The first of this year’s fall waterfowl seasons begins with a special, 16-day teal hunt opening September 1.  The purpose of the statewide early season is to provide Iowa duck hunters with an opportunity to pursue flocks of early migrating blue-winged teal.  Although blue-wings occur as an abundant nester across the Dakotas and prairie Canada, the bulk of their
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The red-headed woodpecker is one of Iowa’s best-known birds.  It is also one of our most popular.  Easily recognized by its redder than red head, black and white checkerboard plumage, and bluish chiseled bill; it would be hard to mistake this bird for anything else.  Getting up close and personal, I’ve recently enjoyed the opportunity to observe the daily activities
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The white-tailed deer is one of Iowa’s most economically and recreationally important species of wildlife.  For deer hunting enthusiasts, it’s never too early to start thinking of fall.  I was reminded of that fact earlier this week when a yearling buck suddenly stepped out of the woodland shadows and into full view.  Pausing at a distance of around twenty yards,
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Female Hairy Woodpecker Feeding Fledgling While photographing an energized gang of scurrying chipmunks at the abandoned woodpile, I couldn’t help but notice an excessive amount of activity on the part of a nearby pair of hairy woodpeckers.  I soon discovered the reason for the commotion.  The woodpeckers’ nest -- containing two young -- was in the process of fledging. Male
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Can’t say for sure what it is, but there’s just something about a chipmunk that makes people smile.  It doesn’t seem to matter where the chipmunk is or what it’s doing – you might spot one sitting atop an old stump munching on an acorn, cautiously peering around a stack of firewood, or high tailing it across a forested
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It’s that time of year again.  Iowa’s Baby Bird & Bunny season has officially begun.  During the past few days, I’ve seen lots of wildlife babies.  Baby birds, baby rabbits, baby squirrels.  I even spotted the season’s first pair of spindle-legged twin fawns.   Each new sighting is cause for celebration – a vivid portrayal of the annual renewal of life.  The sightings
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With its distinctive high-domed helmet-shaped upper shell, bright yellow throat, and endearing smile, it would be hard to mistake the Blanding’s turtle for anything else.  Sadly, it is a species that most Iowans will never have an opportunity to view.  There are exceptions, of course.  Take for example, the adult Blanding’s recently seen making its way across Cerro Gordo
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Temperatures are rising.  The days are still getting longer.  In the Iowa woodlands, the transition from spring to summer is nearly complete.  But don’t take off your hiking boots just yet.  For those willing to look and listen, Iowa’s wooded trails continue to reveal new wonders at every turn. Iowa Woodland – A wildlife rich environment where discoveries abound.
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Looking for something to do?  Sure, aren’t we all?  No matter who or where you are, the ongoing COVID-19 crisis has created some dramatically unwelcome changes in how we live.  Most of us are into our third month of physical distancing and we’re all getting a little stir crazy – more than ready to get back to life as we
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Time flies when you’re havin’ fun; and I rarely have more fun than when hunting wild turkeys.  But all good things must come to an end; hard to believe that all five segments of Iowa’s spring turkey seasons have come and gone.  The final season ended last Sunday.    As always, it proved to be an interesting spring with both
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One of the things I enjoy most about viewing wildlife is that you never know what’s coming next.  My latest example occurred earlier today while photographing wood ducks at a small wooded pond near Cerro Gordo county’s Zirbel Slough.  I’d been sitting in the blind for a couple of hours, when a blue-winged teal came zigzagging through the canopy and
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The wait is over.  The hatch is on.  Newly emerged broods of baby Canada geese are appearing on wetlands across the state.  And although the annual renewal of life should bring joy to all who witness it, perhaps no group has been more thrilled by the sight of newly hatched goslings than the residents of Clear Lake’s Apple Valley Assisted
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