Diario de lexitrailwalks

(Approximately 3-to-6-minute read.)

First, I wish to offer both an apology and an explanation that I hope does not come across too much as an excuse. I wanted to try something new with how I post to iNat by setting myself up with strict goals and limiting observations to only those that I felt offered an actual contribution to science. I also wanted to create accompanying journal posts that provided important context about the featured habitats. This is something I still very much want to do, but as the title says: I aimed for the moon by adding to my already extensive workload, and instead crashed upon the sun, subjecting myself to severe burn-out.

I am stepping away from posting to iNat for the remainder of the year, so that I can focus on finishing out my courses and certification programs, then take some time to improve how I post observations and journal entries. I will also be re-evaluating how observations are gathered. From 2018 to 2022, I have been operating on sheer serendipity with my Trailwalks. I was extremely fortunate to have experienced only one major concerning incident during those five years of exploration and research. Unfortunately, April through August have challenged my well-being far worse than any college curriculum.

I will keep my initial introductory post for the time being, though I will come up with a new set of guidelines for 2024. I have deleted the previous two journal entries referencing McKinley Woods. I will try to finish uploading observations from the preserve by the end of September, but will not be featuring the I and M Canal Trail as I originally intended. Finally, I will not enforce the "no revisiting specific locations once I start posting about them" rule until 2024.

Thank you, and please stay safe in your exploration and travels!

I recently hit two very important milestones as a self-teaching Naturalist. Both the 20th and 24th of June marked 5 years since I began recording Trailwalks throughout Indiana and Illinois (which have yet to post to another channel or content-hosted site at this time). Additionally, the 13th of July will mark 3 years since I began posting to iNaturalist, which has taught me to become a better researcher, photographer, and videographer. Most importantly, it has taught me to respect and appreciate nature.

With five years of observations and three years of research, it was time to start imposing personal guidelines as motivators in not only building up the confidence to start posting my Trailwalks for the world to view, but also to ensure that the data I am collecting in relevant and promotes some form of scientific value.

Beginning 13 July 2023:

• With the exception of documenting a life first, a drastic environmental change, or a concerning observation (i.e., a deceased animal not from natural causes, a suspected new invasive species, etc.), once a specific location has posted, it will NOT be revisited. This is partially to encourage branching out of comfort zones and visiting new sites, yet also give previously-visited sites a final “hurrah” of sorts.
• Specifically-visited sites will be accompanied by a journal post detailing the timeframe that observations are expected to post; provide information regarding the site’s geographic location, environmental factors, and notable landmarks; and state the cultural, historical, and ecological significance of the specific site(s) featured. I intend to keep the posts on iNat limited to observational research only. Unedited posts with full citations will be available via a dedicated blogging website (currently a Tumblr separate from my main account.)
• I am going to try for a minimum of three (3) observations posted daily, though I expect life situations will make this impossible on certain occasions. Those posts will spill over into the next day.
• Observations for the featured locations will post no less than three months after the initial exploration date. The only exceptions will be for the first tour through Channahon, future Citywide Nature Challenges/Bioblitzes, and for one-off posts documenting the aforementioned exceptions. (I sadly have the sheer bad luck of coming across dead birds. A lot.)
• Finally, I feel as though I have been very generous in the circulation and availability of my photographs. Unfortunately, and very recently, some bad actors (outside of iNat) have tested my patience. All my photos are and will still be available to use with proper credit, but I WILL NOT remove the watermarks from the photos which I have deemed to be higher quality. Any and all of my observations posted prior to 13 July 2023 will remain without a watermark since they are considered published, and of course you may still use any of my observations, watermarked or none, for research, school, educational purposes. For all other non-commercial purposes, please credit to Alexandra Destria.

I’ll try to find a way to properly archive all my posts. (Again, I’ll be posting simultaneously here and through Tumblr to keep organized and within my personally set deadlines.) In the meantime, thank you very much for reading!
-Lexi Destria.

I had been eager to visit Goodenow Grove Forest Preserve in the Crete/Beecher area for quite some time now, especially since my experiences with many of the Will County Forest Preserves have yielded positive experiences with plenty of learning opportunities. But the distance had always kept me from pursuing exploration at the preserve and nature center, and there was always the fear in the back of my mind that I would make the drive only to be met with disappointment. But the truth couldn’t have been further from it.

Plum Creek Nature Center alone is surrounded by several plants mostly native to Illinois, attracting several pollinators that include a variety of butterflies and their larvae. When I paid a visit to the Nature Center, they were offering free bookmarks that helped aid in the identification of some of the pollinator-friendly plants, which is perfect for a “budding botanist” like me, and the lady at that service desk was incredibly encouraging when I told her I was planning on cultivating weeds of my own to study.

But it’s not just the people that are friendly here. That atmosphere alone is very inviting, and the easy-to-navigate trails offer plenty of opportunities to study not only native plants, but grants herpetologists an opportunity to encounter plenty of frogs, turtles, and even snakes. As a matter of fact, when I paid my first visit to Snapper Pond Trail, I was fortunate enough to observe two water snakes sunbathing together atop a fallen log, and I was able to see one of the same snakes the very next day, sunbathing atop the very same log. Several turtles of varying species and sizes can also be found sunbathing on nearby logs (though they will flee to the waters if you happen to stand too close).

There are several trails to explore ranging from beginner to intermediate. The High Trail will require quite a bit of hiking ability, but offers a chance to view several birdhouses and native flora. I am certain the preserve serves as home to several bird species that more advanced iNaturalists will be able to encounter (I even witnessed a domesticated cat roaming the trails as if this was familiar territory, no doubt stalking for an easy meal. Sadly, I was unable to safely approach the cat).

Among just some of the sites among the various trails were several flowers of yellow varieties (including sunflowers, Susans, and coneflowers), milkweeds, amphibians and reptiles, and several bird species that I was unable to record during my two trips. But I hope to change that on a future visit, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Knowing that I will be returning to the workforce next week should put my mind at ease, and yet dare I say there are several pangs of regrets that I'm feeling having only recently discovered this app when I've been exploring preserves, parks, and trails actively since 2018 now? I've frequented Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area over the years, but it is evident that Covid has not been kind to this park thanks to the accumulation of human carelessness and trash that is prominent especially on the "Wilmington" side of the park, which is a shame considering just how diverse the natural landscape can be.

There is some allure to the Milliken Lake area, especially where the along the road where the waters clash and form miniature waterfalls that crash along the rocks littered with mollusk shells. Unfortunately, right now it is also littered with beer bottles and cans, plastic waste, and glass. Thankfully, there does not seem to be much disturbances as far as the local plants and wildlife are concerned, and I was able to witness several water striders and green frogs, especially along the creek that runs near the front entrance.

But it is the lands across the railroad tracks, the land that sits out of sight from busy highways and truck traffic that offers numerous chances to experience so much of what nature has to offer at a comforting and quiet pace. There is a boat launch area for fishing or on-the-water viewing and studying, but just around the boat launch area alone are several species of plants growing alongside a large cornfield. Sadly, I have only recently begun studying Botany, so there are still some that I was not positively able to identify, only apply my best guess. I believe I have observed several flowers within the loosestrife, phlox, and nightshade family, but I was able to note that Cup Plants, Yellow Coneflowers, and milkweed surrounding the fields. Sadly, I also noted several Foxtails growing near the cornfield, which could pose a threat to the majority of the bordering crop.

I also made a new little friend today by accident while searching for snakes along the several trails (I did observe a large, friendly water snake living near the waters with all the lily pads, but I was unable to record/photograph their presence before the reptile returned to their safe haven among the leaves.) I almost missed the tiny, panting ball of fluff, no bigger than a key lime, staring up at me with tiny black, beady eyes. Those eyes are what told me this was no mole, despite what the app originally tried to tell me, but I am still not certain about the exact breed of my new little friend. The critter I believe to be a vole was generous enough to pose for two photographs, then slipped away quickly back into the woods. I do not recall observing a tail nor ears, just a slender, fast-moving skitter, and my smile as I concluded it was the perfect way to conclude today's trip.