River Trail Nature Center

Whooooooo’s that bird……?

A Barred Owl (Strix varia) gives itself a good head scratch before checking its surroundings.

These stocky birds are well adapted to hunting (when the opportunity arises) during the day, but prefer to use the cover of darkness to hunt at night. In addition, their presence is not just limited to forest preserve habitats - they also frequent neighborhood parks and backyards, as long as there are mature trees around and suitable prey like rodents, small snakes, and more.

📸: Jerry Attere

The Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) is one of Illinois’ iconic native prairie wildflowers. It gets its name because its large leaves often orient themselves north to south, helping reduce water loss in the hot summer sun.

Right now, its bright yellow blooms are buzzing with activity. Tiny native pollinators, like sweat bees, visit these flowers to collect nectar and pollen, helping the plant reproduce while supporting healthy prairie ecosystems.

If you run your fingers gently along the stem, you’ll feel that it’s covered in stiff, bristly hairs. These hairs help protect the plant from hungry animals and may also reduce water loss by creating a thin layer of still air around the stem.

Our native prairies are full of incredible adaptations and important connections between plants and pollinators.