Thursday, April 19, 2012

Readings for HPHS students

Hello HPHS students! Below is the worksheet you all filled out on Tuesday with our notes, and also an article about trout habitat requirements:

Rainbow Trout Habitat Requirements Article

Rainbow Trout Habitat Requirements summary table worksheet


This past Tuesday we met for a third time with HPHS Environmental Science students. We discussed what makes a suitable habitat for fish in ravines and how restoration efforts work to encourage fish to spawn in the streams. Thanks for a great day! Our next session in May we will be studying macroinvertebrates.

White suckers hanging in the stream; they come every year to spawn and create redds, or nests, and lay their eggs
 
Matt Jennings of Trout Unlimited explains which types of rocks and their placement are ideal for fish spawning

HPHS students check out the underwater camera

An admiral butterfly rests near the stream

PDHP Natural Areas Manager Rebecca Grill and HPHS Environmental Science teacher Christine Hill pick up some trash along the way
 


Ladies in boots! HPHS Science Chair Shannon Bain, Rebecca Grill and Christine Hill pose for a picture



Ravine Restoration Video


Thank you Todd Burleson for making this short video highlighting the progress made at the Highland Park Ravines Restoration Project:


Also, check out his website where he documented the Trout in the Classroom program at Hubbard Woods School: Trout in the Resource Center - 2010-2011

Friday, April 13, 2012

Bye, Bye Trout!


We had a wonderful morning watching the Braeside 4th grade students release the trout they have worked so hard to take care of this year. They participated in the program Trout in the Classroom and released their fingerlings into the stream. Thank you to everyone who came out to help and support them!


 
Jim Tingey of Trout Unlimited and Rebecca Grill lead "Bye, Bye, Trout!"

Releasing the fish through the "slip and slide"



Fung Chin of TU helping the students release
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering releases a fish

Bye, bye trout!
Bye, bye, aquatic friends!
We hope to see you when you're swimmin' down the stream...
There go our fingerlings,
they're doin' fine
And now they're lookin' for a place to dine.
Look out you stoneflies!
And mayflies too!
Our little fishies are comin' after you!

Bye, bye trout! Bye, bye aquatic friends!
We hope to see you when you're swimmin' down the stream...

Ravine Education Day

Take part in our second annual ravine tour to learn about the Park District’s Ravine Stream Habitat Restoration program and see what’s changed since last year. This effort to protect wildlife and property and reduce Lake Michigan pollution is funded by the US EPA. We’ll look at healthy ravine ecology, demonstrate ways residents can become stewards of their property and try our hands at stream monitoring techniques which help gauge our success.

Parking at Millard Park is limited; to register for the shuttle call 847.433.6901. Shuttle will depart from Highland Park City Hall.

Millard Park
Saturday, April 14 

10:00am-Noon

Event is free and open to the public.

The Once and Future Ecosystem of Lake Michigan

Dr. Charles Shabica, president of Sustainable Coastal Solutions and a partner in our ravines project, will be leading a presentation about Lake Michigan ecology.

Lake Michigan, the second largest Great Lake, is a treasure on our doorstep that we often take for granted. Learn little-known facts about its history from the time of its formation a half-million years ago to the profound environmental issues facing it today and into the future. Dr. Shabica will share his vast knowledge in an engaging and informative program.

Tuesday, April 17th
7:00pm
Heller Nature Center
2821 Ridge Road
Highland Park, IL

Admission is FREE and open to the public.

Sponsored by the Lake/Cook Chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society

Restoration Ecology Article

Hello HPHS Students - we are looking forward to Tuesday! Please check out this article about restoration ecology before we meet.

Restoration Ecology

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Just a few more days

The fish will be imprinted.

Saw a lot of water striders in the stream- food is already there.

looks like only a couple of suckers remain.

Fung