I've lived within 20 miles of Bloomington Normal since I was 3 and in Central Illinois all my 50 years. Seems like there is always something new to see.
Growing up I remember seeing the hawks, vultures and other raptors when driving through the country. By the time I was in my late teens, DDT had cut their numbers to the point that they were a rare sight. Eagle in Illinois during that period were limited to the northwest edge of the state along the Mississippi River. Today, the raptors are back and I almost always see one a week somewhere - even when I don't get out of town. Eagles are as close as Starved Rock State Park or the Illinois River at Peoria and Pekin. Once in a while one will even spend time at one our our county parks.
Yesterday it was a moth that appeared on the brick siding of my home. Turned out to be a female Imperial. What a beautiful creature. It hung there for a few hours, then disappeared as mysteriously as it had come.
Imperials - Images by Alan Look
Growing up I remember seeing the hawks, vultures and other raptors when driving through the country. By the time I was in my late teens, DDT had cut their numbers to the point that they were a rare sight. Eagle in Illinois during that period were limited to the northwest edge of the state along the Mississippi River. Today, the raptors are back and I almost always see one a week somewhere - even when I don't get out of town. Eagles are as close as Starved Rock State Park or the Illinois River at Peoria and Pekin. Once in a while one will even spend time at one our our county parks.
Yesterday it was a moth that appeared on the brick siding of my home. Turned out to be a female Imperial. What a beautiful creature. It hung there for a few hours, then disappeared as mysteriously as it had come.
Imperials - Images by Alan Look
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