For Iowa’s resident flock of giant Canada geese, the 2026 spring nesting season is nearly complete.  Although a few late nests are still going, most goslings were out of the egg by May 10.  Although this year’s nesting season presented a wildly fluctuating ride of extreme high and low temperatures – especially in Iowa’s northern

The ring-necked pheasant is Iowa’s most popular upland gamebird.  Everyone loves seeing wild pheasants, and most folks are familiar with the rooster’s spring crowing.  For those who aren’t, there will never be a better time to become acquainted the species’ unmistakable, signature call. With ear tufts raised and velvety crimson facial wattles expanded to capacity, the

“A wonderful bird is the pelican.  His bill can hold more than his belican”                                                                                                   -- Poet, Dixon Merritt 1910 With it’s massive size and nine-foot wingspan, the American white pelican is one of North America’s largest birds.  With snow white plumage, jet black wingtips, and outrageously long bill, it would be hard to mistake the pelican

The change of seasons is at hand.  And right on schedule, the first species of songbirds are beginning to arrive in Iowa.  During the next several weeks, bird numbers will continue to swell as a diverse and colorful parade of additional species moves into the state.  Jubilantly announcing their arrival, the skies will suddenly fill

Elvis has left the building.  For all practical purposes, this year’s spring snow goose season is over.  Not because of any calendar date, but rather because one of the planet’s most highly migratory bird species has left the state -- faithfully following the invisible pathways that lead to the arctic nesting grounds of their ancestors. This

               Preseason Scouting Can Pave The Road to Hunter Success Iowa’s five-part spring turkey seasons begin April 10 with a special, two-day youth hunt.  The final segment of this year’s four-part regular season concludes May 17.    With local woodlands already rocking with the staccato rattle of fired up spring gobblers, it’s no wonder that turkey hunting

Spring and fall migrations are a dangerous time for traveling songbirds.  This fact was rarely more evident that when winter storm Iona rolled into Iowa on Sunday, March 15.  Accompanied by rapidly falling temperatures, high winds, and dropping nearly nine inches of ‘wintry mix’, the dramatic change in weather was an unwelcome and life threatening

Most birding enthusiasts, myself included, are always on the lookout for something rare or unusual – a visiting species that normally doesn’t occur in our area.  I’ve been treated to several sightings that fall into this category.  The majority of these feathered travelers have been officially listed by the Iowa Ornithologists Union [IOU] as ‘rare

One of the things I miss the most from days gone by are the jackrabbits.  Ya, that’s right.  I said that I miss the jackrabbits.  I miss watching the spectacular, 20-foot leaps as a startled ‘jack crossed a hundred yards of cow pasture in nano seconds.  I miss watching their leapfroging midnight dances when groups

Saturday Jan. 24, 2026 --- This morning’s frigid double digit, below zero temperatures seemed a little warmer when I laid eyes on an old woodland friend.  Following another round of Iowa hunting seasons, the ten-year-old white-tailed doe I call Bobtail is alive and well.  This is welcome news for everyone who has been following her

Commonly referred to as The Sport of Kings, falconry is defined as the pursuit of wild game with trained raptors.  Regardless of whether your protege is a red-tailed hawk, goshawk, or peregrine falcon, training a wild bird-of-prey to accept you as an equal and trusted hunting partner is a step by step process with each

The 2022 fall hunting season was shaping up to be one of the best since I began flying large falcons during the 1980s.  Pheasant populations were strong and migrating waterfowl were becoming increasingly abundant.  Best of all, I was holding two stunningly beautiful, adult female peregrine falcons on my federal falconry permit.  Although I had