Madagascan bird declared extinct - due to, in part, invasive fish species

A short article on endangered birds, including one, the Alaotra Grebe, that has been declared extinct, in part due to the introduction of invasive predatory fish into its home range.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/05/26/bird.extinction.red.list/

Looks can be deceiving: Invasive species in Kane County

Here is a good article about invasive species in Kane County:

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=382514&src=5

Weekend ISAM Events - May 22-23

Lots more Invasive Species Awareness Month events going on this weekend. Here is a quick rundown on the events. For more details, check out the calendar on the ISAM webpage: http://www.invasive.org/illinois/Calendar.html.

Saturday, May 22

Emiquon Preserve - Stewardship of the Land

When: Saturday, May 22, 2010

Where: Emiquon Preserve - The Nature Conservancy

Landowner Field Day - Forest Invasive Plant Management

When: Saturday, May 22, 2010

Where: Jackson County

Mississippi Bluffs Invasives Awareness Day - Shawnee National Forest

When: Saturday, May 22, 2010

Where: Pine Hills Campground

Chicago Park District Volunteer Stewardship Day

When: Saturday, May 22, 2010

Where: Loyola Park

Chicago Park District Volunteer Stewardship Day

When: Saturday, May 22, 2010

Where: Jackson Park, Wooded Island

Lake County Forest Preserve District Volunteer Workday, Garlic Mustard Pull

When: Saturday, May 22, 2010

Where: Ryerson Woods, Almond Marsh, MIddlefork Savanna, Rollins Savanna, Wadsworth Savanna, Wright Woods Forest Preserves, Lake County

Kane County - Bliss Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove Volunteer Workday

When: Sat, May 22, 9am – 12pm

Where: Bliss Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove - Kane County

Kane County - Glenwood Park Forest Preserve in Batavia Volunteer Workday

When: Sat, May 22, 9am – 12pm

Where: Glenwood Park Forest Preserve in Batavia - Kane County

St. Charlest Park District Volunteer Workday - Persimmon Woods

When: Sat, May 22, 9am – 12pm

Where: Persimmon Woods - Keim Trail in Hunt Club subdivision

Sunday, May 23

Volunteer Workday

When: Sunday, May 23, 2010

Where: Yonder Prairie Nature Preserve

Lake County Forest Preserve District Volunteer Workday, Garlic Mustard Pull

When: Sunday, May 23, 2010

Where: Heron Creek Forest Preserves, Lake County

Nachusa Grasslands - Wade Creek Wading Expedition – Weed Season

When: Sun, May 23, 2pm – 2pm

Where: Nachusa Grasslands (Lee/Ogle counties)

Kudzu infestations could increase ozone pullution

Interesting new research on kudzu and nitric oxide emissions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10119315.stm

Weekend ISAM Events - May 15-16

Here we are already in the 3rd weekend of Invasive Species Awareness Month. So far over 30 events have already been held across the state as part of ISAM. We still have plenty of events during the rest of the month and this weekend has some great opportunities for Illinois' citizens to learn more about invasive species. As always, check out the ISAM calendar at: http://www.invasive.org/illinois/Calendar.html for full details.

Saturday, May 15th

Kane County - Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin Volunteer Workday

When: Saturday, May 15, 2010

Where: Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin - Kane County

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County Volunteer Workday

When: Saturday, May 15, 2010

Where: Dutch Creek/Pioneer Fen, Johnsburg

Midlothian Clean-up at Sundrop Prairie and Field Trip

When: Sat, May 15, 9am – 3pm

Where: Sundrop Prairie

Kane County - Aurora West Forest Preserve Volunteer Workday

When: Sat, May 15, 9am – 12pm

Where: Aurora West Forest Preserve - Kane County

Nachusa Grasslands - Eight Oaks – Weed Season

When: Sat, May 15, 9am – 12pm

Where: Nachusa Grasslands (Lee/Ogle counties)

St. Charles Park District Volunteer Workday - Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve

When: Sat, May 15, 9am – 12pm

Where: Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve - On Route 31, north of St. Charles

Ted Stone Preserve - Volunteer Workday

When: Sat, May 15, 9am – 12pm

Where: Ted Stone Preserve, La Grange Road and 67th St., Hodgkins

War Bluff Sanctuary - Weed Watch Bio-Blitz

When: Sat, May 15, 9:30am – 12:30pm

Where: War Bluff Sanctuary - Golconda

The Gardens at SIUE invasive plant species event

When: Sat, May 15, 10am – 2pm

Where: The Gardens at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Invasive Plant Presentation and Identification Hike

When: Sat, May 15, 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Where: Barkhausen Wetlands Center - Ullin, Illinois

Sunday, May 16th

Oak Woodlands Wellness Checkup

When: Sunday, May 16, 2010

Where: Prairieview Education Center, Crystal Lake

Chicago Park District Volunteer Stewardship Day

When: Sunday, May 16, 2010

Where: Nichols Park

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County Volunteer Workday

When: Sunday, May 16, 2010

Where: Ryder's Woods, Woodstock

Lake County Forest Preserve District Volunteer Workday, European Buckthorn Removal

When: Sunday, May 16, 2010

Where: Buffalo Creek and Wright Woods Forest Preserves, Lake County

Weekend ISAM events

Lots of events to choose from this weekend. As always, check the ISAM calendar (http://www.invasive.org/illinois/Calendar.html) for more details. If you do attend any of these events, don't forget to let us know how they went and even post some pictures on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/illinoisISAM).

Saturday, May 8th

Shedd Explorers Field Day: Canoeing program

When: Sat, May 8, 9am – 1pm

Where: Chicago River

Description: It is for 11-14 year olds and they will canoe the Chicago River. Invasive Species and other ecology topics will be discussed. Hosted by the Shedd Aquarium.

Bell Smith Springs - Invasive Plant Hike

When: Sat, May 8, 10am – 2pm

Where: Bell Smith Springs - Shawnee National Forest

Description: This Southern Illinois Native Plant Society trip will focus on the wide variety of native plants found in this natural area but we will also look at the invasive exotic plant that threaten those wonderful plants. Hosted by the Illinois Native Plant Society.

Chicago Park District - Volunteer Stewardship Day

When: Saturday, May 8, 2010

Where: Montrose Point

Description: Invasive species removal workday - Chicago Park District

Chicago Park District - Volunteer Stewardship Day

When: Saturday, May 8, 2010

Where: Gompers Point

Description: Invasive species removal workday - Chicago Park District

Nachusa Grasslands-Big Woods – Weed Season

When: Sat, May 8, 9am – 12pm

Where: Nachusa Grasslands (Lee/Ogle Counties)

Description: Pulling and cutting invasive weeds at the Big Woods unit at Nachusa Grasslands.

Chicago River Invasive Plant Management Workday

When: Saturday, May 8, 2010

Where: North Park, Riverwoods

Description: Invasive species removal workday - Village of Lincolnshire

Grayslake - Garlic Mustard Pull and Native Planting

When: Saturday, May 8, 2010

Where: Oak Openings Nature Preserve, Grayslake

Description: Hosted by the Liberty Prairie Conservancy

Chicago Park District - Volunteer Stewardship Day

When: Saturday, May 8, 2010

Where: Canal Origins

Description: Invasive species removal workday - Chicago Park District

Godfrey - Invasive Talk - The Nature Institute

When: Sat, May 8, 9am – 11am

Where: Talahi Lodge - Godfrey, Illinois

Description: An indoors presentation on invasive plants will be followed by an outdoor hike to see some invasive species in the field. We will be meeting at 9am at the Talahi Lodge.

Lake County - Volunteer Workday

When: Saturday, May 8, 2010

Where: Cuba Marsh and Prairie Wolf Slough Forest Preserves, Lake County

Description: European Buckthorn Removal, hosted by Lake County Forest Preserve District

Quad Cities Garlic Mustard Challenge

When: Sat, May 8, 9am – 12pm

Where: Parks near Quad Cities

Description: This garlic mustard challenge will take place at multiple sites in the Quad Cities area in both Iowa and Illinois.

Chicago Park District - Volunteer Stewardship Day

When: Saturday, May 8, 2010

Where: Bill Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Description: Invasive species removal workday - Chicago Park District

Chicago Park District - Volunteer Stewardship Day

When: Saturday, May 8, 2010

Where: Jackson Park, Wooded Island

Description: Invasive species removal workday - Chicago Park District

Sunday, May 9th

Lake County - Volunteer Workday

When: Sunday, May 9, 2010

Where: Marl Flats Forest Preserves, Lake County

Description: European buckthorn removal workday, Hosted by the Lake County Forest Preserve District

2010 Chicago Botanic Garden Invasive Plant Management Workshop Presentations available online

The video recordings of the 2010 Invasive Plant Management Workshop held at the Chicago Botanic Garden in February are now available for viewing online!

The view the videos, click on the following link:

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/research/workshop/index.php

Click on the agenda item you would like to view. Presentations covered chemical control of many widespread invasive plants in IL, Tansy, Leafy spurge, IPM for Reed Canary Grass, novel approaches to Buckthorn control, wick applicators, and general aquatic plant management.

First week of May - midweek ISAM events

Two midweek ISAM events during the second week of May, one at each end of the state. If go get a chance to attend one, you can give feedback by posting on the ISAM facebook page (linked from www.illinoisinvasives.org)

Wednesday, May 5th

The Rite Bite Dinner

When: Wed, May 5, 6:00pm – 8:30pm

Where: Shedd Aquarium at Uncommon Ground

Description: This adult program will highlight the importance of native plants vs. non-native plants for use in gardening. They will tour the roof-top garden at the restaurant and hear from Shedd’s horticulturalist, Christine Nye. (Shedd Aquarium)

Wednesday, May 5th

Giant City State Park - Illinois Weed Watch Training Session

When: Wed, May 5, 6pm – 8pm

Where: Giant City State Park - Visitor's Center - Makanda, Illinois (map)

Description: Invasive plant species can aggressively overtake or displace native species causing a drastic reduction in our native biodiversity and natural beauty. Discovering weeds before they become well-established is critical to reducing damage to ecosystem integrity, preventing the loss of habitat for rare plants and animals, and preventing costly natural resource management. WeedWatch volunteers will learn to identify, locate and map invasive species within Illinois Natural Area Inventory sites that are located in Wilderness Areas in the Shawnee National Forest. Interested? Contact Terri Treacy at 618-521-1030 or terri.treacy@sierraclub.org.

Kids website on Aquatic Invasive Plants

A great resource for teachers on Aquatic Nuisance Species:

http://sgnis.org/kids/index.html