Many congratulations went out to our Master Naturalist group at our May 24th graduation and volunteer celebration! Our 2007 trainees survived their Thursday evening infusions of information and are on to becoming certified MNs. We also had nineteen new 2007 certified Master Naturalists: Kent Ackerman, Marilyn Andress, Rebecca Birks, Ronald Brinning, Bill Courter, Stephanie Crandall, Sue Crawford, David Cripe, Mary Grant, Gina Howell, Mary Hughes, Michael Klag, Colleen Massey, Dean McDermott, Janet Moline, Donna Murray, Jim Nordquist, Anne Remington, and Lanora Welzenbach. We send another big thanks out to those folks for all their naturalist efforts in the community. Additionally, we had two folks achieve 250 cumulative volunteer hours this year, Gretel Hengst and Julie Werthman, and two others achieve 500 cumulative volunteer hours this year, Steve Witte and Norm Anselmi. We are certainly making an impact out there with so many folks working so hard!

Our Master Naturalist of the Year Award went out to Norm Anselmi for all of his awesome volunteer service with a variety of organizations in Rock Island County including Interstate RC&D, Rock Island County SWCD, Natural Area Guardians, University of Illinois Extension, and the Native Plant Society-QC Chapter. Norm commented that being retired has allowed him to do so many things he's always been passionate about and knowing that the work is appreciated sure is great! Additionally a 2007 Friend of Illinois Master Naturalists award was given to the Rock Island County Soil and Water Conservation District for providing several great volunteer and educational opportunities for our members. RISWCD Director, Rollo Searl, accepted the award and thanked folks for all their volunteer help with RISWCD events.

A special addition to our Master Naturalist festivities this year was the surprise presentation of Putnam Museum's 2007 Environmental Stewardship Award to Marilyn Andress. Marilyn was chosen for this great honor for all of her hard work in natural resource education through the RISWCD as well as all of her efforts in restoring and maintaining her own prairies at the Andress Prairie Rose Farm along the bluffs of the Mississippi River in Illinois City. Marilyn will be featured in an exhibit at the Putnam Museum for the rest of the year.

- Stephanie Crandall

It's a boy! Meet Ethan Alexander Haynes, our newest little naturalist. Liz and Steve Haynes are delighted to announce the birth of their son, Ethan, who ­greeted the world on Wednesday, May 30th at 12:53 p.m., weighing in at a healthy 7 pounds, 2 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. Welcome to the planet, Ethan!

Xstream Cleanup, presented by Riverboat Development Authority, is seeking hundreds of volunteers to clean up over 30 waterways in the Quad Cities on Saturday, August 18 from 8:30 a.m. until noon. This event is in collaboration with nationally known Quad City native Chad Pregracke and his Living Lands & Waters team.

Cleanups will take place in Bettendorf, Davenport, LeClaire and Princeton, Iowa; East Moline, Milan, Moline, Rock Island, Arsenal Island and the Mississippi River, Illinois.

Volunteers can choose to participate in either a light-duty or heavy-duty cleanup. The light-duty cleanups consist mainly of picking up litter, while the heavy-duty cleanups require lifting of tires and other illegally dumped items.

Chad Pregracke and his Living Lands & Waters crew will be cleaning up the Mississippi River backwaters near Wapello and Concord this year. This site location will meet at Enchanted Inn, 4815 South Concord Street, Davenport, IA.

Volunteers receive a free t-shirt and a light breakfast. They are invited to attend the after-event party Saturday evening at 6 p.m. at the Bier Stube, in Moline. Volunteers will also receive tickets to a Swing game to be held on August 25, 2007. No previous cleanup experience is necessary and supplies will be provided. A parent or guardian must accompany volunteers under the age of 18. Interested persons should register online at www.xstreamcleanup.org or call 468-4218 for more information.

This event will mark the fourth annual Xstream Cleanup. Last year, nearly 1,500 volunteers removed over 150,000 pounds of debris from waterways in Scott, Rock Island and Henry counties. Volunteers removed 5,200 tires, 2,200 bags of trash, 58 pieces of furniture, 36 appliances, 25 bicycles and 22 pallets from area waterways. Other items removed consisted of a wine rack, shopping carts, automotive parts, toilets and La-Z-Boy recliners. At one site near Milan, volunteers found nearly everything one would need to build and furnish a home including carpet, appliances, furniture, wood, metal, drywall, siding and shingles.

Three counties, including LaSalle, now known to harbor the pest

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. A destructive, non-native pest that feasts on ash trees has been confirmed in LaSalle County. The emerald ash borer (EAB) was discovered just north of Peru at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Route 251, the Illinois Department of Agriculture announced today.

Department staff made the discovery while identifying ash trees for removal later this year as part of a survey to determine the extent of the beetle infestation in Illinois. The alert workers noticed distressed ash trees located inside the cloverleaf off-ramps at the intersection and stopped to investigate. Larvae were collected from the trees and submitted to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which confirmed the specimens as EAB larvae.

"Our staff now is surveying ash trees in the surrounding area to define the size of the infestation," Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke said. "We also are considering adjustments to an existing quarantine as a result of this new find to limit the artificial spread of this destructive pest."

The emerald ash borer is a small, metallic-green beetle native to Asia. Its larvae burrow into the bark of ash trees, causing the trees to starve and eventually die. While the beetle does not pose any direct risk to public health, it does threaten the tree population. Since the emerald ash borer was first confirmed in the Midwest in the summer of 2002, more than 20 million ash trees have died.

The first beetle detection in Illinois occurred last June in a rural Kane County subdivision west of St. Charles. Subsequent finds were made in the northern Cook County communities of Wilmette, Evanston, Winnetka and, most recently, Skokie.

The Illinois Management and Science Advisory Panel, a team of experts that includes representatives from USDA-APHIS, the USDA Forest Service, City of Chicago Bureau of Forestry, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, University of Illinois Extension and Morton Arboretum, is coordinating the state's response to the beetle.

"Our strategy has three components," Hartke added. "The first is a quarantine to stop the movement of ash wood and ash nursery products out of infested areas. The second involves the removal of infested trees to reduce the population of the ash borer and minimize its potential spread while the third, a comprehensive survey of ash trees in northeastern Illinois to determine the exact extent of the infestation, is completed."

Areas under quarantine include all of Kane County and parts of northern Cook, western DuPage, northern Kendall and eastern DeKalb counties. More than 400 infested trees were removed this spring at no expense to homeowners as part of the population reduction strategy. An additional 1,000 trees in the region have been surveyed.

The emerald ash borer is difficult to detect, especially in newly-infested trees. Citizens should watch for metallic-green beetles about half the diameter of a penny on or near ash trees that are showing signs of disease or stress. Other signs of infestation in ash trees include D-shaped holes in the bark of the trunk or branches and shoots growing from its base. Anyone who suspects a tree has been infested is urged to contact their county Extension office. For more information, visit www.IllinoisEAB.com on the internet.

Source: Illinois Department of Agriculture, http://www.agr.state.il.us/newsrels/ r0712071.html.

River Action's rain barrels are available only while supplies last – so call NOW to reserve a rain barrel! River Action is accepting orders through the first week of August. Cost per barrel is $68.00, and they are available only by pre-order.

Rain barrels are part of River Action's Retain the Rain program, an initiative to conserve water and lower flood levels in local rivers and streams.

To buy a rain barrel, please call 563-322-2969. Please note that rain barrels cannot be shipped. You will need to make arrangements for pick up from their Davenport office. Please call with any questions.

The recycled, 60-gallon food-grade plastic barrel is equipped with a downspout diverter and overflow tube and holds 60 gallons of rain water. The diverter channels water into the barrel when needed, and fits all downspouts, metal or plastic. The barrels are 0.1875" thick recycled polyethylene and can be joined together with a garden hose. When the barrel is full, the diverter can be flipped up to a closed position to let the downspout function normally.

On Tuesday, July 31st at 1:00 p.m. and Thursday, August 2nd at 7:00 p.m., a teleconference entitled Rain Gardens: A Wise Way to Use Runoff will be offered at the University of Illinois Extension Office, outlining how to properly design a rain garden to enhance the beauty of your yard, collect runoff, and provide habitat for birds and butterflies. Register in advance at (309) 796-0512. Cost of the program will be $1 for Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners and $5 for the general public.

Putnam Museum Education Department could use a few volunteers at their naturalist camp! Anyone interested in helping out fellow Master Naturalists Donna Murray and Sally Patterson at the museum with some activities for the kids, please email or call Sally at the Putnam (patterson@putnam.org or 563-324-1054, ext. 205).

Wild Explorers Camp will take place July 30-August 3 for ages 6-10. The camp will be held 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Volunteers can help in the morning (9-11:30) or afternoon (1:00-3:00) or BOTH shifts. Class size is small. Children will learn basic ecology through hands-on activities, games and art projects. Volunteers are needed to assist the educator and the younger students (as an extra hand) with lessons that will focus on insects, soil and mud, predator/prey relationships, camouflage, "Animal Olympics," and a trip to Fejervary Children's Zoo.

NWF Offers Green Hour Program

The National Wildlife Federation has developed a Green Hour program to help reverse the "nature deficit" in today's children. It's designed to help get kids – and their parents – off the couch, out the door and exploring the world around them. A Kaiser Family Foundation study finds that U.S. children (ages 8 to 18) spend an average of 6.5 hours a day inside using electronic media: computers, video games, television and MP3 players.

The Green Hour program and website (www.greenhour.org) show parents and caregivers how children benefit from an hour of unstructured outdoor play each day. The children will become fitter and leaner and some studies show that their immune systems also grow stronger. Time spent surrounded by nature helps young people see where they fit in the world and the value of wildlife and conservation.

During a recent trip to the Grand Canyon, I had the good fortune of encountering the California Condor. Only 250 condors are alive in the world, so it was very special, indeed. As I traveled with my friends, Delaine and Dave Collins from Mesa, AZ to the Grand Canyon, I read an article about the condors in the Grand Canyon in the June issue of Arizona Highways.

Biologists monitor each condor's health quite closely. As it turns out, a young condor had difficulty eating and was taken to the Phoenix Zoo for treatment. "Junior" underwent surgery and had a hairball and some sticks removed from his stomach. The biologists returned "Junior" to his ledge of origin, only to find that "George", Junior's father had ditched Junior's mother "Mabel" for "Gertrude." This throws a wrench into the theory that California Condors mate for life.

"George" welcomed "Junior" back home, but would not let his new mate "Gertrude" near his offspring. Fortunately, he did allow "Mabel" to reunite with "Junior." Its good to know that condors respect parental visitation rights.

Time passed. "George" and "Gertrude" began their own brood. "Mabel" found love with a new condor, "Herman". "Junior" continues to mature into a healthy adult.

As I hiked around the Canyon rim, I sighted a condor on a ledge and two others below it. As other visitors gathered, I related the condors' story and pointed their picture out in my birding field guide. I spoke to tourists from Germany, Austria, and of course the U.S. I felt proud that as an Illinois Master Naturalist, I could interpret the natural history of the California condor with confidence.

All of a sudden a male voice behind me asked, "Who are you?" Somewhat embarrassed, I identified myself as an Illinois Master Naturalist and explained how I became an "authority" on the California Condor. The male voice belonged to Eric Weiss, wildlife biologist, who has been studying the condor for three years. For an hour, he gave us a private lecture on the condors in the Grand Canyon.

Biologists feel the California Condors will fare better in the Grand Canyon than in California, since there are fewer people and fewer encounters with garbage. Newly released condors in California have been known to assume a "gang" mentality around golf courses, harassing golfers for lunch. Being buddies with humans isn't healthy for condors, so the biologists capture the "juvenile delinquents" and run them through boot camp to remind them of the evils of humans and power lines.

Eric explained in detail how the condors are marked for identification. (I am afraid I don't recall the procedure). The birds are hand raised using a simulated condor head for feeding to avoid imprinting on humans. Once released in the wild, biologists leave fresh meat in a specific area every few days as the birds acclimate to the natural environment. Condors require more fuel than the average bird. Condors can fly up to 100 miles in a day as recently documented by a Grand Canyon condor flying to Bryce Canyon in Utah.

Besides learning about the condor, I also learned the behavioral characteristics of wildlife biologists. Eric expressed horror when I conveyed the condors in the article had been named. This is evidently something­ a reputable biologist never does. Speaking personally as a layman, I would rather read about "Junior" and the saga of his parents, "George" and "Mabel" than 138, 131, and 152. How about you?

- Linda Boardsen

People interested in learning more about prairies, their significance to the native landscape and prairie restoration techniques, will want to attend the July 30 Prairie Restoration Workshop & Tour set for the Community Building, U.S. Route 20, Elizabeth, IL. Workshop check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. with the program running from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Using several guest speakers, workshop topics to be covered include setting prairie restoration goals, understanding prairie ecology, viewing picturesque slide shows of local prairies, site selection and preparation considerations including species selection, seeding plans, prescribed burns, weed control, and cost. Program participants will have the opportunity to tour three area prairie sites during the afternoon guided bus tour and walking session.

Early registration fee, which covers refreshments, lunch and the bus tour, is $25 for the first family member and $15 for additional family members if received by July 19. For late registrations and walk-ins, the fee increases by $10 person. For more information or to obtain a program flyer, contact Jo Daviess County Extension at 815-858-2273 or e-mail Mark Maidak, Jo-Carroll Unit Director at mmaidak@uiuc.edu.

The workshop is co-sponsored by the Northwestern Illinois Land and Farm Preservation Coalition, The Prairie Enthusiasts and University of Illinois Extension.

Renewable Energy Fair – Oregon, IL

Illinois Renewable Energy & Sustainable Lifestyle Fair will be held August 11th & 12th, 2007, Ogle County Fairgrounds in Oregon, IL.

"Featured Speakers, Workshops, Booths, Displays, Tours, Children's Activities, Food & Entertainment." More info: www.illinoisrenew.org; sonia@essex1.com.

Whether it's moles in the lawn, squirrels in the attic, or coyotes terrorizing a neighborhood, consumers now have instant access to research-based solutions for helping humans and wildlife coexist-managing problems caused by wildlife through an online resource dedicated to linking people who need information with the experts who have this information.

The eXtension Wildlife Damage Management Web site puts a wealth of information directly on consumers' computer screens. It's a useful resource for anyone needing information about managing wildlife problems. To take full advantage of the site, register at http://www.extension.org and choose "Wildlife Damage Management."

"People need to understand how to resolve or manage problems caused by wildlife with solutions that are humane, ecologically sensitive and responsible, and economically viable. This site is developed to do just that," said Robert Schmidt, associate professor and certified wildlife biologist at Utah State University.

The eXtension Wildlife Damage Management Web site has been developed through the collaboration of nationally recognized wildlife biologists, nuisance wildlife control operators, educators and people interested in the field of human-wildlife relations.

"The backbone of our site is a series of illustrated pages on 65 wildlife species that cause damage or nuisance problems in North America. We included everything from alligators to polar bears. For each species, you can easily navigate through life histories, behavior, damage identification, economics, legal issues, and a complete list of methods for managing wildlife damage," said Scott Hygnstrom, professor and extension wildlife damage specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The eXtension Wildlife Damage Management Web site also features the following:

4 Frequently Asked Questions allows users to submit queries about wildlife management.

4 Ask the Expert provides an answer to questions not already available in the Frequently Asked Questions section with a usual response within 24 hours.

4 News and Upcoming Events keeps the news and calendar of events current at the local, state and national levels.

4 Glossary and Diseases list terms and illnesses that are commonly found in wildlife damage management.

"While many sites say this or that technique works, eXtension provides what actually works and it does all this for free. With the public's growing environmental awareness, the need for quality information is more important than ever. Thankfully, eXtension accomplishes this by providing its information 24/7/365," said Stephen Vantassel, nationally certified wildlife control operator and project coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

eXtension is an educational partnership of more than 70 land grant universities helping Americans improve their lives with access to timely, objective, research-based information and educational opportunities. eXtension's interactive Web site, http://www.extension.org is customized with links to local Cooperative Extension Web sites. Land grant universities were founded on the ideals that higher education should be accessible to all, that the university should teach liberal and practical subjects and share the university's knowledge with people throughout their states.

- Dan Moser, University of Nebraska

West Nile virus (WNV), which is carried by mosquitoes and can be transmitted to humans, has become a common summer time threat in northern Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments have already started the annual monitoring and testing for its presence by checking for the disease in birds. Typically, incidences increase later in the summer, but now is a good time to reduce potential mosquito breeding sites to help control the population. "Since mosquitoes that carry west nile virus do not travel far from their hatching site, it is helpful to eliminate egg-laying sites in your own backyard," says John Church, University of Illinois Extension Educator, Natural Resources, Rockford. They often only travel within one-half mile of their hatching site, so individuals can often help their situation by acting on their own property.

Homeowners can reduce favorable sites for mosquitoes' life cycle before the peak of the mosquito season. Entomologists at the University of Illinois and Purdue indicate that the entire life cycle of a mosquito can be completed in about seven to ten days. Anything that interrupts the cycle, such as reducing water availability, before it can be completed is helpful.

There are several varieties of mosquitoes in Illinois. Not all of them carry WNV. The Northern House mosquito, which carries WNV, lays eggs in standing water in places such as ditches, catch basins and other locations, such as water filled containers. Recent research information from the Illinois Department of Public Health indicates that as much as 70% of the breeding sites for the Northern House mosquito are in stormwater catch basins. Other attractive breeding sites in urbanizing areas include construction site tracks and ruts or new basement foundations that hold water. Clogged roof gutters can also provide breeding sites. Reducing the incidence of these problem sites will help reduce egg-laying and hatch.

Persons should eliminate any unnecessary water holding areas and containers, such as old tires. Sites such as wading pools, birdbaths, or pet watering dishes should be cleaned and freshened with new water often. Cutting tall grass and weeds can help reduce populations near the home, since it is a favorite hiding place during the day.

The floodwater mosquito, which is one of the most common nuisance mosquitoes, does not carry WNV. Their eggs are laid in muddy, temporary pool areas and hatch when flooded by rain or runoff water. Young mosquitoes live as larvae in water, but they are rarely found in deep water such as lakes or in flowing streams or rivers. Shallow, ponded areas are the most preferred sites. However, wetlands with a balanced diversity of wildlife can actually confine the mosquito population in that area and use it as a food source.

For individuals, remember that dark colored clothing tends to attract mosquitoes. They are often hungriest and most active at dusk and dawn, so less outside activity at that time can reduce biting. The peak biting time for the northern house mosquito is about 8:00 pm to midnight. Keep pets inside during those high feeding times and out of tall grassy areas, since they can also be bitten. Apply insect repellents to exposed skin when going outside and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Contact your local U of I Extension office for more information. In Rock Island County call (309) 796-0512.

Source: John Church, Extension Educator, Natural Resources Management, churchj@uiuc.edu.

Publications Plus – University of Illinois Agricultural and Horticultural Publications

Call 1-800-345-6087 or order on the web: www.PublicationsPlus.uiuc.edu.

It's a one-stop shop for a current catalog of research-based information (Mastercard and VISA accepted)

4Creating Habitats and Homes for Illinois Wildlife, DNR01, $25.

4 Planning a Construction Project, U3051b, $3.60.

Internet Resources

The Earth Portal

http://www.earthportal.org/?page_id=2

The Earth Portal is a comprehensive resource for timely, objective, science-based information about the environment. It is a means for the global scientific community to come together to produce the first free, expert-driven, massively scaleable information resource on the environment, and to engage civil society in a public dialogue on the role of environmental issues in human affairs. It contains no commercial advertising

and reaches a large global audience.

Kenny Salwey To Speak At The Cordova Civic Center

Cordova District Library will be hosting "A Night with Kenny Salwey", author of Tales of a River Rat: Adventures Along the Wild Mississippi, on Thursday, September 27, 2007, 6:30 p.m. at the Cordova

Civic Center. Seating will be very limited. For anyone interested in attending, you may email Cheryl Lennox to request tickets in advance at csasko@cordova.lib.il.us. Beginning August 1st, program tickets may be picked up at the Cordova District Library, 402 Main Avenue, Cordova, IL. Check out their calendar of events at www.cordova.lib.il.us.

Websites, print materials and companies not affiliated with University of Illinois Extension are provided solely for the conveniences of our clients. Reference to specific websites, print materials, companies or trade names does not imply endorsement by University of Illinois Extension, nor is discrimination intended against any that are not listed.