The idea came to Spencer Hulsey in a doodle. During a physics discussion at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she idly sketched a belted kingfisher, a blue and orange bird she saw many ...

The fish pond at my home has received numerous visitors this year, including wood ducks, great blue herons and solitary sandpipers. Sometimes, it’s easy to overlook the bird that hasn’t visited for ...

Senior columnist Maggie Knutte and columnist Grayson Hodson share opposing perspectives on replacing the mascot for the Illini. Knutte argues in favor of a replacement with the belted kingfisher, ...

The April morning is clear, calm and chilly as I step outside. We have a temperature of about freezing. I expect it to warm up in the afternoon. Most of the snowpack is melting, but there are still ...