the monthly rental. However, take note that these figures are only approximates. They can go higher or lower depending on your personal standards of living.

Chicago Portage National Historic Site

True to its name, the Chicago Portage National Historic Site is a place to commemorate the Chicago Portage. The place offers you the opportunity to walk on the same grounds explored by the early settlers of Chicago. The site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is only a fraction of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Visitors can go hiking, biking, and canoeing. There are also areas for picnicking for the entire family. One of the attractive features is the metal sculpture depicting a boat being ported. Overall, this is a nice place to see if you want to revisit history.

Illinois Workers’ Right Amendment

Voters will have to set their first decision on whether to support the Worker’s Right Amendment. This will codify the right of employees to unionize into the state constitution. Unions support this but there are also organizations that are against it claiming that this will only increase the property taxes. In order to become a law, it has to receive three-fifths support from the voters and certified and declared by the State Board of Elections within 20 days from the election. If you are still unaware of this issue, it is best to read more about it so that on election day, you are more informed and therefore, make a wise decision.

Link to maps

Chicago Portage National Historic Site 4800 S Harlem Ave, Forest View, IL 60402, United States Get on I-55 S in Summit from IL-43 S/Harlem Ave 2 min (0.6 mi) Continue on I-55 S to Hodgkins. Take the US-12 W/US-20 W/US-45 N exit from I-55 S 5 min (4.4 mi) Take 67th St and Santa Fe Dr to your destination 4 min (1.5 mi) JC Heating and Cooling, Inc. 7099 Santa Fe Dr Unit G, Hodgkins, IL 60525, United States

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WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! (at Forest Preserve District of Cook County) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkuWAlKLq8O/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=