Lost or leading the way? Rare birds may signal shifting migration routes
On a 2009 hike in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona, a group of birders heard an otherworldly, ethereal bird song floating, flute-like, through the canyon. The hikers identified the singer as a brown-backed solitaire, recognizing immediately that the bird was very far from home.
Interpreting nature: NRES students practice environmental communication in a new class
Students in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences know communication is key. From public speaking requirements to advanced composition classes, ACES students are trained to share their knowledge with the world.
Levenick Professorships honor Guan and Guest for advancing global sustainability
The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), and The Grainger College of Engineering celebrated the investiture of two campus researchers for their leadership in advancing resilient food systems, clean energy transitions, and shaping global sustainability technologies.
Study: 72% of Illinois wetlands no longer protected by federal Clean Water Act
Illinois once harbored more than 8 million acres of wetlands. By the 1980s, all but 1.2 million wetland acres had been lost, filled in for development or drained to make way for agriculture. Now, thanks to a 2023 Supreme Court decision, roughly 72% of the remaining 981,000 acres of Illinois wetlands are no longer protected by the federal Clean Water Act, putting communities at risk of losing the flood control, groundwater recharge, water purification and natural habitat these wetlands provide, researchers report.
National Science Foundation invests in ACES-led project to reduce grassland fire risk
The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced new funding to understand and reduce grassland fire risk in the Southern Great Plains.
NRES students lead campuswide effort to save birds from window strikes
Most birdwatchers are drawn to the dynamism of birds — snippets of a call as flyers twist and dive overhead, or a flash of wings in the bushes, gone before you can snap a picture.
Simple design changes can make bat boxes safer
Imagine moving into a new house just to discover it has no insulation. That’s what life can be like for a bat box resident.