On the Record with Nicholas McCarney

SYCAMORE – Nicholas McCarney has always loved nature, and his job is to share his love and knowledge of nature with others.

McCarney, 28, received his undergraduate degree in sustainability and environmental management from Aurora University. He is an ecologist and natural areas specialist with the Sycamore Park District and the host of “Nature Hotline,” a YouTube question-and-answer series for all ages.

To ask McCarney questions for “Nature Hotline,” email him at nicholasm@sycparks.org.

McCarney spoke to MidWeek reporter Katrina Milton about “Nature Hotline” and the importance of conservation.

Milton: What do you do in your role at the Sycamore Park District?

McCarney: I am an ecologist and natural areas specialist, but specifically, I am a restoration ecologist. I help build and maintain native ecosystems from the soil on up so plants and animals can utilize it. I’m also involved in the educational outreach component. I take my work and research and communicate it to the public.

Milton: Why did you get involved in ecology and conservation?

McCarney: I’ve always had an interest and passion for nature. As I grew older, I understood the need and reason for conservation. There is inaccessibility to the general public about conservation and why it’s needed. I think it’s really important to take these hard-to-grasp subjects and make them obtainable for the everyday person. The vast majority of people are not in scientific community, or they’re not scientists. I think we all need to see science as an approachable topic everyone can be a part of.

Milton: Why is ecology important?

McCarney: I don’t think people understand the foundational reason for ecology and how everything is super interconnected. One little piece of an ecosystem can be extremely detrimental to plants and animals and the natural habitat. My hope is to get people started having an interest in nature. You don’t need an all-encompassing knowledge of the subject like a scientist. But once you have a very, very good understanding of it, you can communicate that information at every level, whether it’s university PhD students or a group of preschool students. It’s the same subject, just communicated, shared and taught in different ways so that it’s obtainable for all ages.

Milton: Are there may prairies in Illinois?

McCarney: Illinois is known as the Prairie State, yet 99.99% of the natural prairie in Illinois does not exist anymore. Most prairie land today is restored agricultural land. The prairies we have nowadays are most likely ones we brought back from high levels of degradation after being used for farming for over 100 years. It’s a great thing that prairies are coming back.

Milton: What is an interesting topic you research?

McCarney: I also do research on turtle spatial ecology in the Sycamore area, how they’re utilizing our waterways and wetlands. If there are turtles here living and thriving, that tells us a lot about the health of our aquatic ecosystems. Healthy turtle populations are a good indication of a good water system. Over the last few years, I have found a few hundred turtles in the area. There are four species commonly found here.

Milton: What is the “Nature Hotline”?

McCarney: The “Nature Hotline” is mostly answering questions: “Why do leaves change color?” or “Where do turtles go in winter?” I think those questions come from a younger audience, since they have to do with the seasons and it’s very cold outside. But it’s great they have those questions. They’re feeling that curiosity and passion for nature at a young age. We don’t have to force-feed them information, we can answer their questions and present it in an entertaining and fun way. You can make learning fun. You don’t have to be obsessive over a topic or put all your effort into it, you can learn a little about a few different topics. But that knowledge can make a big change on a large scale.

Milton: What is your hope for the series?

McCarney: The whole point of “Nature Hotline” is that people are asking questions. You don’t get interested in something without asking questions about it. It creates that foundation for a deeper learning. Although it’s typically geared in a format for younger children, it’s for all ages and backgrounds. Everyone can ask questions, and I’ll give you the foundational tools you need to learn about ecology, science and nature.