By Alyssa Nyberg, Restoration Ecologist at Kankakee Sands The dark winter months can be a great time for owl prowling. Owls are nocturnal, which means that they are the most active feeding, vocalizing and moving about in the dark hours. With winter’s long nights and short days, it’s an ideal time to brush up yourContinue reading “Owl Prowling at Kankakee Sands”
Author Archives: friendsofthesands
Squirrel!
By Alyssa Nyberg, Restoration Ecologist at Kankakee Sands If you thought that squirrels were a distraction for dogs, you should see the Kankakee Sands Staff when someone says, “squirrel!” Whenever we think we see one of the recently-released Franklin’s ground squirrels (Poliocitellus franklinii) on the prairie, it’s worth stopping in our tracks to confirm. (NoteContinue reading “Squirrel!”
Celebrating the Magnificent Bison
By Alyssa Nyberg, Restoration Ecologist at Kankakee Sands This October marks the ninth year that bison have graced and grazed our Kankakee Sands prairies. Even after nine years, it’s still a thrill to see them, isn’t it?! Our Kankakee Sands bison heard arrived in 2016, the same year as Indiana’s bicentennial. We like to jokeContinue reading “Celebrating the Magnificent Bison”
Learn, work, get credit, have fun!
By Alyssa Nyberg, Restoration Ecologist at Kankakee Sands It’s September, and it’s back-to-school time for many students and families. My own kids are headed back to school, and as a mentor for our Student Conservation Internship team, I am going back to school, too! I am thrilled to be a part of the Student ConservationContinue reading “Learn, work, get credit, have fun!”
Sounds of the Prairie
By Alyssa Nyberg, Restoration Ecologist at Kankakee Sands This spring and summer, I have been enjoying the call of the grasshopper sparrow—a dry, insect-like buzz that tells me they are near. A friend recently informed me that this pretty little prairie bird has a second song—a rapid series of squeaks, chirp and trills that riseContinue reading “Sounds of the Prairie”
Growing Better Every Year and Every Season
By Alyssa Nyberg, Restoration Ecologist at Kankakee Sands Our Kankakee Sands prairies are always growing and changing. As I write this article, the prairie flowers are beginning to bloom and the yellows of sand coreopsis are astounding. With June comes the changing of colors from the yellow of coreopsis to the purple of spiderwort, theContinue reading “Growing Better Every Year and Every Season”
Spotlight on Wetlands and the Virginia Rail
By Alyssa Nyberg Spring has sprung and that means our Kankakee Sands wetlands are teeming with activity. The Kankakee Sands Bird Viewing Area on the west side of US 41 is a particular fan favorite right now due to the wide-open wetland filled with glistening water and critters galore. One needn’t walk through a wetlandContinue reading “Spotlight on Wetlands and the Virginia Rail”
Spider Appreciation : from Eek! to Yay!
By Alyssa Nyberg, Restoration Ecologist at The Nature Conservancy’s Kankakee Sands Did you know that the first week of April is National Be Kind to Spiders Week? To be kind to spiders (that is, to resist all instincts to squish them), one must first appreciate spiders, which admittedly can be hard to do when youContinue reading “Spider Appreciation : from Eek! to Yay!”
The March of the Salamanders
By Alyssa Nyberg At Kankakee Sands, our wetlands have a great awakening in March. During the day, the tender bright-green leaves of moist soil-loving plants begin to grow, and the many aquatic insects—such as fairy shrimp, dragonfly larva and damselfly larva– swim in the cool waters. Wetlands attract turtles and frogs, not to mention severalContinue reading “The March of the Salamanders”
Oh Deer! It’s the New Year!
By Alyssa Nyberg, Restoration Ecologist at The Nature Conservancy’s Kankakee Sands When I look out over the Kankakee Sands bison pasture this time of the year, not only do I see bison, I also see deer. Sometimes just one deer, sometimes nearly a dozen! Each time I marvel at how small the 150-pound deer lookContinue reading “Oh Deer! It’s the New Year!”
Friends of the Sands 