Bird series by local artist landing at Dunes Learning Center

CHESTERTON | A series of artworks depicting native perching birds by artist Melissa Washburn will be landing at Dunes Learning Center just in time for the spring migration — and for the center’s National Get Outdoors Day Open House and Picnic on June 8.

Bird Series by Local Artist Landing at Dunes Learning Center

CHESTERTON | A series of artworks depicting native perching birds by artist Melissa Washburn will be landing at Dunes Learning Center just in time for the Spring migration—and Dunes Learning Center’s National Get Outdoors Day Open House and Picnic on Saturday, June 8.

FROM the FARM: Goulash a short recipe with a long history

"Goulash" is the Hungarian version of a stew with beef as the primary meat, using rice or noodles as the thickening ingredient rather than potatoes.

FROM the FARM: Goulash a short recipe with a long history

Phil Potempa's weekly farm column recipe.

Century of study focuses on birds in Illinois

A ring-necked pheasant walks along a county highway Dec. 22, 2010, at Moraine View State Park north of LeRoy, Ill. Illinois scientists can take a unique look at how changes in the state’s landscape have affected birds, thanks to three identical scientific studies spanning 100 years.

Century of study focuses on birds in Illinois

A hummingbird approaches a feeder July 28, 2003, in Wheaton, Ill. Studies detailed in the new book, "Illinois Birds: A Century of Change," found that hummingbirds have increased in population in Illinois in the past 100 years.

Chicago partnership is saving migratory birds

Linda Day Harrison remembers the words that started Lights Out Chicago.

PHIL WIELAND: An ode to help beat the spring's early heat

March came in like the lion of our legendary knowing

Veterans tame wolf-dogs at California rescue center

It's been three months since a California animal rescue center retrieved 29 wolf-dogs from an Alaska tourist attraction that had fought the state over owning, breeding and selling the wolf-hybrids. Chains were so deeply embedded in the necks of two of the animals that they had to be surgical…

Parrot rescuers trying to improve their long lives

With lots of smarts and long lives, parrots were once favored by Baby Boomers, but more of the former pets are now wild, passed from owner to owner or ignored altogether in cramped cages without the feathered mates they crave, rescuers said.

Holiday feasting

Beer recall piques drinkers' curiosity

Brewers aim for consistency, but mistakes create fan favorites.

ON GARDENING: Flame acanthus a stunning hummingbird magnet

The flame acanthus has leaped to the top of my list of hummingbird plants. A little over a year ago I wrote an article which I gave the family of the year award to the Acanthus family. I did so in a tongue and cheek fashion but now I am even more convinced after growing this plant.

Goodbye to grass

About a dozen years ago, Paul and Susan Damon of St. Paul, Minn., did something radical: They deliberately killed half their lawn.

Robins in the trees and 60-degree forecast don't equal early spring

Starting to see robins in the trees and getting excited about the possibility of an early spring?

Experts say big egg farms can mean big problems, 1st Ld-Writethru, US

CHAMPAIGN | From the first days of the recent recall of 550 million eggs from two Iowa farms, one issue about large-scale agriculture has been clear: When something goes wrong on a big farm, it's going to be a big problem.

Best bug control? Invite in the birds

Growers are beginning to understand that common birds can be of uncommon value to fields, lawns and gardens.

Indiana plans to block Asian carp's spread near Fort Wayne

FORT WAYNE | State wildlife officials plan to install a mesh fence across a northeastern Indiana marsh aimed at preventing Asian carp from being able to reach waterways that lead to the Great Lakes.