Messenger Marsh

09/23/2026

Bees have a lot of jobs! Most of the bees are female. Let’s learn about female bees and what jobs they have. Don’t forget to tune in next week for the next part!

09/17/2026

Move over, Jiminy Cricket! The real singing insects are putting on quite a show!

Cicadas, crickets, grasshoppers and katydids all have their own unique songs, from the musical chirp of crickets to the unmistakable buzz of cicadas.

Next time you hear nature’s soundtrack, stop and listen. Can you identify the singer?

(Photo by Anthony Schalk)

09/09/2026

These deer seem to be having quite the conversation, but how do deer actually communicate?

Deer communicate with one another using a variety of sounds, including bleats, grunts and wheezes. An injured deer may even call out loudly. They also use secretions from scent glands on their hooves to leave behind scents that help them communicate with other deer.

What do you think these deer are talking about?

(Photo courtesy of Amy Miller)

From what they eat to where they live, get to know North America's most common deer.

09/02/2026

It’s almost time to say goodbye to our ruby throated hummingbirds.

These tiny birds are already beginning their journey south, with some leaving northern Illinois as early as late July or early August. Most will continue migrating through early October before making the incredible trip to their wintering grounds in Central America, including a nonstop flight of 500 miles or more across the Gulf of Mexico!

If you’re still enjoying hummingbird visitors, keep those feeders clean and filled. They’re fueling up for the long journey ahead.

(Photo courtesy of Joe Viola)

Hummingbirds are here in Will County for a good portion of the year, but knowing when they migrate can help determine when to have hummingbird feeders out. 

08/26/2026

Do you ever take pictures in any of the Will County Forest Preserves?

If you do, you should enter the Preserve the Moment Photo Contest! Whether the photo is of a flora or a fauna, any photo is welcomed as long as it is in one of the preserves. Each monthly winner will receive a $75 MasterCard gift card plus get a chance to win bigger prizes later in the year!

There is still time to enter before August ends! Learn more below!

2/1/2026-12/31/2026: Calling all amateur shutterbugs! Your photos from the preserves could win you the top prize, or one of the monthly prizes, in our Preserve the Moment photo contest.

04/13/2026

Do your furry friends love to run and play? Bring them to our dog park Meet and Treat to see if they enjoy the Forest Preserve District's dog parks. Forest Preserve staff will be on site to provide insight and answer questions, and each dog will receive a treat bag. A $5 day pass is required to attend, and passes can be purchased on site.

Meet and Treat
When: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 18
Where: Messenger Marsh Dog Park

4/18/2025: Curious about if the dog park is a place your pup would enjoy but not ready to make the commitment? Come visit us during Meet and Treat so you and your dog/s can explore the park.

10/03/2025

We're sprucing up the Messenger Marsh Dog Park, and we'd love your help! Dog park permit holders are invited to join us for a morning spreading wood chips, removing suckers from tree trunks, filling in divots and trimming vegetation along the fence line. All supplies and tools will be provided. Registration is required.

Dog Park Glow Up
When: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 11
Where: Messenger Marsh Dog Park

10/11/2025: Help us give the Messenger Marsh Dog Park a glow up!

06/16/2023

Hit the trails early for a summer hike in search of the many bird species that call Messenger Marsh home in this beginner-friendly program from 7 to 9 a.m. Saturday, June 24. Registration is required.

6/24/2023: Enjoy a morning stroll around Messenger Marsh while searching for our resident summer birds.

11/30/2022

Heads up: The eastern loop of the Spring Creek Greenway Trail at Messenger Marsh will be closed for seven to 10 days.

The eastern loop of the Spring Creek Greenway Trail at Messenger Marsh preserve will be closed for a week to 10 days starting Thursday, Dec. 1, for pipeline maintenance work.