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Thursday, May 16, 2024
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Visitors were invited to check out booths inside the Des Plaines Theater setup for last Wednesday’s first Sustainability Fest. (Dion Martorano/Journal photo)
Our first big event is on the books! Thanks to all our friends who came out to support us for Sustainability Fest at the Des Plaines Theatre on May 8. We are very grateful to have connected with so many smart people who have incredible tenacity, experience and knowledge. We are forming a dynamic force in Des Plaines! We are passionate about preservation and regeneration. Our main aim is to protect our air, water, soil and green space for future generations. I heard this quote read by the keynote speaker at our niece’s graduation last weekend:
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” – Nelson Henderson
This rainy spring has helped boost the abundance of ephemeral blossoms in the forest. For me, this is the most wonderous time to be in the woods. Naturalist buddies Lynora and Ken and I got together this week to harvest seeds. My mentors taught me that only certified stewards of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County are allowed to harvest seeds or take anything (even a mushroom). If caught, we could face stiff fines. Thankfully, Ken had his badge.
Ken knew the exact spot to hunt for spring beauties (claytonia virginica) and which seed pods were ripe to pluck. We were looking for seeds to transplant over to Izaak Walton League in Des Plaines. We are only allowed to plant native seeds on FPDCC land that have been harvested from a 25-mile radius. This law helps to protect our forests from invasive species and promotes native biodiversity. Since we have been removing lots and lots of buckthorn there, the sun is shining on soil that has been shaded for years. We have seen the emergence of red trillium, (trillium erectum), golden alexanders (zizia aurea), and trout lilies (erythronium albidum). In a few weeks, we will go back and harvest seeds from cutleaf toothwort (cardamine concatenate) and sow again at Izaak Walton.
Alan Anderson from the Chicago Bird Alliance (CBA) heard about our regeneration work. Alan is a well-known ornithologist whose bird walks at the Chicago Botanic Garden and other “hotspots” in our area are regularly sold out. Alan is a researcher with the CBA and is currently studying the effects of regeneration at Izaak Walton on the increase of nesting birds. Since one nest of birds requires almost 10,000 caterpillars to fledge, it is hypothesized that the increase of native plants and habitat will attract more birds. Native caterpillars can only munch on native plants, so the seeds we are sowing hopefully will start growing and feed more baby birds!
Alan is teaching me how to record birds with the Merlin bird app and in eBird. Since Alan has been working with us, we (mostly Alan) have recorded over 60 species of birds at Izaak Walton. This is prime migration season and the best time to go birding! Early in the morning is when our feathered friends are the most visible. It is so important, especially this time of year, to reduce light at night. Three hundred million birds are trying to fly home for the summer!
Congratulations to Nicole, our intern for graduating from MWHS and being accepted to many great schools for Environmental Science. Illinois Wesleyan watch out! We are so proud of you. Hope to see you outside soon. Check us out for more GREEN fun! Gogreendesplaines.org.
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