BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND”
I want to thank my “Nature in Chicagoland” readers for visiting my blog in 2023. Last year, my blog received the most reader views and visits in its nearly seven-year history, and I’m grateful to those who take the time to read my stories and correspond with me about nature in Chicagoland. I continue to love writing this blog, and wish I had more time in my daily life to do so.
In 2023, I visited many new nature destinations in the Chicago area including Dunning-Read Natural Area, Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve, Willow Springs Woods, and Emily Oaks Nature Center, as well as some further away in Illinois, including Witkowsky State Wildlife Area and Mines of Spain Recreation Area in the Galena, Illinois, area, and the Garden of the Gods at Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. I also visited the Boyne City area in northern Michigan for the first time (I highly recommend The Hill Nature Preserve) and returned to my beloved Upper Peninsula. And I revisited many spots that I love such as Cap Sauer’s Holding Nature Preserve, North Park Village Nature Center, Sand Ridge Nature Center, and Illinois Beach State Park.
I also did some interviews. I interviewed science teacher Carl Armstrong from Waubonsie Valley High School about the ongoing work of students and educators on a prairie restoration of Eola Hill on the school grounds, which began in 2001. I also interviewed artist and conservationist Philip Juras about his exhibition, The Long View: Prairie Paintings from Illinois Nature Preserves, which featured more than 40 paintings from 23 Illinois Nature Preserves across the Prairie State. My interviews with Susanna Ernst and James Suh did not result in a win for either candidate for alderperson of Chicago’s 45th Ward, but it was great to see democracy at work. I love spotlighting local conservationists and visual artists who are also inspired by Chicagoland nature or nature in general. These people entertain, inspire, and educate people about our natural world, and it’s great to celebrate their quality work. I look forward to spotlighting more nature-focused artists, writers, and filmmakers in 2024.
I continue to receive a great response to my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit, which covers amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. I look forward to telling you more about amazing places to visit in Chicagoland—hopefully in a second volume this year or next.
There was both bad good news about the environment in our area. One of the most dispiriting developments: After a fierce battle to save Bell Bowl Prairie (Rockford), the prairie was destroyed on March 9 as part of an airport expansion. There was no need to destroy Bell Bowl Prairie. There was a solution that would have allowed the airport to be expanded, while protecting this land that is part of the 0.01 percent of original prairie left in the “Land of Lincoln.” The battle has been lost for the prairie, but I hope that you’ll do your part to try to save the next “Bell Bowl Prairie” that is on the radar of government agencies and businesses. Because once our natural areas are gone, they’re gone. There is no going back.
The good (which mingles with some bad) news: Chicago Mayor Johnson reopened the Department of the Environment (but it does not currently have enforcement-regulatory powers, so this is sort of a half win). A wild elk from the Black River Herd in central Wisconsin wandered through northern Illinois in late 2023. It was the first sighting in nearly 200 years. Unfortunately, the elk was hit by a car near Joliet on December 13. The idea of reintroducing elk into Illinois (perhaps in the Galena area, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, or extreme southern Illinois in the Shawnee National Forest) is an exciting thought. Finally, nearly 1,000 birds died one early October night after colliding with the windows at Lakeside Place at McCormick Place. Terrible. But, after public outcry and shaming, the managers of McCormick Place have agreed to close the blinds and possibly embrace other ways to protect our beautiful birds. Birds numbers have crashed around the world, and we need to do everything we can to protect our avian friends.
But let’s get back to the most-popular stories at “Nature in Chicagoland.” Here were the most-popular nature destination stories in 2023 as selected by my readers (you can click on the links to read the articles). I’ve covered the most-popular non-nature stories in a separate article. In those stories, I celebrated the stained glass artistic achievements of my friend Dave Fode (who passed away suddenly in 2022); paid tribute to beloved WXRT disc jockey Lin Brehmer; touted a great autobiography by singer-songwriter Michael McDermott; interviewed Rick Kaempfer about his book, The Loop Files: An Oral History of the Most Outrageous Radio Station Ever–[which was WLUP 98.7 FM]; and discussed some of my favorite books that would make great stocking stuffers (or gifts or personal reads for any time of the year).
I wish you a happy and healthy year outdoors!
2. Pine Dunes Forest Preserve: Birding, Biking, and Easy Hiking
3. Dunning-Read Natural Area: A Prairie Oasis in Chicago
6. Seven Things to Do at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve
7. Nachusa Grasslands: See Bison, Savor Solitude, and Hike Through Biodiversity Hotspots
8. Buffalo Rock State Park: Awesome Views of the Illinois River, Earth Art, and Tranquility
Copyright Andrew Morkes (text)
Copyright Andrew Morkes and various photographers (photos); see the copyright credits listed at the end of each article
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Looking for some great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $18.99.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I have been a writer and editor for nearly 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I’m also a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 60 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).
Here’s a list of the environmental-focused titles that I’ve written:
- Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
- Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
- Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Environment (Getting Started series)
- Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)
Happy new year 🎂