








This fun and family-friendly afternoon is a big favorite for Audubon members and community friends and families. Butterfly tours are guided by Audubon leaders who take great enjoyment in seeking out, capturing, identifying and releasing the many butterflies found at Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve. They let everyone join in the fun of the hunt by providing butterfly nets and fun technique ideas for romping over the prairie and carefully catching these elusive winged friends.
From 1—5 p.m., you can join guided butterfly tours or look on your own for these winged beauties. Tours will begin at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.
A special feature is a free copy of the “Illinois Butterflies and Moths” pocket guide for as long as they last. We’ll have a shady rest area with chairs as well as a restroom, cold beverages and snacks. If weather is a bit questionable, call the Blackmores at 815-938-3204 before 10:00 a.m. on July 25th.
Explorers at previous Butterfly Festivals have found 29 species of butterflies and skippers, among them Tiger Swallowtail, Meadow Fritillary, Buckeye, Comma, Peck’s Skippper, Silver Spotted Skipper and Milbert’s Tortoiseshell.
The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Roads. The parking lot is off of West Grove Rd. Grab the kids, the sunscreen and sunhats, and head to Elkhorn Creek for a fun afternoon learning about nature in a beautiful environment!
Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Have you ever seen a Bobolink? Some people give them the nickname “skunk blackbird.” The males look very distinct when they are breeding because they are the only bird wit a black front and a white back! They have two other nicknames, both food-related, in their migration and wintering grounds. They are called ‘butterbirds” in Jamaica and in South America, where they feast on fields of grain, they are called “ricebirds.”
Here are some fun facts:
Here is a verse from William Cullen Bryant’s Robert of Lincoln:
Robert of Lincoln’s Quaker wife,
Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings,
Passing at home a quiet life,
Broods in the grass while her husband sings:
Bob-o-link, bob-o-link,
Spink, spank, spink;
Brood, kind creatures; you need not fear
Thieves and robbers while I am here.
Chee, chee, chee.
(Fun Bobolink Facts taken from www.birdorable.com.)
Children, Nature and You Resources to help you give the children you influence the awe and wonder that only the natural world can inspire
Freeport Park District Information on all the Freeport parks
Freeport Public Library More than books on a shelf...visit the Freeport Public Library
Freeport Outdoor Experience Events located in Freeport and Stephenson County
Getting Kids Involved (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology) Includes bird information, tips, and more for kids and families
Jane Addams Recreation Trail Ride or Hike the beautiful Jane Addams Trail
Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots A program of the Jane Goodall Institute offering a variety of programs and resources
NASA Climate Kids to tell the story of our changing planet through the eyes of NASA missions studying Earth and provides games, activities, and articles that make climate science accessible and engaging for children
National Audubon for Kids provides resources for classroom curriculum, DIY activities, and bird activities for children at home
National Wildlife Federation Many family-friendly articles; Ranger Rick family magazine
Resource Guide Supplement to Last Child in the Woods Designed for parents, teachers, and community leaders to help them encourage children’s enjoyment of the great outdoors.
Severson Dells Nature Center Located near Rockford, IL.
Sierra Club Outdoors The program's goal is to give every child in America an outdoor experience.
World Migratory Bird Day Learn about the importance of migratory birds and how to celebrate birds any day of the year!
Get a small notebook that can easily be carried along on your nature adventures. Have one for each child.
Date each entry: Note whether it is sunny or cloudy, rainy or snowy: note the time and temperature. It is fun to go back later to an entry about a place you have been before; compare and contrast how it was then and how it is now.
Possible entries:
The quality of the drawing is not important. The value of sketching/drawing is that it greatly sharpens awareness. “Oh, I forgot to put that in” or “I didn't see that before!” are common responses.
Check out our full calendar of activities, events, and educational opportunities. You're sure to find something to interest you. Please join us!
Events include:
For more details, see the current newsletter.
Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023
Program: Hidden Prairie: Photographing Life in One Square Meter...
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023
Christmas Bird Count...
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023
Beginning Birder Club- Bird Movement - REGISTRATION CLOSED - Contact for waitlist...
Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024
Program: Birds and Beauty in Arizona...