Precision Burn

If a person were to be near the forest preserve during the controlled burn, it would not be easy to see just how precise and controlled it is. At first glance the upper picture shows a raging fire, and from ground level that would appear to be true. From above, it is a narrow strip and clearly under control. Furthermore, the lower picture shows a green grassy area that was not to be burned. Notice how neat the edge of the burn is, almost manicured. Again, precise and controlled.

The bird walk I joined just a week ago went across both bridges seen above, which put us onto a narrow S-shaped island. It did not look anywhere near that narrow when on the island and surrounded by the taller growth that is no longer there. I will try to get over there next week to see the progress of the new growth which I am sure will be visible soon.

Controlled Burn

Just west of my home is Mallard Lake Forest Preserve, a place I often visit to walk. A week ago I saw signs of a controlled burn there and then on Saturday I joined a bird walk and we walked my the burned area. I had no idea that much of the path of our walk was on the schedule for burning this week, but soon after the helicopter left Schaumburg Regional Airport, I saw the burn in action.

Sunny Afternoon

A gnarled tree and a vista of wild grass basks in the sun at Timber Ridge Forest Preserve on a recent sun-drenched afternoon.

Power at Timber Ridge

Power lines run through Timber Ridge Forest Preserve along the Prairie Path, providing a nice focal point on a sunny winter afternoon.

West Branch of the River

A short visit to the West Branch Forest Preserve gave me a chance to snap the shadow self-portrait here as well as to photograph some ice fishermen across the frozen surface. Their campsite is seen in the color-saturated experimental silhouette under the sun as it heads toward sunset.
The next post will take a closer and clearer look at the fishermen.

Off They Go

After a layer of ice fills the bed of the horse-drawn carriage, it is time for the ice to be hauled to the Ice House just a bit outside the kitchen door of the farm home. Based on weight alone, perhaps the team could handle another layer. But the tracks along the way have soft, muddy patches. Better not make it too hard on the farm animals.
Here we also see a youthful participant ready to organize the ice blocks as they are added to the collection. In the next post we will look at the scenic location of the farmhouse.

On Thin Ice

Kline Creek Farm hosted one of its best annual events, the Ice Harvest, following its role as a living museum of the 1890s. And that time more than a century ago was a time where enterprising people had many modern amenities. Despite the lack of one of our necessities, the refigerator, folks could enjoy a cold drink on July 4 -- if ice had been harvested and preserved.
Upon arrival, all participants found tools and instructors to demonstrate and assist the work. It was a very enjoyable learning experience. We will look at the steps in the project in the next several days.

Kline Creek Farm

Cloudy, gray, unattractive. Rainy. And cold. The weather on Saturday a week ago had pretty much talked me out of heading to Kline Creek Farm for a photo visit during the Ice Harvesting Season. But when I went to the mailbox, it felt passable outdoors, the rain was slackening, and I decided to give it a try. An excellent idea as it turned out.
A reasonable hike through snow gave me a view of the 1890s farm house, and I picked up a lucky picture of a horse shoe print on the way. In the next post we will see the historical concept of harvesting natural ice in the winter to save for use during the spring and summer. Careful on the ice!

Across Maple Lake

At Meacham Grove, an asphalt loop runs around Maple Lake beginning quite near to the parking lot. In January, the path is all ice, flattened by many feet but not conducive to running or walking quickly. I had walked up and started to the left, thne noticed a light color smudge in the bare trees across the lake. Through the telephoto, I could tell it was a large bird, probably a hawk, but I was too far away for a decent shot. Waiting, I did see the bird fly a short route to another branch, still across the lake. I waited again, then set out, walking carefully and assuming I would never make it around the lake, perhaps a half-mile trudge. As this image shows, I did make it.
The Red-Tail waited, posed, stared at me. I got at least two close shots I like and I had some fun with generating a vector image from this one. The other shot is set for the next post.

Frozen Bench

Even the sunny day in January is generally quiet, with the park bench not nearly so welcoming in the snow as it would be in the summer sun.
Our Red-Tailed Hawk shows up in the next post.

Meacham Grove

Meacham Grove Forest Preserve in Roselle and Bloomingdale is another nice place to visit on a sunny day in winter. Here are a pair of sun-soaked tree photos.

Color

Lots of color is generated in winterscapes under the bright sun, which has been pretty rare in the Chicago area all this month. The blue shades inherent in the snow blanket is there to backdrop everything else.
These images are from Spring Creek Reservoir. From there we headed to Meacham Grove, just west on Lake Street.

Hope of Spring

Once that single sunny day comes about in January, it is likely that the beauty of winter might dovetail with that look of spring not here but on its way. With the sun lower in the sky, the 'golden hour' of photography comes earlier and the rays of the sun are softer.
It might be the wider angle that shows the early-setting sun. It might show the path that later will be filled with walkers and joggers. Ot it might be the drips in the puddles under the picnic pavilion. These shots show the promise of nicer weather.

Sunny Day in Winter

The Chicago area has been socked in by clouds and fog for much of the first three weeks of January, but Tuesday this week was a one-day respite from gloom and clouds. Takaing advantage of it, I grabbed the Nikon and spend a portion of the afternoon at a pair of nearby forest preserves.
DuPage County has wonderful forest preserves, and the first one I visited was Spring Creek Reservoir. Here are the first two looks at a sunny day in winter.

Bird on a Wall

Ron Skleney, DuPage Forest Preserve Naturalist, got us started with background information on St. James Farm; for example, he explained where the Kremlin Yellow came from. And as he got us off to a great start, the song of a bird caught my ear and I looked to the right to see branches set against the bright color and a small songbird welcoming us.

With that, the next post will take us on the walk, looking for buildings as well as birds.