Posts Tagged ‘birds’
Where do animals go when it rains?
It may surprise you, but the rain doesn’t bother as many animals as we would think. With the rain we have finally gotten over the last couple of days, it made me wonder where animals went during the rain. I learned that it depends on the animal and the personality of the animals. In one Read More »
Read MoreEastern Meadowlark Bird Craft
Have you ever wanted your very own singing bird? Bird songs are so beautiful but with this craft, you only get the pretty bird. We can’t make him sing but it should be a fun craft for everyone to do. Supplies: Brown, yellow, black paper Scissors Glue stick Stapler Googly eyes Pencil Read More »
Read MoreMourning Doves in Iowa
The mourning dove is the most abundant game bird in Iowa with the highest numbers in the southern half of the state and the Loess Hills. But they are abundant in all 99 counties. These birds are the brownish-gray birds you see at feeders quite frequently. When they eat seeds, they don’t eat them right Read More »
Read MoreHow Do Chickadees Survive Winter?
The Black-capped Chickadee is one of the most common birds in the northern half of North American meaning you have probably seen one or many in your backyard. Since these birds are so common, you might have noticed they’re still around eating from birdfeeders. But shouldn’t they be migrating by now? Most birds have migrated Read More »
Read MoreConservationists from Iowa: John F. Lacey
While we don’t have an animal ambassador named after John Lacey, he was still an important conservation figure who hailed from Iowa. Lacey was born in 1841 in West Virginia. It wasn’t until 1855 his family moved to Iowa. They settled on the Des Moines River near Oskaloosa, IA. Here he worked on the family Read More »
Read MoreIowa winter birds
Pine siskins, purple finches, dark-eyed juncos, American tree sparrows — these Iowa winter birds are really only just a few of the birds that make winter a bit more fun in this cold state. Red-breasted nuthatch Red-breasted nuthatches live year-round in many parts of the western United States and Canada, but they spent winter, non-breeding Read More »
Read MoreBird seed ornaments
Everyone loves to feed the birds in winter. (Learn about one of Iowa’s winter birds: Dark-eyed junco) It helps the birds that are scavenging for food. It lets you get close to watch these fun, feathered friends. Bird watching is a good hobby to do from the warmth of your house on chilly days. You Read More »
Read MoreFlying high: Mallards one of highest flying birds documented
We have many wonderful volunteers at the Dickinson County Nature Center, and one of regular front desk helpers loves to bring in articles with interesting animal facts. The last article she brought in from “Smithsonian” magazine told that the highest bird flight ever recorded was by the Ruppell’s griffon, a vulture native to Africa. It’s Read More »
Read MoreTell apart finches at your feeder
Not all finches have “finch” as part of their name, so you might be surprised just how many finches you have at your feeder. Common redpoll, northern cardinal, rose-breasted grosbeak, scarlet tanager, indigo bunting — all of these are actually finches. (Nine fun facts about woodpeckers) However, most of these are pretty easily identifiable. That Read More »
Read MoreGrackles, blackbirds and starlings don’t like safflower
Dark-eyed junco Dark-eyed juncos have made their way to northwest Iowa to overwinter. Black-capped chickadees are flocking to feeders. White-breasted nuthatches are looking for nuts to get fat and ready for the cold. Food is a constant necessity for birds to survive through Iowa winters. Their feathers are wonderful insulators, but the food is what Read More »
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