The BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Icterus galbula) is strikingly colorful creature of the bird world. It’s bright orange and black feather pattern makes it distinctly easy to see. And during spring time arrival during May, any grape jelly filled containers and orange slices hung from tree branches will ...
The POPE and YOUNG CLUB is an archery organization, a conservation promoting entity, and a keeper of extensive records of what archers with their bows and arrows can do as part of wildlife management programs in the states and Canadian provinces. Every two years, embers assemble at a convention ...
RED FOX (Vulpes fulva) are common but not seen often. This small canine family member is about three-feet long including tail. Adults weigh about seven to 14 pounds. They are the only mammal with a rusty red fur coat. Fur on its outer ears, legs and feet are dark brown to blackish. White can be ...
BIG and BOLD is one way to define bald eagles. When you see them, either in flight or perched on a tree branch, or even picking apart a road killed deer, our eyes are drawn to the display of predator/prey, a very necessary part of the survival story every species must strive to conduct if it is ...
IOWA TAXIDERMISTS ASSOCIATION members have brought a great sampling of wildlife art back to a conference room area at the Meskwaki casino. Each year they meet to study and compare, learn and find ways to improve any wildlife display they create. Their show for the public continues Sunday from 9 ...
A YELLOW GOAT’S BEARD (Tragopogon dubius) is today’s special plant to learn about, a colorful plant of grasslands. It is of European origin however, and is not a native. Still it seems to find a niche where it can carry on its business of life. This specimen with its partially dispersed ...
PLAN B works In this case as illustrated by today’s big fish photo, when turkey hunting plans took a turn for the worst due to lots of rain, muddy fields, and the quite valid idea that even wild turkeys do not like to strut in shallow standing water, it was time to switch gears and make the ...
Every so often, an unusual sighting of a bird is made by ardent ornithologists. The word gets out out to fellow birders and soon the byways may be getting more attention than usual as other folks try to add these wayward birds to a life list. This could be the case now but it was a very brief ...
The RED FOX, (Vulpes vulpes), is more common than we think. It appears to be similar to a small to medium sized dog in body form. Reddish brown fur and a long bushy tail are conspicuous characteristics. As a sometimes urban dweller, it does find a bit more refuge from a tough competitor ...
A STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis) is one of the most common members of the weasel family. It can be found coast to coast from southern Canada, all of the United States and into northern Mexico. It rambles about each spring, summer and fall in search of mates, food and more food. Come winter ...
SPRING has been in short supply during April. For those few nice warm days we did experience, which were more noticeable for their absence than dominance, we all will welcome warmer weather to arrive and stay. If the old saying "April showers bring May flowers" is to be believed, it got all ...
The featured creature for today is a duck. Not just any duck, but a unique species that is easy to identify once a person gathers a few key markers of its plumage and bill shape. For starters, its name is Northern Shoveler and its Latin name is Spatula clypeata. The bill denotes an obvious ...
WHITE PELICANS (Pelevanus erythrorhynchos) dominated the waters of Sand Lake this past week. They got caught between snow, sleet, rain, wind and more snow events. Their best option was to wait out the weather until it improved. While scattered about the surface waters of Sand Lake, ...
TAXIDERMISTS knew how to make the best presentations of everything from fish, reptiles, small and large mammals at last weekend’s Iowa Taxidermists Association conference. Displays were evaluated by professionals. The tiniest details had to be spot on, correctly molded, tucked, painted and ...
BALD EAGLES are now quite common even in central Iowa. Marshall County has its share of active nests. The outlook is good for more site, some unknown at this time, to be added to a confirmed list and map of where other eagle pairs decided to make a home during 2018. State DNR non-game ...
ON TARGET with a bow and arrow is a fantastic school physical education option. The sport is growing in Iowa and many other states as the word gets out of how much fun this activity can provide, and the discipline it instills in kids to improve themselves. Teachers see how this activity raises ...
WATERFOWL in huge numbers have dominated this past week. Well folks, this natural history moment is not going to fade quickly. All this month it can be expected that the sky on any particular day may have lots of snow geese, white-fronted geese and Canada geese congregating, and talking their ...
SNOW GEESE were everywhere this past week. Any casual observer could hear them. And if you were in the right place with your car, you could see huge flocks plying the air along the Iowa River valley or just about anywhere else even over open farm country. The urge to migrate is so strong ...
THE IOWA DEER CLASSIC returns to the show floor of Des Moines' Hy-Vee Hall next weekend. Mid afternoon on Friday, March 2is when the show doors open for the public. The show continues through Saturday and into the mid afternoon hours of Sunday with a total public draw of about 20,000 people. ...
A WILD GAME FEED is coming this Wednesday, the 21st. As a tribute to the huge amount of delicious protein sources that fish and game provide each and every year, local outdoors enthusiasts and Izaak Walton League club members will have a wide selection of buffet style foods to select along a ...