Forest Preserves of Cook Co.

🐦 Happy #WildWednesday! Spring bird migration is in full swing, making it a great time to explore birding in the Forest Preserves while helping protect the wildlife and habitats around us. 🌿 Practice ethical birding by: • Keeping your distance from birds and nests • Staying on marked trails • Respecting fellow visitors and birders • Supporting conservation through native plants and volunteer efforts • Following preserve rules that help protect sensitive natural areas Nearly 300 bird species live in and migrate through the Forest Preserves of Cook County, and even small actions can help them thrive for generations to come. 💚 Learn more about birding resources, events and tips at fpdcc.com/things-to-do/birding/ #Birding #SpringMigration

Save the Date: Trash Bash, THIS Saturday, May 16th | 9 AM – 12 PM 📍LaBagh Woods (N Cicero Ave, north of W Foster Ave) Make spring cleaning more sustainable! Got trash? We want it! To prep for the event, check out what items we’re collecting: fpdcc.com/event/trash-bash-6/ Keep up with other Trash Bash events: fpdcc.com/events/tag/trash-bash/

Planning a trip into nature? Be sure to check for ticks! Check out our webpage on ticks to learn about avoiding tick bites, what to do in case of a tick bite, and tick testing in the Forest Preserves: /nature/coexisting-nature/ticks-and-disease/.

Happy Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 🌸 In celebration, join us for a special series of performances by our partners @mandalaartschi ! Pan-Asian artists gather across the Forest Preserves to bring cultural memories of nature to life through music, dance, and storytelling. Asian American Pacific Islander Month Celebration May 16 • 11 AM–12 PM 📍 Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center Register: eventcombo.com/e/Pan-Asian-Music--Dance---Storytelling-in-the-Forest-Preserves-78486 AANHPI Month Performance May 16 • 2 PM 📍 Caldwell Woods Wellness Center Register: eventcombo.com/e/pan-asian-music-dance--storytelling-in-the-forest-preserves-78488 Asian American Heritage Month Performance May 17 • 1:30 PM 📍 River Trail Nature Center Register: eventcombo.com/e/pan-asian-music-dance--storytelling-in-the-forest-preserves-78489 Experience the forest through vibrant rhythms, graceful movement, and powerful stories rooted in land, memory, and community. Artists Include: @thebansurist , Tzu-Tsen Wu, Bob Garrett, Tatsu Aoki, Saraswathi Ranganathan, Pak Ngurah Ensemble, Habib and more! Learn more: fpdcc.com/aaphm #AAPIHeritageMonth

Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend outdoors 🌿💐 Spend quality time together at the Forest Preserves of Cook County with these Sunday events: 🏃 Mother’s Day Fun Run & Walk 8 am📍Dan Ryan Woods – Central Register: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTCjq91RYTRsNt53jOzpzcH8oEa8FXXD3IoIR2-fiOvmiGGg/viewform 🌸 Mother’s Day Spring Nature Walk 10:30 am📍Trailside Museum Register: 708-366-6530 🌼 Mother’s Day Wildflower Walk 1 pm📍Crabtree Nature Center Find more events: fpdcc.com/events/ #MothersDay #Nature #FamilyFun #SpringOutdoors

🌱 New to volunteering? Join us for a NEWTS Stewardship Day and get extra support while making a real impact in nature! Help remove invasive garlic mustard so native spring wildflowers can thrive. 📅 Tue, May 12 • 9 am – Noon 📍 Sand Ridge Nature Center Perfect for first-time volunteers and anyone looking to give back outdoors this spring. Learn more & sign up: /shift/6423430

Weekend plans? ☀️🌿 We’ve got you covered. Enjoy the warm weather and spend some time outdoors at these upcoming events in the Forest Preserves! 🌷 Spring Has Sprung Friday • 10 am – 12 pm 📍 River Trail Nature Center Discover something new in nature alongside University of Illinois Extension Volunteers. Fun for all ages! 🐦 World Migratory Bird Day Walk & Big Sit – Drop-in Saturday • 8 am – 12 pm 📍 Crabtree Nature Center All ages and birding levels welcome! Binoculars available to borrow. Find even more events at: fpdcc.com/events.

Happy #WildWednesday! 🐦 In honor of World Migratory Bird Day this weekend, here are five ways you can help protect the nearly 300 bird species that live in and migrate through the Forest Preserves of Cook County. 🌱 Volunteer for a stewardship day and help restore important bird habitats. 🌼 Plant native flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees to provide food and shelter for birds and pollinators. 🐱 Keep cats indoors to help protect wildlife. 🪟 Make windows safer to prevent bird collisions during migration. 🚫 Avoid pesticides that can harm birds, pollinators and other wildlife. To learn more, visit: fpdcc.com/birds-are-in-trouble-heres-how-we-can-help/. 📷: by Jerry Attere

Happy Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 🌸 We’re celebrating all month long — come be part of it! Mammal Comparison: Chicagoland & South Korea (Drop-in) May 7 • 10 AM–12 PM 📍 Crabtree Nature Center Kite Fest May 9 • 10 AM–12 PM 📍 Carl R. Hansen Woods From wildlife discovery to sky-high fun, there’s something for everyone. Learn more at fpdcc.com/aaphm

📷: Long-Tailed Weasel by Kyle Keenan 📍: Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, May 2024 The long-tailed weasel (Neogale frenata) is a swift and agile predator often seen darting through grasslands and forest edges in search of prey. Its slender body and distinctive black-tipped tail help it maneuver easily while hunting small mammals, birds and insects.

🌿 Ready to reset your mind and body? Join us at the Wellness in the Woods Expo this Sunday, May 3 from 12–3 pm at Crabtree Nature Center. Start your day with a peaceful Forest Therapy Walk (registration required), then stay for an afternoon of yoga, music, art, guided nature walks, and feel-good vibes in the forest. ✨ Fresh air. Good energy. Community connection. 📍 Crabtree Nature Center 🔗 fpdcc.com/event/wellness-in-the-woods-expo/

Happy #WildWednesday 🌿 This #EarthMonth, we’re spotlighting how the Forest Preserves of Cook County is taking action on climate change—protecting over 70,000 acres while building a more resilient future through our Sustainability & Climate Resiliency Plan. 🌎 Big goals, real impact - Achieve net zero by 2050. - Reduce facility GHG emissions by 45% by 2030. - Transition to 100% renewable electricity in building portfolio by 2030. - Establish climate-resilient and adaptable lands by 2045. 🌱 Sustainability in action From green buildings and clean energy to electric vehicles and waste reduction, we’re cutting emissions across operations. 🌳 Nature is the solution Healthy forests, prairies, and wetlands capture carbon, reduce flooding, and support biodiversity—absorbing over 1.5M tons of CO₂ each year. 🌾 Adapting for tomorrow Through land restoration, invasive species management, and climate-informed planning, we’re helping ecosystems—and communities—thrive. ✨ Take action: Volunteer, restore habitats, and make sustainable choices with us. For more information on our sustainability and climate change efforts, visit fpdcc.com/nature/sustainability-and-climate-change/#action.