SPRING ISSUE 2017 Vol. 6, No. 2

“In those vernal seasons of the year, when the air is calm and pleasant, it were an injury and sullenness against Nature not to go out and see her riches, and partake in her rejoicing with heaven and earth.”

–John Milton

Photo by Sherrie Snyder

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A Walk in the Woods with Jim Bortell

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By Judith Valente Reynard

If there ever was a spring day so perfect … today is just that kind of day, the poet Billy Collins writes in his poem “Today.” On April 15, a group of about 35 Master Naturalists experienced just such a day of warm sun, intermittent breezes and the first blush of spring flowers as we shared a Spring Walk through Sugar Grove Nature Center with our tour guide, Jim Bortell.

Before setting out, we took in a deep breath of the scent of fresh grass and began our tour by

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reflecting on some lines from Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass:

A child said, What is the grass? fetching it to me with full hands; How could I answer the child?. . . .I do not know what it is any more than he.

I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, out of hopeful green stuff woven.

Or I guess it is the handkerchief of the Lord, a scented gift and remembrancer designedly dropped, bearing the owner’s name somewhere in the corners, that we may see and remark, and say Whose?

Note: IGPMN hopes to lead a walk this September at The Grove prairie in Bloomington. Not to be missed. Stay tuned for details.

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We moved on to search for spring flowers and found many. Among them: spring beauties, phlox, violets, and blue-eyed Marys. We heard the tapping of pileated woodpeckers and the mating songs (or so we imagined) of singing

cardinals. We spotted redwing black birds and perhaps one towhee.

The rains of the previous days made some parts of the trails quite mushy, or, as we preferred to call those areas, “mud-luscious,” recalling the line from ee cummings’ famous poem of the season, in just spring “when the world is mud-luscious.” No one slipped and no one got stuck!

We stopped to pay our respects to Sugar Grove’s 200-year-old oak, still sturdy amid younger trees that lost branches in recent storms or appear to be teetering

on the edge of falling over. Beavers had done a pretty thorough job of gnawing through the trunks of some so that their trunk ends came together in kind of a pencil point, giving the trees the appearance of a wood sculpture. Beavers are such artists.

The highlight for many was training our binoculars on some sycamore trees in the distance that hold the nests of fledgling herons. We were careful to keep a respectful distance. We spotted perhaps three nests in total. I believe we succeeded in being unobtrusive because a heron parent felt confident enough to fly away from the nest as we watched, a graceful and majestic bird in flight.

I believe I speak for all when I say we ended our walk with lifted spirits and deep gratitude for being a part of this mysterious, magnificent world. Truly we could say, if not shout, the words of Whitman:

I celebrate myself, and sing myself And what I assume, you shall assume For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. I loafe and invite my soul … observing a spear of summer grass. n

Photos by Sherrie Snyder

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As I look out my window, the signs of spring are everywhere. Seemingly endless sunshine; the colorful blossoms of trees; bright colors of all the spring flowers; stems emerging from the ground foretelling of future glories to emerge in our native plants and of blooms to come; and, of course, the buildup of clouds on the horizon reminding us of spring showers.

By the time you read this most of the spring flowers will have passed and have been replaced with early summer flowers. It is a glorious transition. Isn’t Nature grand? Like the seasons, IGPMN, too, is transitioning to summer.

Vickie and the special events committee have already told us about a fantastic May event – the opportunity to visit Starved Rock and hike with Chief Gerald Savage (Ho-Chunk Ska) of the Ho-Chunk Nation. The date is May 19. If you missed Vickie’s email you can get more information and register by going to: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/default.cfm?RegistrationID=16450

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The National Trails Day leadership team is also hard at work organizing our support of the NTD event on June 3. This is our annual “all hands on deck” event, which we support at Sugar Grove Nature Center. Please help Maryann, Louise and Jay by responding when they email us for participation, especially if you have a specific event or activity you want to do.

Remember to take time to personally reflect and enjoy the joys of nature here in Central Illinois or elsewhere. If you are in the Rockford area and want to see something special I strongly recommend visiting the Burpee Museum of Natural History in central Rockford. You can see Jane – “the world’s most complete and best preserved juvenile T. rex” – and other dinosaur bones and fossils as well as numerous exhibits including rocks and minerals.

When you visit remember to see the 3rd floor displays of prairie and native plants and life. More information at http://www.burpee.org.

Have a great spring-summer transition. Looked out the window again and I have go pick some early spinach.

Ken Newgren

Class of 2011 kennewgren@gmail.com

A Word from Our President SPRING TO SUMMER

A Toast to Nature: Bees, Mead, and Beer, Oh My! Friday, May 19; 6:00-8:00 p.m.Fee: $15/members, $20/non-members.

You must be 21 or over to attend this program. Registration and prepayment required.

Honey bees make life enjoyable in many ways! Join Central Illinois Beekeeping Association members, Tom Pankeon and Patti Koranda, to learn about the life of honeybees and how honey can be used to make mead and other beverages.

Participants will sample beverages made using honey and snack on light appetizers.

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Nature and Man at Starved Rock Through a Native-American’s Eye

Hike Guide: Chief Gerald Savage (Ho-Chunk Ska) of the Ho-Chunk Nation, grandson of

Chief Walks with the Wind.

OPEN SIGN-UP FOR OUR MAY 19 SPECIAL PROGRAM

By Vickie Robertson

We are excited to host a visit to Starved Rock State Park and hike with Chief Gerald Savage (Ho-Chunk Ska) of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and grandson of Chief Walks with the Wind. Also scheduled for the morning is a presentation about area geology with retired teacher and long-time Starved Rock guide, Joe Jakupcak.

While Savage will point out some of the natural plants and flowers during the hike, he will also share his vast knowledge of the clans, ceremonies and family history of his people in the area and their relationship to the earth.

After the presentations and a guided hike, you are free to enjoy your own lunch at the park, or in one of the many popular area restaurants.

There are plenty of opportunities for additional hiking in the afternoon in nearby Matthiessen and Buffalo Rock State Parks. Miles of trails, beautiful canyons, and scenic overlooks make LaSalle County a wonderful place to spend the day.

The morning program begins at the Visitor’s Center at Starved Rock at 9 a.m. and will last until noon. It will take place regardless of weather (unless severe). Light refreshments will be provided in the morning.

Plan to meet at the Schnucks grocery store parking lot in North Normal between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. We will leave no later than 7:50 a.m.

Fee: $10 covers refreshments and speaker honoraria.

Registration is open to anyone over 14 years of age. Visit https://go.illinois.edu/StarvedRockn

Pictured left: Lecturer, geologist, and long-time park hiking guide Joe Jakupcak hails from Marseilles, IL.

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Story and photos by Deanna Frautschi

We have been blessed to have Great Horned Owls in our back tree line for the 40 years we have lived on the five acres of cornfield we have restored for wildlife. I have enjoyed watching them come back from their nightly hunt in the early morning and listening to their hooting after dark.

They are the first and largest (22 to 24 inches) of our local owls to have their young, often nesting in December or January with young arriving by February. Very rarely do we get to see the young, but once in a while a youngster being cared for until five or six months of age shows itself. By that time they are almost as big as mom and dad. They are cared for by both parents and must be taught to hunt before moving on to establish their own territories.

Screechy Visitors

We often hear the sometimes scary trill of the diminutive nine inch Eastern Screech Owl, but we never saw them on our property's 250 trees. Seven years ago my husband Alan Bedell made me four Screech Owl nesting boxes. The first fall and winter, three of the boxes were taken over by squirrels as winter roosts and nesting places. We were told by experts that once squirrels do this, the owls won’t return.

Surprise!

After squirrels had left in March of the second year, we were so delighted when we looked out to find a Red Morph Screech Owl had taken over one of the boxes. They stayed to raise two youngsters and we enjoyed watching for a couple of months until the young fledged in May.

LIFE’S A HOOT!

Above: Adult Great Horned Owl

Below: Adult with two three-month-olds

Left: Adult Eastern Screech Owl in nesting box.

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Barred Courtship

Four years ago, a Barred Owl made itself known one night with its signature “who cooks for you?” call. Shortly after, we saw a large Barred Owl (20 to 22 inches) when it began hunting our property during the day as well as at night. These dark-eyed owls are one of the few who do hunt during daylight hours.

Our real delight came just this year when three Barred Owls began showing themselves consistently in our front yard. It turned out two males were vying for the attention of a female. It was certainly entertaining to watch them flying from tree to tree in hot pursuit.

Finally, in mid-March the female chose a mate. What came next was incredible to witness. The male courted her by caressing her feathers, grabbing her beak and holding talons with her. We were so lucky they chose to do their courting in plain view some of the time. The photo opportunities were amazing for the not-often-observed behaviors.

All is quiet in April. We are hoping they are nesting on our property. They often choose an old hawk or squirrel nest (of which we have plenty). If my calculations are right, it should be in May that the young would emerge and start to grow enough that we might hear them and find their location. But, of course, we don’t want to bother them either. Mom and dad will stay with them for a few months so maybe, just maybe, we will be lucky enough to catch sight of them.

In the meantime, it appears another Red Morph Screech Owl has taken up residence in a backyard nesting box…just two days after it was vacated by squirrels.

Stay tuned! n

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EARTH AND HUMAN ACTIVITY Master Naturalist Develops, Pilots, and Shares Hands-On Science Curriculum

By Matthew Hagaman

For the past two years, I have volunteered my time as a traveling earth science educator, serving a four-county region in Central Illinois. Each year I develop a new set of hands-on activities, with a unit for each grade level designed around the Next Generation Science Standards. In 2016 I presented programs related to

“Earth Systems” standards, piloting seven units from kindergarten to eighth grade. Last summer those lessons were finalized and published to the Geology Section’s web site (http://pasgeology.com/). In 2017 I have a total of 13 units available, including six new units addressing “Earth and Human Activity” standards at each grade level.

Much of my outreach work allows me to serve the overlapping objectives of both the IGPMN and the Peoria Academy of Science’s Geology Section. In most programs, I make connections between geology concepts, Illinois natural resources, and the impact that students have on the environment around them. With fourth graders, for example, we have been able to describe the energy and fuels derived from Illinois resources. We begin by brainstorming types of power and examining working generators in order to understand how different types of fuels can be used to create electrical energy. Following research, we then decide which types of power are best for our region, considering which sources of power are renewable and weighing the benefit of local, non-renewable sources.

In a Fifth Grade unit, we examine an existing real-world problem and solution: human waste management. After establishing the problems which made the spread of the bubonic plague possible, we play a board game to learn how wastewater treatment works today. Students then consider environmental problems which exist in the world today and work in teams to develop their own innovative solution.

Another unit which makes use of a board game is used at the middle school level – students gain an understanding of Illinois geologic resource distribution as they dig for and mine valuable resources.

While this has been an incredible opportunity for both myself and the students, the greatest value for this program has come from my opportunity to pilot programs, polish them, and make them available to teachers all around the world. If you know of a teacher who might use earth science lessons built by a Master Naturalist, please refer them to the Geology Section’s web site: http://pasgeology.com/.

Mileage and materials have been funded thanks to grants from the Peoria Academy of Science, the Peoria Academy of Science Geology Section, Kohl’s Associates in Action, and the George Egger Memorial Fund. To date, more than 2,300 students have been brought in close contact with earth science ideas, artifacts, and experts! n

Geologic Teaching Tools: Bottle for pressure and temperature activities, Illinois geodes, sandbox for erosion experiments, Illinois coal, and an electrical

generator model.

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OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE FIRED UP! CERAMIC CREATIONS TO ENHANCE SUGAR GROVE AND HEARTLAND PRAIRIE

By Michele "Mikki" Bell

The siren call of their “inner artist” was strong for Master Naturalists Mark Lawson, Feli Sebastian, Barb Graffon, Diane Boeck, Lenore Clark and me (Mikki Bell). We joined forces with a plethora of local artists from Inside Out Accessible Art Co Op in Bloomington, to create these ceramic faces for Funks Grove Nature Center.

The faces represent Isaac and Cassandra Funk; Robert and Kate Stubblefield; Hazel Funk Holmes, the Funk responsible for Maple Sirup and conservation of the Funk area; and Chief Woksis, who discovered the maple sap, and his wife, who cooked it with venison to make sweet venison.

Disappointed that you missed out on this creative romp? You will be happy to know that more faces are being prepared for the Heartland Prairie.

Contact me by email for more info at: mickeyb@gridcom.netn

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By Mary Dellorto

The University of Illinois Extension and the Community Cancer Center are excited to announce this joint venture: a workshop on the therapeutic aspects of nature. The workshop is scheduled for Saturday, June 10, 9 am to 4 pm at the Community Cancer Center in Normal.

The keynote speaker will be Mike Maddox from University of Wisconsin Extension. He will address the theory of horticulture therapy, which utilizes the knowledge of nature to provide therapeutic benefits to individuals to improve well-being.

The conference will provide hands-on experiences that allow attendees to understand these concepts. Breakout sessions will provide activities and plans to allow the attendees to use these ideas for youth and adults in a variety of settings.

The workshop is approved for 5.5 CPDUs for educators through the Regional Office of Education, and Master Naturalist Continuing Education Hours.

You may register online by following this link: go.illinois.edu/RegisterLMW or you may call the McLean County Extension Office at: (309) 663-8306. n

HORTICULTURE THERAPY:

Gardening is Healing

Updated Volunteer Schedule:

OUR PARKLANDS

PARTNER Provided by Jason Shoemaker

Spring is here, and that means ParkLands work days are, too. Below you will find the scheduledwork days for 2017. We hope for an active year with the help of MN volunteers.

Thank you for your help with the Merwin Preserve event last Saturday. Our official celebration of 50 years of stewardship was a resounding success! Now, let’s get the word out about ParkLands and have some fun earning volunteer hours in beautiful settings!

INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL @ MERWIN PRESERVE

• June 11 – 9:00AM – West Gate• July 9 – 9:00AM – West Gate• August 13 – 9:00AM – West Gate

SEED COLLECTION OCTOBER 15 & NOVEMBER 5 @ Cayuga Ridge, Pontiac Meet @ 9:00am at BP Gas Station in Lexington, I-55 Exit

SEED CLEANING DECEMBER 5 @ ISU Science Lab Building Greenhouse Meet @ 9:00am

Contact Jason Shoemaker for more information (309) 531-7065 n

Photographers Dee Frautschi,

Mary Jo Adams, and Linda Giles captured these signs of spring.

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Summer Solstice Celebration in the Herb Garden Wednesday, June 21, 6-8 p.m.

Fee: $20/members, $25/non-members. Registration & payment required by June 14.

You must be 21+ years old to attend.

Join us in celebrating the longest day of the year in Funks Grove! Tour our herb garden. Learn about the healing properties of herbs and how to promote healthy herbs using crystals. Create an herbal craft to take home! Taste herbal teas, refreshing mojitos, and other tonics while you enjoy an assortment of light appetizers. Finish off the evening by tossing fresh herbs in the bonfire to ensure a prosperous harvest!

Visit www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/register.html to register.

A SHOUT OUTFROM RACHEL KRAMP:

”A huge THANK YOU to each of our fabulous volunteers and participants for making Maple Sirup Season 2017 a BIG Success!

“Thanks to the more than 40 volunteers who donated upwards of 1,300 hours to run this event, approximately 1,700 participants of all ages were able to experience the magic behind sirup production over a 10-day period!

We could not have done it without you.” n

Get Ready for Sugar Grove Nature Center’s Newest Adventure:

SUMMER CAMP FOR GROWN-UPS! Why should kids get to have all the fun?

CREEK DISCOVERY: June 14, 10am-3pm Join RiverWatch leader, Debbie Fluegel, to explore Illinois’ amazing underwater diversity.

BIRD BONANZA: July 12, 10am-3pm Audobon Society members immerse you in the wonders of Funks Grove’s feathered inhabitants, sharing local hot spots for birding.

NATURE CAMP AT NIGHT: August 9, 6-11pm Dinner, then bugs, bats, and bizarre nocturnal beings, and a Twin City Astronomer sky tour.

Redacted

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Funks Grove National Trails Day

Celebration June 3, 2017

10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Event Headquarters: Sugar Grove Nature Center FREE Admission!

�R�Guided Hikes R�Self-Guided Experiences�R�Nature Journaling R�Geocaching R�Nature Craft Station R�Wild Illinois Mammals R�First Aid & Trail Safety R�Nature Center Exploration R�Honey Bees!!! R�Frog & Toad Learning Station R�Over 7 Miles of Trails to Explore R�Children’s & Scout Activities R�Leashed Dogs Welcome R�So Much More!

presented by the Illinois Grand Prairie Master Naturalists

Sugar Grove Nature Center is located in beautiful, historic Funks Grove, Illinois. Visit www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org for more information.

University of Illinois • U.S. Department of Agriculture • Local Extension Councils Cooperating University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any of our programs please contact us.

Lace Up Your Hiking Boots and Explore & Discover the Nature

of Funks Grove!

Check-in at National Trails Day Headquarters, Pick Up Your Hiking Passport, & Begin Your Journey!

�

7777777�

Pack a Picnic Lunch and Plan to Stay All Day!

SPRING ISSUE Vol. 6, No. 2

OFFICERS

President: Ken Newgren Past President: Rita Yordy President Elect: Mary Jo Adams Secretary: Diana Boschulte Treasurer: Patti “PK” Koranda

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Curriculum: Mary Jo Adams National Trails Day: Jay Corwin, Louise Reeser,

& Maryann Stork Newsletter: Membership: Program: Volunteer: Special Events:

Kathy Clesson Barb Graffon & Deb Tock Judy Valente & Mark Larson Kathy Clesson & Marilyn Freese Vickie Robertson

THE ILLINOIS GRAND PRAIRIE MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM is an opportunity

to experience nature, develop knowledge of and respect for the environment, and

practice natural resource stewardship. u

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and

Environmental Sciences/State/County/Local Groups/United States Department of Agriculture

Cooperating u

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in any of our programs,

please contact our office. u

University of Illinois Extension, McLean County1615 Commerce Parkway, Bloomington, IL

(309) 663-8306http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/

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Above: Yellow Swallowtail delighting in spring lilacs Left: Goldfinch, Photos by Deanna Frautschi