The Robert F. Betz Autumn Internship is sponsored by Fermilab Natural Areas, a nonprofit corporation operating exclusively within the boundaries of Fermilab. The intern will be assisting in habitat management at the 6,800-acre Batavia site and can expect to gain a broad understanding of ecological restoration practices and applications as well as theory. Duties will include: native seed collection and processing, invasive species control using brush saws and herbicides, botanical surveys of restored prairie, forest and wetland communities, tree and…
Fermilab Natural Areas
The Fermilab Natural Areas organization assists in restoring, managing and monitoring Fermilab’s various ecosystems. They aim to “restore and study the natural areas within Fermilab while encouraging employees and neighbors to experience and enjoy Fermilab’s natural beauty.”
An old road beckons on a late afternoon drive around the Fermilab campus.
Open your eyes and hearts to the joys of the night! On May 12 at 7 p.m., join Fermilab Natural Areas for a Zoom webinar about our night sky. As a delegate of the International Dark-Sky Association, Adam Kreuzer is passionate about teaching about the beauty of dark skies and the ways we can protect the night from light pollution. He will explain the concept of light pollution, discuss the impact of light pollution on humans and wildlife, and explore…
From Daily Herald, Nov. 27, 2020: Fermilab Natural Areas is restoring 500 acres of grassland near Eola Road at Fermilab to serve as a breeding habitat for several endangered and threatened bird species that do not use tallgrass prairies or woodlands, such as the upland sandpiper, bobolink and Henslow’s sparrow.
Find out what Fermilab Natural Areas (FNA) did in the 1000-plus acres of natural areas at Fermilab this past year, what we’re planning to do, and how you can be part of it! Everyone is invited to come on Wednesday March 18 at 7:00 p.m. in Kuhn Barn, Fermilab Village. If you’ve ever wondered what we do, or thought about getting involved or donating, this is a great opportunity to come meet other FNA members and learn about what our…
Wally Levernier, Fermilab’s ecologist talks about the importance of plant diversity on a Fermilab wildflower walk hosted by Fermilab Natural Areas and the Batavia Environmental Commission. More than 50 people attended.
Everybody is invited to Fermilab Natural Areas Annual Meeting to hear what we accomplished in 2018 and what we have in store for 2019. Our keynote speaker will be well known bird expert Denis Kania. Denis teaches birdwatching classes at the Morton Arboretum and before retirement he was Manager of Natural Areas with the St. Charles Park District. He has been monitoring birds at Fermilab for 30 years. If you have ever considered volunteering come along and see what opportunities…
Research has shown that the presence of trees and woody vegetation in grasslands can significantly reduce the area occupied by grassland birds. To maximize usable habitat in the Eola grasslands at Fermilab, the first step is to clear the open fields of woody vegetation and trees. FNA received this grant to support the first phase of the project and hire a contractor to remove trees from this area.
March 21, 7:00 pm at the Kuhn Barn, Fermilab Village Everybody welcome. Come and hear about the habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring we have done over the past year and our plans for the future. Featured speaker Mr. Stephen Packard, formerly Director of Science and Stewardship for the Illinois Nature Conservancy (1983-1999) and Founding Director of Audubon Chicago Region (1999-2014). Stephen was a longtime friend of Dr. Betz who started the Fermilab prairie project.