Palos Restoration Project - Blog

Cap Sauers November 20, Black Partridge November 21, 2021

11/24/2021

Cap Sauers Saturday November 20
We start with a huge thank-you to Sierra Club, their ICO (Inspiring Connections Outdoors) program, and the large group of students from Pirtzker Colelce Prep that came to help at Cap last Saturday. They were a terrific help, getting a large area of brush cut and hauled to the fires.

Black Partridge Sunday November 21
Sunday we came back to the east edge of Black Partridge, overlooking Goose Lake and the Des Plaines. We're clearing brush to expand the nesting area of some local critters, removing a thicket of honeysuckle and buckthorn that have grown to substantial (that means chainsaw needed) size.

Thanks to first-time Palos volunteers Alec and Luke for their energy, and to Joe C. who always brings it! Next month we'll likely move back toward the parking lot, working in the vicinity of the old dairy farm.

Lunar Eclipse Viewing at Little Red Schoolhouse (LRS)
Since the Palos Preserves/Mt. Forest Island was designated an Urban Night Sky Place, LRS has hosted regular night events, including a monthly full moon walk. This was another such event, well-attended (10-12 people) especially given the time (3:00 - 5:00 am).

I love being outdoors at night and these events provide a venue free of auto traffic and other artificial lighting. It's amazing how much you see once your eyes adjust to the darkness. As earth's shadow moved off the moon, it seemed more like dusk than the middle of night. All from light originating 90 million miles away, reflected off a disc almost a quarter-million miles away.

McMahon November 13, Hidden Pond November 14, 2021

11/17/2021

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday November 13
This was the fourth assault on our stubborn wall of brush, one so tenacious it might resist even a napalm strike. We had another good group, including first-time Palos volunteers Teresa and Daniel.Two chainsaws and one gas brushcutter, another big, hot fire! By day's end we'd made further inroads in this tough little piece of habitat.

Nature Walk - Sagawau Saturday November 13
Naturalist Lorrie Ward led a most interesting tour at Sagawau, starting at the old farmhouse and finishing at the new Visitor's Center. Sleet that was falling right before our 10:00 am start diminished and our hardy group of eight, from Palos Park Library, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Lorrie dished up tidbits about the history and geology of the site as well as the plants and animals that make it their home. We're already planning a return next spring and looking forward to it.

Hidden Pond Woods Sunday November 14
Going into Sunday morning, we had a week of weather forecasts telling us how miserable conditions would be. Mary and I had low confidence we'd be getting anything done, and were pleasantly surprised when the rain and sleet held off almost 'til noon. Better still, we had eight volunteers and knocked down a large patch of honeysuckle by quitting time.

Due to high winds we did not burn. Instead stacking the cut brush in numerous feeder piles, awaiting our return on Sunday December 12. Burn party, anyone?

Spears Woods November 6, McClaughrey Springs November 7, 2021

11/10/2021

Spears Woods Saturday November 6
Wasn't able to make this one due to another commitment, but I'm told it was a productive day, with a couple chainsaws going in an area filled with numerous, pesky honeysuckles. Thanks to all who attended.

Thanks also to Teri Radke and Emily Russell from FPCC Volunteer Resources for coming out to speak with passers-by and raise awareness of our efforts and the importance of keeping local preserves healthy.

McClaughrey Springs Sunday November 7
We went back-to-back at McClaughrey Springs this weekend. Sunday was a regular volunteer session, with about ten volunteers hacking away at honeysuckle and buckthorn. Neal on the chainsaw, Diana with the brushcutter, the rest of the gang with hand tools, we cut and burned in what quickly morphed from a thicket to a nice, open area. The colors in the woodland were stunning, especially the maples with brilliant gold tones in the morning sun.

After doing a second observation, Joy will soon be a Certified Brushpile Burn Boss!!!

On Monday we had a small corporate group from Beam-Suntory, a company that does regular service days and always makes a great impact. They partner with Friends of the Chicago River on these efforts, part of their program to promote watershed sustainability. We started by burning a mess of brush from the preceding day, then took down and disposed of numerous additional buckthorns as the morning rolled on.

McMahon Woods October 30, Swallow Cliff Woods October 31, 2021

11/3/2021

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday October 30
Another round in our struggle at this terribly infested patch of honeysuckle and bittersweet. We hit it hard, as we always do, pushing the wall back in three directions. Last Saturday ended with a real treat; Jason Kaple and Emma Mendenhall cooked homemade paella for our volunteers. It was delicious! We learned that they lived in Spain for several years, where they began cooking paella, and have continued to do so since their return to the states. Time well spent, I'd say.

Thanks to Jason and Emma also for their generous donation of Home Depot gift cards to our group, which will be put to good use.

Finally, thanks also to first-time Palos volunteers Luke and Tory, great to have your help.

Swallow Cliff Woods Sunday October 31
Ten volunteers returned to Swallow Cliff Sunday to burn the brush we cut on a rainy morning one week prior. We had a fire going in short order, and by 10:15 or so were close to wrapping up, so Carolyn and Kathy went a hundred yards down the trail and started cutting more brush on a hillside.

They were amazing! With one chainsaw, and much muscle applied to bowsaws and loppers, our little group cleared a large stretch of honeysuckle, connecting with an area we cleared last spring and pushing almost to the top of the hill. Thanks to all for the amazing effort, including first-time Palos volunteer Laura.

McMahon October 23, Swallow Cliff October 24, 2021

10/28/2021

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday October 23
Two weeks ago we began clearing a honeysuckle patch near the model airplane field at McMahon. It was distinctive in the abundance of bittersweet vines holding everything together. On this day we continued that battle, expanding our clearing both north and south of the initial work.

It was, once again, a great group of motivated volunteers and we got a lot accomplished. We'll return this Saturday, October 30, to push the line of brush even farther back.

Swallow Cliff Woods South, Sunday October 24
We woke up Sunday morning hoping the rain would hold off. Id didn't beginning as a drizzle and becoming a light rain before our 9:00 am start. We abandoned the notion of burning and began tackling a stand of honeysuckle conveniently within sight of the parking lot (and shelter), and knocked most of the miscreants down before wet gloves and increasing rain drove us to the shelter.

There we enjoyed some home-made chocolate chip cookies (thanks, Julie!) before departing for home, soaked but not defeated. Best part of it; we get to return a week later, on Halloween, and finish what we started (with fresh cookies). Thanks to our small, hardy group of volunteers, including first-time Palos volunteers Bob and Louis, who came all the way from Humboldt Park.

I returned that afternoon for a hike and found the preserve almost totally abandoned. Walked the one-mile loop, and beyond, without seeing a solitary human, and when I got back to the lot mine was the only car. This was at 3 pm, the Bears hadn't started playing yet, and I had the south woods to myself. I LOVED IT!

Cap Sauers October 16, Black Partridge October 17, 2021

10/21/2021

Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday October 16
Margaret and team continued brush removal along the multi-use trail, not far from Bergman Slough. We had at least three first-time Palos volunteers; thank you Mike, Liam, and Steve for your contribution to healthy nature in Palos!

This was the first time in months that I've seen saw puddles extending across the trail, in a spot that normally stays wet for much of the year. We've truly experienced a dry stretch of weather, starting after the heavy rains of May 2020.

Nature Walk at Cap Sauers, Saturday October 16
While Margaret worked on the west side of Cap Sauers, we also had a nature walk on the east side, with Jessica Rock and patrons of Palos Park Library. Walking west from Teason's Woods, we experienced the remarkable terrain of Cap Sauers, with high bluffs and deep ravines showcasing the power of water to carve a landscape..

Black Partridge Woods Sunday October 17
Another picture-perfect fall day, with a cool morning and pleasant afternoon. We cut brush on the south side of Bluff Road, near the S-curve and Goose Lake, in a dense thicket of buckthorn and honeysuckle. Neal got some chainsaw time in while Joy practiced for the upcoming brush pile burn class (you got this!)

We also welcomed back Nicole from the IR (Injured Reserve) list; the injury was NOT sustained doing habitat restoration. Thanks also to first-time Palos volunteer Vinkut for joining us.

It was fascinating the way this day unfolded. We first cut an opening in the center of the thicket, where we put our single burn pile. Then, like spokes of a wheel, each volunteer worked their way outward from that center, so that by day's end we expanded our cleared circle substantially. Great group, got a lot accomplished!

McMahon October 9, Hidden Pond October 10, 2021

10/10/2021

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday October 9
This was a truly tangled mess that Joe set us loose on last Saturday. The honeysuckle was thick as can be, all tied together by a labyrinth of Asian bittersweet vine. Each cut was followed by pulling, snipping, looking for the vine that prevents you from moving the cut piece to the fire. Even the chainsaws and brush-cutter are stymied by bittersweet.

We were blessed to have a strong and energetic group of volunteers on site. Thanks to all for their effort and patience. By morning's end we'd cleared a nice little plot of ground, something to build on when we return in a couple weeks.

We also were joined by FPCC stewardship aides Teri Radke and Emily Russell; Emily will be assisting at sites in the South and Southwest regions, welcome to Palos!

Hidden Pond Woods Sunday October 10
Thankfully we had no vine problems to deal with Sunday. We targeted a row of green ash trees, some of them small, others big enough to tower over our heads, all growing on the Kean Avenue side of the preserve and infiltrating the prairie to the west. With site steward Mary Busch out of town, Kevin Kuhn from FPCC Volunteer Resources came to help.

Hearty thanks to first-time Palos volunteer Joe F., to chainsaw Bob for all his cutting, to Kevin and Neal for both cutting and hauling, to Joe C. and Curtis for keeping the fire fed (and the burn scar small), and to Kathy for her usual stellar job of herbiciding. That isn't easy, demanding a sharp eye and great patience.

Willow Springs October 2, McClaughrey Springs October 3, 2021

10/7/2021

Willow Springs Katydid Saturday October 2
The work site had some really big buckthorn (see picture below for the stump of a ridiculous five-legged monster). While Jim and Kevin chain-sawed the big targets, and Dough ran the brush-cutter, a number of the other volunteers cleared a big patch of brush, opening up the view to Katydid Prairie very nicely.

It really looked different when we finished. Joy posted some before/after pictures on Facebook that illustrate what invasive brush removal does to open up a piece of land. Click here

McClaughrey Springs Sunday October 3
Sunday we returned to the work site of the previous Saturday, removing more honeysuckle and buckthorn with hand tools and one chainsaw running. Volunteer and FOTFP crew member Neal got in some licks with the chainsaw (he's newly certified) while the rest of us hand-cut and hauled to the fire. Darien got to hone his fire-starting skills in anticipation of brush pile burn class.

Thanks to first-time Palos volunteer Art for joining us, as well as Kevin Kuhn from Forest Preserves Volunteer Resources. Kevin will be with us again this Sunday, helping at Hidden Pond. Always great to get that support!

McClaughrey Springs September 25, Swallow Cliff September 26, 2021

9/27/2021

McClaughrey Springs, Saturday September 25
I must begin by saying what a glorious weekend it was to be outside in the woods! Both Saturday and Sunday were pleasant, sunny, not too warm, and totally lovely. On Saturday we were joined by 20+ volunteers from SWIFT (Southwest Interfaith Team) who did a terrific job. We cut and burned near Kean Ave. and Mill Creek, and had three fires going to dispose of all the cut brush.

Our thanks go both to the SWIFT group and to the group of regular volunteers who assisted and helped make this day such a success.

Swallow Cliff South Sunday September 26
We had two activities going Sunday. Most of the group cut brush, going after stray honeysuckles inside the loop trail in the South woods. This is something we've talked about doing for a couple years, happy to get it done. Though we were cutting and dropping, with no fire, we cleared one thicket that could almost warrant a brush pile burn

At the same time, a couple of volunteers collected seed in the same area, getting a goodly amount of Joe Pye, bottlebrush grass, and several others. We even got a small amount of spikenard seed that John Marlin found.

Thanks to first-time Palos volunteers Curtis and Ryan, and to all present, for a good day!

Cap Sauers September 18, Black Partridge September 19, 2021

9/23/2021

Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday September 18
Last weekend remained warm and sticky, and we had small groups for both our Saturday and Sunday sessions. Margaret cut brush on Saturday, her efforts bolstered by the presence of the Palos Resource Management crew. Thank you Brendon, Erin, and Jim for your help.

It was a brush-cutting day complicated by a lot of Oriental bittersweet vine, a nasty invasive plant that's become as ubiquitous as Amazon delivery vans in recent years. This vine not only girdles and can kill a tree, it moves from branch to branch tying everything together and forcing much hacking to separate the pieces and get them to the fire.

Black Partridge Woods Sunday September 19
Too warm Sunday for strenuous work, so John chose to collect seed from the woodland to scatter across the street, in an area that was pasture land for the dairy farm in a previous life.

We collected bottlebrush grass, wild Canada rye, and small amounts of whatever forbs we could find, then crossed the street and distributed it. I'm hoping some of that seed will sprout and compete with the mass of white snakeroot that has taken hold there. Much thanks to first-time Palos volunteer Randy for joining us in this effort.

Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes has been an occasional day trip for years. Tuesday we made our first visit since the area acquired national park status, drawn by the forecast of high winds and big waves. Both were found in abundance and an impressive bank of clouds hung over the lake, not so low as to obscure a good look at the Chicago skyline to the northwest.

Leaving home, we drove through a downpour, and Julie warned me she wasn't getting out of the car to be rained on. Divine intervention? As we crossed the state line we could see traces of blue sky to the east, and once we got past Indianapolis Blvd. the rain stopped. Such a beautiful place, Indiana Dunes. Got to get there more often.