News

As many of you know, DBC’s own Jeff Reiter authors the popular Words on Birds column in the Daily Herald. Jeff’s fun end-of-year review captures 2024’s important local conservation successes and birding highlights. The latter included about a dozen rare bird sightings within DuPage County, including a very cooperative Sage Thrasher at Hidden Lake who stayed on sight for days, which prompted then President Robert Perez to ask members whether there was anyone in the room who hadn’t seen the Thrasher! For the full story, visit Jeff’s blog at https://wordsonbirds.blogspot.com/

Most everyone recognizes the Bald Eagle as America’s national bird. It first appeared in 1782 on the Great Seal, a symbol of American strength and sovereignty as a nation. But the fact is that it just officially became our national bird on Christmas Eve 2024, when President Biden signed a bipartisan bill designating the Bald Eagle as the official bird of the United States. We can all heartily endorse this acknowledgment, notwithstanding one of our forefather’s objections-Ben Franklin thought the Bald Eagle was “a bird of bad moral character” since it is known to steal food from other birds. Franklin […]

Avian Flu: Avian Flu incidents are being monitored carefully by the District. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has advised citizens to report any sightings of five or more dead birds to their local IDNR representative and to avoid handling any sick or deceased birds. In DuPage, contact Nicky Strahl at nicky.strahl@illinois.gov. Pratt’s Wayne Woods-Southeast: During closed session the DuPage County Forest Preserve Board discussed the acquisition through negotiation or condemnation of a parcel known as “Pratt’s Wayne Wood-Southeast” by the Forest Preserve District. This parcel is 43 acres with over 200 oak trees, some exceeding 200 years old and […]