Posts Tagged ‘Iowa’
Eastern 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 More5 Facts about the American Badger
After the noon nature fact about badgers in Iowa, I thought I would dive into more research about them. Turns out, they’re pretty cool and live around us in open areas such as plains, prairies, the edges of forests, and in or around farmlands. The American Badger (Taxidea taxus) is native to Iowa even though Read More »
Read MoreConservationists who were Important to Iowa: Louis H. Pammel
While Louis H. Pammel wasn’t born in Iowa, he became a huge part of Iowa history. Pammel was born in Wisconsin in 1862 where he stayed to attend the University of Wisconsin. He received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph. D. from the University of Wisconsin. He trained under professors at Washington University, the 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 MorePurple martins are the largest swallow in the U.S.
A colony of white, gourd-like houses hang on a large pole outside of the Dickinson County Nature Center. Around them flies dozens of gliding, floating, flitting dark birds — purple martins. Local birder and owner of Bird Haven in Spirit Lake Wendell Hansen has cared for the purple martins for many years, and last June Read More »
Read MoreIowa’s state symbols
Peering out the window of the Dickinson County Nature Center, I can see birds at the feeders in the avian courtyard. One of them is a brilliant yellow color with black wings, and it is right at home here. That’s because the American goldfinch is the state bird of Iowa. Did you know that Iowa Read More »
Read MoreFive Iowa predators
As Iowa was settled, its landscape and demographics changed, and that meant that its wildlife changed as well. Many species, such as deer, turkeys, trumpeter swans and bobcats were extirpated or close to extirpation. However, increasingly positive conservation attitudes has helped to bring back many species. Here are some of the predators that reign in Read More »
Read MoreWonder why leaves change color in the fall?
Trees of Dickinson County: Basswood It seems like, when people list the trees of Iowa, that many don’t think about, or possibly know about, basswood (Tilia americana). However, basswood is a common tree that occurs statewide and is often interspersed with maples and oaks. Size Basswoods grow 75-100 feet or more, and they grow quickly. Read More »
Read MoreFeeding the Kenue Park trumpeter swans
Check out the trumpeter swans on the wetland year-round with our live web camera. Click here. You can also find more videos on our Videos page or watch what Teddy the turtle eats here.
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