Joliet Iron Works Historic Site

06/01/2026

Cardinals are one of the most recognizable birds around, but in some parts of the United States and beyond, there's a bird that looks just like a cardinal but with colors that just don't seem to match our familiar bird.

The pyrrhuloxia is a bird that looks a lot like our familiar cardinals but the colors are all wrong.

05/04/2026

Cottontail rabbits are herbivores and eat a variety of types of vegetation, but you might be surprised to learn the source of some of that vegetation — their own f***s. Yes, that's right. Cottontail rabbits commonly eat their own f***s.

Rabbits might seem ordinary, but there's more to them than meets the eye.

04/27/2026

Baltimore orioles have been spotted in northern Illinois, which means the last of our highly anticipated migratory birds should start showing up locally any day now.

Time to stock up on oranges and grape jelly. Baltimore orioles are on their way.

04/20/2026

The most common "w**d" in America is native to Eurasia, but it is now naturalized to all of North America, much to the chagrin of homeowners everywhere. Each spring, Americans declare war on dandelions, but the so-called w**ds have an advantage, because they easily tolerate a wide range of soil and climate conditions, and offer an important food source for essential insects.

The dandelion is probably the most hated plant in America, but it actually is an important part of the landscape. 

03/23/2026

Thousands worked at Iron Works, giving rise to Joliet’s designation as the City of Steel and Stone.

After peeling back the layers, this unique preserve conserves a piece of the 'City of Steel's' heritage.

03/16/2026

Even in water, loons need a lot of space to take off, requiring between 30 yards and a quarter-mile depending on wind conditions. In addition, they can only take off from water. This can become a problem when they mistakenly land on wet roadways and paved surfaces thinking they are waterways. They can become stranded without water nearby for takeoff.

Have you spotted a common loon in a local waterway? Their time here will be brief.

03/09/2026

Cool capture!

(Photo courtesy of Yu Cheng)

The robins we are so familiar with are called robins because they reminded early European settlers of the robins they were familiar with from their home countries.

03/03/2026

Robins are the quintessential American bird, but how much do you really know about them?

02/23/2026

Maybe if I look extra cute, the bird feeders will magically refill.

(Photo courtesy of Jen Lynn)

According to a recent study, red squirrels can inherit wealth just like humans. But for the squirrels, inherited wealth comes in the form of food stores of squirrels that have died. 

02/16/2026

Two very different kinds of wings share the same sky.

(Photo courtesy of Jonathan M Catigano)

In their adult plumage, golden eagles and bald eagles are easy to distinguish from one another. As juveniles, however, they look much more similar.