Sparrows are not all just another LBJ (little brown jobs) to keep us humans puzzling over nuances of identification details. However, one must pay attention to specific details to truly note the difference between these small active birds. It can be confusing to try to learn which sparrow ...

Pheasants are a much sought after game bird. Its large size, relatively fast flying speeds, and ability to hold or break from cover vegetation when least expected add to the dynamics of a hunt. Pheasant hunting is a long held tradition across the Midwest that brings families together for an ...

This week I will explore with you several natural history moments. All of these daily footnotes of time and place are just observations of the natural world. They are fun things to explore, and in some cases just a convenient opportunity to be at the right place at the right time to see ...

Fall season is well underway. As mid October advances with ever shortening days and longer nights, tree leaf colors will dominate the landscape. However, it pays to be vigilant to other color patterns of nature — on a much smaller scale, but just as impressive, with birds such as the ...

Leaf colors are primed to begin their autumn ‘best of show’ right on schedule for the middle of October. The color show is free. Effort is required on your part to find a location where the maximum brightness and abundance of colors will be in full force. This author highly recommends ...

Iowa River low flow rates have dominated during the month of September. A check on the data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website shows a flat line of water discharge rates. A week ago, the flow rate was about 62 cubic feet per second. At the end of September, the rate was about 80 ...