beauty!

The House Sparrow !

The House Sparrow

 The  Eurasian House Sparrow was introduced to United States 1850's to help alleviate cereal crop pests. Not only did these birds  help very little with the pest problem, they easily adapted across the United States causing the  displacement of many native birds from their homes.  In Illinois the House Sparrow is responsible for the decline of the Cliff Swallows.  

The House Sparrow birds tend to nest in  man made structures.  These two love birds have made home around the bus depot at the Des Plaines Metra Station. 

     

They love the taste of grains and seeds. They also don't mind  human food . If you click and enlarge this picture you can see that the sparrow has found a tasty treat. 

                                   Five Interesting Facts* 

1. The House Sparrow is one of the most common birds in the world. 
2. They love taking dust baths !
3. They have very little fear of humans 
4. They have been seen draining flowers of nectar 
5.  They are very protective of their nests and have been seen defending it from over 75 different bird species. 

*facts found on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website. Amazing website !  

Ken Burn's National Parks.

National Parks are truly America's best idea! This film by Ken Burns is intriguing, inspiring and has renewed my dream of  visiting the all of the nation's national parks.  The first park that is gone into depth about is Yosemite Park. This park's name was Yosemite was given in honor of the tribes that resided on those lands but it was later found out that the word Yosemite meant  "they are killers" .  The most incredible thing that I was introduced to, at the beginning of this fine documentary, was an  exciting  adventurer named  John Muir who originally was going to hike to  South America where he would build a raft and explore the regions along the  Amazon river. Due to an illness and lack of funds John Muir went west instead to check out the much talked about Yosemite. It is good that he did because he change the park for the better.  I was so moved by his actions and by the quotes that were read in the documentary that I bought  and I am now reading his journal "The Yosemite".    He is an excellent writer , very vivid and unique. In the next few weeks as I read his journal I will post favorite quotes and descriptions. In the meantime here is some Yosemite inspired art by the famed painter  Albert Bierstsdt.

Cycling with the sis!

     My sister and I took a bike ride to and from Golf Mill Mall where we did  some serious shopping. Here are some pictures of us heading back to my house.

Gotta take this call !

What is up !?

View of the DP river/ 

Almost there ! 

Oh, hey there ! 

Sisters 

Big Bend Lake

Big Bend Lake, located near downtown Des Plaines, is an artificial lake created by excavated land used for Illinois Tollway's fill as it was being developed in the 1950’s.  This beautiful lake has varying wildlife and offers many outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, kayaking. Its shaded picnic spots are ideal for group outings. Last Sunday my Fiancée and I ventured this locale and even though it was unpleasant at first, because  we were arguing and because I fell twice,  we still had a decent time.

We  adventured through a beaten path that circled around the lake.   We were greeted by speed walkers , buff  shirtless fishers,  and were almost ran over by a couple of of teens trying to bike the narrow path. 

Brian and I carefully crossed the slippery spillway that emptied into the Des Plaines River.    When the Des Plaines River  floods it replenishes the lake's fish supply. Busse Lake is one of the few lakes  in Cook County that is not stocked with fish because the  DP river , when it floods carry away the fish , more than it brings into the lake.

Lovely 

 

Tree roots tangle into the path so be wary! I tripped twice and almost fell in into the lake !

We were excited to see these Mallard duckies! Aww!

After  we circled the lake we walked part of the  north section of the DP River trail.  

The path was immediately breathtaking and the shade that the trees provided were certainly welcomed. 

Honestly,could  it get more beautiful then this? 

A structure made with fallen logs 

 Dead trees gave the path an eerie feel. 

Here is an interesting plaque, where I got the information about the history of  DP River Trail and Big Bend Lake.  

 

Biking through the Busse Woods!

                                   The Busse Trail System 

Map courtesy of the CCFP

 The Busse trial system is located within the Ned Brown Forest Preserve in Elk Grove Village. Its three paved paths, loops 10.8 miles besides meadows, through mature hardwood forests, and along fantastic Flatwoods and around gorgeous lakes.  It even has an elk pasture preserve!  I was pleasantly surprised by the overall beauty of this trail and the numerous year round activities that it offers.  No wonder why it is often referred to as Chicago’s Backyard! 

I began my trip at the start of the black trail off of Golf road. After riding through open meadows  I crossed  a bridge   and entered canopied trail.  I soon came to a fork on the path and took a left onto the red trail where I rode through many groves  and over a beautiful view of the  Busse Lake. 

Three miles later I reached the Elk pasture. I stopped and rested  my bike against this tree (which I will identify later) and took my time eating  few handfuls of trail mix while looking for any signs of Elk. When I was not successful  and when I was fully hydrated , I got back on to the Red Trail to continue my adventure. 

Two minutes later I spotted elk resting in the shade.

I rode three more miles along the lake. I almost was tempted to diverge from the red trail to ride down the Salt  Creek Trial , which I found out later is another Cook County bike trail which leads to the  famous Brookfield Zoo. 

 I stopped for lunch near the Busse Lake's Boating Center. There weren't any picnic tables so I found a comfortable shaded spot viewing South Pool of Busse Lake. It was serene and as a sat there I was entertained by Red- winged  Blackbirds, a male and later I figured out after looking through a bird book the female as well. The male and female red-wing black bird look entirely different. 

Here is the make Red-winged Blackbird . 

This is their main habitat 

The female resting on driftwood 

The male in flight 

chilling 

comfy on some cattail 

After lunch and some major rest and relaxation I continued on the red trail until I reached the black trailed and biked back down to where I began the entire trip, just riding time took me an hour but it was worth it. This trip is what inspired me to begin this blog. 

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;


Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,


And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.


I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost