A World Without Birds

Imagine a world without birds. There would be a silence that is difficult to describe. We would hear noise from the wind, but no birds calling or singing… only an odd type of silence would be heard.

Gone would be the flashes of colors - the yellows, reds, blacks, whites, oranges, and sometimes blues. We would have colors of wildflowers, trees, grass, soils, and sky, but missing would be the hues that catch our eyes flitting about.

Think of how overrun with insects and grubs we would be. Conditions would be much, much worse than things can get now - all because we are missing birds.

I am not sure we always….

From an Assessment to a Vision of the Future

Every now and then I pull out and set up my camping equipment. This would be the gear I use for backpacking or wilderness paddling outings. Tonight I pulled out my tent to check it out.

I have to be honest, I have never…

Story Details

So often I learn things during my outdoor explorations. Today was another case of a woodland education.

Dotting quite a number of nettles were shiny little round balls. My first thought was I had found some sort of moth or butterfly eggs. However, with the wonder of the Internet I learned that I had found nettle galls.

Nettle galls are formed by the wood nettle gall midge - a very small/tiny insect.

As I read this information I took notice of the specification of the “wood” nettle versus stinging nettles. Until today I thought I was being affected by stinging nettles when it may well have been wood nettles. I am still researching the differences and to learn if either are native to Iowa.

Now the “balls on the nettles” story has been explained.

A second story from my trek was a feather I found on nettle leaves not far from the galls. I doubt there is much to this story since there was not a large collection of feathers to suggest a predator/prey interaction. Instead I would guess a bird simply lost the feather as it flew through the timber.

Unless I learn differently, the feather story has been explained and is now closed.

Scenes from the Scene

If you follow me on Facebook you know that last night I played a victim in a missing person exercise at the Volga River State Recreation Area. In the scenario I fell off a cliff and was lying unresponsive about one-third of the drop down from the edge of the cliff. The reality is I really was lying on a small edge one-third of the way down, but I climbed up to get into position.

I hiked and climbed to my precipice about 5:15PM. From that time on I …

Quiet on the Wapsipinicon River (Except for Birds Calling)

Picture in your mind a pleasant, quiet morning on the Wapsipinicon River. One fellow, paddling a solo canoe carrying camera equipment and ample patience across the water, reaches an isolated area where the habitat is ideal for woodland birds. That photographer stops paddling and soon is accepted in the environment. Within minutes many species of birds soon resume their feeding and flight among the trees along the edge of the water.

Hanging from the trees on single long strands are…

Rain Please, In Moderation

Assuming the Good Lord, or Mother Nature, or the weather Gods are monitoring social media, I would like to respectfully request adequate rains falling in moderation without storms. Maybe that is a big “ask” of me, but we and many others desperately need rain.

Early this morning, before 5:00AM, I got up to…

Since I Last Posted

Since yesterday’s post I have had multiple interactions with wildlife resulting in an assortment of images. I will share a sampling below. If you want to see many more pictures, please click on this link to watch a two and a half minute video featuring the photos set to music. I think you will enjoy it. The link is: Wapsipinicon Wild

Enjoy Your Time and More

While watering trees this morning I found and photographed this spring azure butterfly. Even though the butterfly is small (an inch or so - maybe), and even though few people probably pay much attention to them, one detail about the spring azure is quite interesting. As an adult, this butterfly will only live a few days. Think about that - it has just emerged as a butterfly and already it is approaching old age and the end of life. That almost seems tragic, but is nature’s way.

This past week I was traveling. While away I photographed a few things worth sharing.

Technical Thoughts

Most of my week was spent at a very informative Local Emergency Planning Conference in Missouri. The easier way to describe the training was this was a hazardous materials conference.

Not Much Light, Not a Good Picture

Tonight several of us enjoyed watching as adult barn swallows fed a nest of young. Somehow the young recognized their parents approaching at a quick pace and opened their mouths to be fed. Each bug drop was noisy and quick. We watched this feeding pattern several times.

Two Versions of Reality

I know this guy who has an interesting imagination. Without consciously thinking about it, the visions in his head magically enlarge the fish that he catches.

As long as I have known him I have heard reports of these big fish he catches, all while he tosses jabs my way when I don’t catch any fish or just little fish. Tonight I was able to fish with this legend (in his own mind) to see his work. This is what I documented.

Pretty Bird in a Pretty Setting

So often in my decades of shooting pictures of wildlife, when I photograph American kestrels, they are on a power line, in or on a nest box, or close to something manmade. While the images are accurate representations of the birds, the pictures tend to not be too attractive. As much as I can I prefer to photograph wild birds (or other wild species) in natural settings with no indications of human involvement.

This morning I noticed a young kestrel poking its head out of a nest box attached to a utility pole. As I backed my Jeep to photograph the owl in the nest box, movement by…

Obstacle Course Mowing

This year, even more than the last few, we are going to be practicing “obstacle mowing” in our yard. Milkweed plants will be what we avoid, even if avoidance means we will not have straight lines. Our goal is to do what we can for the monarch butterflies… the few we see… as the population attempts to survive.

This year I have watched a few, but not many. Granted, it is early in the year so the low numbers may be expected. Still, I would like to see more.

This tired-looking male monarch butterfly was…

Images From the Weekend

Kristy, Layla, and I enjoyed a weekend of camping with Scott and Doris over the past few days. Our big effort was to paddle the Turkey River from Motor Mill to Garber (in Clayton County). River levels were in the 1100 range making for easy paddling. We “woo hooed” through a couple of larger riffles…

Great Guys and Gals

Early this morning I received a call from the sister of a fellow who had been walking in Janesville. Maury spotted an owl hanging by fishing line suspended from a tree branch over the Cedar River. Maury’s sister called me to ask if I might be able to help free the owl. Of course I agreed, without realizing how challenging the owl’s predicament was.

Once in Janesville the situation for the owl became clear. Without some sort of intervention at a quick pace, this owl was doomed to suffer a long, slow death.

An Avian Morning and Catching Up

Very early this morning I explored the Wapsipinicon River corridor by canoe. To say the birds were noisy and active would be an understatement. Four species that really put on a show were green herons, turkey vultures, prothonotary warblers, and an unidentified species that harassed just about any bird that entered an unclear area protected by the unnamed bird.

Turning No Rain Into Something Pretty

Over the past few years my wife and I have planted many dozen trees and the same or more number of plants. Since we do not seem to receive timely, measured rain on a regular basis anymore, I have to water our investments frequently. Watering takes hours to keep these plants healthy.

When the clock hit 0500 this morning I…

Barrier

As I was driving to a meeting today I noticed a whitetail doe exhibiting odd behavior. She just stood not too far out in a field without moving. Thinking maybe there was something ailing her, I paused and watched. As I did, I heard an unusual noise that did not seem to be originating from a bird. Soon after this young fawn came into view and the situation became clear. Momma Doe jumped the fence and fawn was not able. Would this little one get past the barrier?

Due to time and traffic approaching…

Lessons Learned

Hopefully your Memorial Day was a worthwhile and you had time to remember what the intent of this holiday is.

I spent some time testing a piece of equipment for work - a forward, down, and side sonar - something to be used for missing person searches on rivers, ponds, and lakes. (Hopefully I never have to put this device to actual use.) No, I did not go fishing…never wet a line!

My test location was Big Woods Lake near Cedar Falls. I knew there is underwater structure in places on Big Woods, so what better way to learn the equipment. After making adjustments and even watching an instructional YouTube video while on the water, I believe the sonar is ready to go. Oh, I should mention that I used my fishing boat on the water since the sonar is quite heavy.

While on the water I quickly recognized that other than one boat with a couple in it and another older boat, we three were the only boats on the water. Many kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes were on the water - far outnumbering those of us in boats. With so many on the water, one chokepoint (under the bridge) became evident. The fishing boat was sideways under the bridge and there was a family fishing from shore leaving a very small area for those of us wanting to pass under the bridge. Eventually we made it through, including a couple families of Canada geese.

The time on the water was worthwhile, even though it was not quite as relaxing as just paddling might have been.

So what lessons were learned?

• I learned how to read the display on the sonar. I needed to get that done.

• I watched as many people with varying interests can enjoy the same area - each in their own way.

• Finally, I learned (or was reminded) that I much prefer to paddle over taking a boat out. Yes my boat allows more room and can go further with little effort, but the hassle of a boat and motor and trailer just do not outweigh the “quiet” of paddling my solo canoe.

It was a good day!

So Many Options…

Join me if you wish on a virtual canoe paddling trip from today. As I circled an area lake watching for wildflowers and wildlife, I realized that with the wildflowers I had plenty of options and would have to decide my favorite to share. As for the wildlife - I shot photos when…