Will Co. Forest Preserve District Show To Feature Nesting Islands, Baby Turtles & Bird Feeding Tips

Press release from the Forest Preserve District of Will County:

12/24/2020

Take a virtual journey to the islands of Lake Renwick, view Blanding’s turtles up close and learn some winter bird feeding tips during the December episode of the Forest Preserve District’s nature show, "The Buzz."

The show will air live on the District’s Facebook page at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 30.

During the program, host Suzy Lyttle, a Forest Preserve program coordinator, will take viewers on a journey starting with a kayak trip to view the nesting structures on the islands at Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve in Plainfield.

During spring and summer, the islands are filled great blue herons, great egrets and double-crested cormorants. The preserve access is closed from March 1-August 16 each year so the birds have a safe haven to breed and raise their young.

The islands are off-limits to humans year-round, so this is a unique chance to see the wooden nesting structures built by the Forest Preserve up close. Lyttle will describe the work that went into erecting the structures while she explores the island checking out old nests.

Next up, Lyttle will head over to view the District’s batch of baby Blanding’s turtles, which are being raised as part of a regional effort to help this state-endangered species. Forest Preserve program coordinator Jen Guest will describe what it takes to raise the turtles so they can be released into the wild next year, and viewers can watch as she feeds them.

Finally, Lyttle will tour the District’s largest bird feeding station and Bob Bryerton, a Forest Preserve program coordinator, will share his tips on what works best to attract birds in the winter. Now that temperatures have dropped, feeding birds can provide countless hours of fun bird-watching activities from the warmth of your home.

If you miss the program’s live broadcast, don't worry. Episodes of "The Buzz" are available for viewing later via the Forest Preserve’s Facebook and YouTube pages and on local cable stations in Joliet, Naperville, New Lenox, Romeoville and Tinley Park.

This press release was produced by the Forest Preserve District of Will County. The views expressed are the author's own.