Iowa’s First Global Bird Area

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animals, Audubon Society, backyard dubuque, birds, cerulean warbler, deer, dnr, eagle, globally important bird area, Mississippi River, spring, Swiss Valley Nature Center, turkey, warbler, wildlife

On May 31st, the Iowa DNR will dedicate Iowa’s first globally important bird area in Effigy Mounds.

What does that mean?  Well, this designation of Effigy Mounds means that the area is “vital to birds and other animals.”  This designation will ensure the protection of bird habitats and different bird species.  In order to qualify as an important bird area, an area must satisfy one of four conditions.  Moreover, there are three different levels of importance:  Global, Continental, and State.  Receiving the designation of a Global Important Bird Area is a distinct honor that both honors the area, but also sheds light on the dire situation of our wildlife.

Effigy Mounds qualified as a globally important bird area because the cerulean warbler nests in the area.  The cerulean warbler is on the list of “species of conservation concern at a global level.”  The list is comprised of species that are classed as critical, endangered, vulnerable or near-threatened species.

The cerulean warbler, pictured above and here, prefers nesting within “deciduous lowland forest” with “large diameter trees” and  “high closed canopies.”  Unfortunately, logging, deforestation and human activity all continue to destroy their natural habitats, not only threatening the birds themselves, but also nesting and breeding habits.  The cerulean warbler is listed as “vulnerable” meaning that there is a very small international total population.  The cerulean warbler is currently under consideration for the Endangered Species List and is on the Audubon Watchlist.

A dedication of Effigy Mounds as a globally important bird area will be held on May 31 at 11 a.m.  There will be a field trip at 9 a.m. leaving from the Yellow River State Forest headquarters.  Click Here for directions.

In addition to the cerulean warbler, you can also enjoy sightings of bald eagles, peregrine falcons, blue herons, great egrets and double-breasted cormorants, along with other wildlife like whitetail deer, turkey, squirrels, raccoons, turkey vultures, and chipmunks.

If you would like to take a day trip to Effigy Mounds, click here for directions.

 

Backyard Dubuque – Farmer’s Market Coupon – Free Bird Treat

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backyard, backyard dubuque, bird treat, birds, coupon, farmer's market, seed cake

Get there early to get a free seed cake – supplies are limited and only the first 25 coupon presenters will receive a free seed cake!

On Saturday, May 10th, Backyard Dubuque will offer a free bird seed cake to introduce your backyard birds to Backyard Dubuque Bird Tweets.  This offer is limited to customers on a first-come basis and supplies are limited to just 25.

Just print out the coupon below, or let us know that you saw the coupon on our website and you will receive one free bird seed cake.

 

One coupon per family please.  Coupon only valid 5/10/2014.  One seed cake per coupon.  

 

 

 

What Bird Is It?

Tags

animals, backyard, bird identifier, bird search, birds, color, dubuque, Iowa, Mississippi River, shape, titmouse, what bird is it, what bird.com, wildlife

Tufted Titmouse
Backyard Dubuque
1-14-2014

If you are anything like me, you want to know what every bird is that you see visiting your yard or feeders.  Even though I LOVE summer, I really enjoy the end of fall, throughout winter, and early spring because (unfortunately for them) there is less foliage for my feathered-friends to hide behind.  But these are the times that I am delighted not only by their songs, but also by the sight of all the different birds that make Dubuque their home!

I always have my Guide to the Birds of North America (thanks to my Mom & Dad!!)  book handy so that when I spot a bird I do not recognize I can flip through it and figure out what it is.  However, there are days when I am working on my computer that it is easier to click on my WhatBird.Com link.  This is an excellent site for quick bird indentification.  While this link starts specifically with an Iowa bird search, this link – WhatBird.Com will allow you to search by any state.

Below are a few screen shots to familiarize yourself with the types of guided questions that will lead you through your search for birding knowledge!

 

First it will ask you “What SHAPE was the bird…” and you simply click on the silhouette that best matches the bird you saw:

 

Then it will ask for the primary COLOR of the bird:

 

Lastly, it will ask you the SIZE of the bird you are attempting to identify:

 

 

Finally, it will compile a list of possible matches for you to explore:

 

As always, enjoy!!

 

Flight of the Hummingbirds

Tags

backyard, backyard dubuque, birds, dubuque, feeder, finch, hummingbirds, map, migration, Mississippi River, ruby-throated hummingbird, spring, tracker

 

More and more, I find myself at my window with a set of binoculars trying to find new arrivals to my backyard bird-dom.  Yesterday, I saw my first goldfinch, but I’ve yet to see a hummingbird.  Nonetheless, my hummingbird feeders are set and waiting for their imminent arrival!

If you are like me, you are growing very impatient for tangible signs of warm weather on the horizon.  Yes, the buds signal Spring’s arrival, but this year warm weather still feels a long way off!  While I prep my backyard for fair-weather feathered friends, I have been searching for other signs that ensure warm weather is headed our way.

One resource I found is this interactive Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Migration Map that is updated in real-time by bird enthusiasts throughout North America.  The good news is that over the past few days, ruby-throated hummingbirds have been spotted in the Dubuque County area!!  Below is an up-to-date listing of sightings throughout the Northeast and Midwest states – just click on the map to open a larger version.

Take a look – there is a form for visitors to fill out if you have sighted hummingbirds in your area.

 

See You on the Trails!

Tags

animals, backyard, backyard dubuque, birds, birdwatching, bobcats, dubuque county park, eagle, hiking, little maquoketa river mounds, mines of spain, Mississippi River, nature, pheasants, ringneck ridge wildlife area, state park, Swiss Valley Nature Center, wildlife

Though it may not feel like it, Spring is here! While we are currently experiencing latent winter weather, we are still witnessing the greening of Dubuque. Grass is turning green again, trees and bushes are budding, and early spring blooms are beginning to appear. And judging from the chorus of birdsongs outside my window, many birds have returned – I even spotted a bluebird pair scouting for a new home. Yes, even though the cold weather seems unrelenting, Spring can’t be stopped!

Like many of you, I have resumed outdoor activities in spite of the below normal April temperatures. In doing so, I’ve been scouting out weekend destinations – places for my family to explore and enjoy that are within about a half hour driving time of Dubuque County. Below is a list I’ve compiled for Backyard Dubuque viewers. Whether you’re looking for a hiking adventure or a leisurely picnic area, these Dubuque area gems are sure to become a favorite destination for your family.

See you on the trails!!

 

Swiss Valley Nature Preserve

13069 Swiss Valley Road – Hwy 20 W 8 miles to Swiss Valley Rd, left 2 miles for Nature Center on right or 3 ½ miles for Preserve on left – Map It!

Peosta, Iowa; Swiss Valley Road off Highway 151S or Highway 20W

• 476 Acres of Woodlands & Prairies
• Trout Fishing in Catfish Creek
•  10+ Miles of Hiking Trails
•  Nature Center
•  Outdoor Education Programs

 

Little Maquoketa River Mounds State Park

18062 Walking Way, Dubuque, IA – Highway 52/3 N from Dubuque about 5 miles, parking on West (left) side of Highway – Map It!

• 41 Acres State Archaeological and Geological Preserve
•  3-Acre Burial Area with 32 Ancient Burial Mounds
• Assorted Wildlife

 

 

Mines of Spain

EB Lyons Interpretive Center, 8991 Old Bellevue Road – Map It!

•  E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center
•  Horseshoe Bluff Interpretive Trail
•  Mississippi River Blufflands
• 15-acre Wetlands, Creeks, Forest, Prairies, Croplands, and Meadows
• Bald Eagle’s View of the Mississippi River
• Bird Watching
• Wildlife of Interest: Bobcats, Wild Turkeys, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Flying Squirrels, White-Tailed Deer, Various Butterflies
• Final Resting Place of Dubuque Founder Julien Dubuque

 

 

Ringneck Ridge Wildlife Area

Take 136 S from Dyersville through Worthington, Ringneck Ridge is 2.25 mi S of Worthingtpm, you will access the wildlife area on West side of Highway – Map It!

•  160 Acres
• Hiking
• Bird Watching
• Stocked Pond

 

 

Whitewater Canyon Wildlife Area

Highway 151, about 5 miles northeast of Cascade to Curoe Road (South), follow to access land – Map It!

• 419 Acres
• Features One of only Three True Canyons in the State of Iowa
• Hiking
• Wildlife
• Birdwatching
• Fishing Creek
•  Kayaking and Canoeing

 

Heritage Trail

Click Here for Access Points:  Map It! 

• 26-Mile Mountain Trail through Prairie Country
• Smooth Bike-Riding Trail
• Travels through Dubuque, Durango, Epworth, Graf, Farley, Dyersville

 

 

About an Eagle

Tags

animals, backyard, backyard dubuque, birds, Decorah, decorah eagle cam, decorah eagles, dubuque, eagle, eagle valley, eagle valley cam, egg, feeding, hatchlings, Iowa, kids, kids' corner, Mississippi River, parent, water, wildlife

 

 

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SkyWolf, here!

Sounds like a lot of you have been watching the Decorah Eagle Cam. I have had  tons of questions about eagles over the past couple weeks.  All three eggs are hatched and the eagle parents are doing great jobs feeding their new hatchlings!  At first, the oldest hatchlings were beginning to move around a lot more while the youngest was still learning that he/she had a bunch of parts that like to wobble around!  By now the coloring of the hatchlings has changed to a muddy grey and the hatchlings are beginning to spread their wings and bat at each other with their beaks.  They are really starting to gain control of their movements!!

Did you know there is another eagle cam?  The EagleValley Eagle cam is also part of the Raptor Resource Project.  The Eagle Crest eagles have two eggs incubating.

The Raptor Resource Project provides viewers with great information and resources.  Their mission is to help preserve falcons, eagles, ospreys, hawks, and owls.  Check out their website for links to other bird cams and even activities like building a nest box!

Now, for the top three eagle questions and their answers…

 

What does a young eagle look like and how long until they reach maturity?  Submitted by Chris

Well, Chris, below are a few pictures of the different stages that bald eagles go through.  As you can see, they start off very small, but they grow fast!  Female eagles lay 1-3 eggs and the eggs take about 35 days to incubate.  Below are three images, each showing a few of the stages that bald eagles mature through.

The first image shows two hatchlings – notice their white fluffy down that quickly changes within the first few weeks to darker grey and brown down as seen in the second image.

The third image shows the coloring of eagles that occurs around 12 weeks and this is the color they remain for about 3-5 years.  The head, neck, and tail feathers do not turn completely white until around the 4th or 5th year!  Eagles reach their full coloring around their 5th year.  They can have a wing span up to 8 feet and weigh as much as 15 lbs!

The female bald eagle tends to grow a little larger than her male counterparts.  You can see this for yourselves as you watch the Decorah Eagle Cam – the male parent has a sleeker, smaller body than the female – the hatchlings no longer fit under him!

Bald Eagle Hatchlings, days old

Bald Eagle Hatchling, weeks old

Bald Eagle Immature, 3-5 yrs old

How long can eagles live and do they mate for life?  Submitted by Jae

 

Decorah Eagle Parents
Mates for Life

Well, Jae, eagles can live up to 40 years and even longer in captivity!  However, their environment often poses risks for the bald eagles.  Causes of death for eagles include from gun shot wounds, electrocution, poisoning, collisions with vehicles, and starvation.  You may notice that only one of those causes is a “natural” cause of death.  It is important to remember that bald eagles are a protected species and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (1940) provides criminal penalties for (just to name a few!!) the poaching, transporting, hunting, exporting, poisoning, killing, trapping or capturing  of all bald and golden eagles.  You can find more information on the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act by clicking here and if you suspect poaching of bald eagles contact the Iowa DNR at (800) 532-2020 or click here for Iowa’s Turn-In-Poaching website.

Eagles mate for life – once they find their mate, they stay together until one of them dies.  If one does die before the other, they will seek out a new mate.

 

Where are eagles on the food chain?  Name not submitted

Eagles are at the top of their food chain.

Fish is a mainstay for eagles!

 

First of all, eagles eat mainly fish, but will forage for other meats when fish is not available – squirrels, rabbits, other birds, etc.  That being said, eagles are at the top of the food chain – they are predators, their bodies designed to hunt and eat meat.

 

Thank you to all of you for your great questions.  If you don’t see the answer to your question, check back soon, I will answer three of your questions each week on Kids’ Corner.  When your question is featured, your name will be included along with your question.

Remember, if you have a question you would like answered click on “Ask SkyWolf” above this post and your question could be featured next week on Kids’ Corner!

Unplug and Tune-In

Tags

backyard, backyard dubuque, children, dubuque, explore, garden, gift, grow, kids, Mississippi River, nature, nature play, nature sensory board, outdoors, plant, rocks, walk, wildlife

In a world of texting, video games and television, it’s easy for children to miss out on the wonders of the natural world surrounding them. To offset this barrage of technology, it’s important to get children outdoors in the fresh air and engaged with the natural world.

Exploring nature at an early age benefits children emotionally, physically, and intellectually. An added bonus is that it’s virtually cost-free. Below are a few ways to help children explore nature in your backyard and throughout Dubuque County.

Explore the Outdoors – The easiest way for children to explore nature is to step outside and take a walk or have a picnic.

Dubuque County offers many parks along the Mississippi River and a botanical garden, which are all free to the public. These areas allow you to point out songbirds, frogs, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and turkeys – just a few of the animals living alongside us in the Dubuque area.

Nature Sensory Board – Collect loose materials from outside and glue them to cardboard or poster board. Have your child feel each item while you explain what it is, what it comes from, the color, and the texture. This is a great activity for toddlers!

Grow Something – With a little dirt, a Styrofoam cup and seed, children can learn responsibility through caring for a plant. First, cut a small hole in the bottom of the cup for drainage and then fill with dirt. Plant a seed about ¼” deep. A sponge is a great alternative and requires no dirt – just moisten the sponge and place seeds in the holes. Birdseed provides the fastest results. An herbal garden and a fairy flower garden are also great ideas.

Rock Their World –Rock collecting and rock gardens are another great way to connect children to nature. Collect different types of rocks and discuss the features of the rocks – color, shape, and texture. Ask questions about why the rock looks the way it does and where it might have come from.

Creating with Nature – Teach children the art of creativity using materials found outside. This also teaches the value of natural resources. Collect “loose” materials – dirt, rocks, twigs, grasses, and pinecones. Provide water and paint if available. Children can make a bird’s nest, instruments, or rock pets – let their imaginations guide them!

Sounds of Nature – A final activity that will help children explore the natural world is a listening game. This activity encourages children to unplug and tune in to nature. Sit in a quiet outdoor area or walk silently and listen to the sounds of nature:  the wind, animal sounds, insect sounds. Have children listen quietly and then ask what they hear. Have them imitate the sound and ask if they recognize what made the sound.  This works great with younger and older children.

Helping children explore nature ultimately helps children to develop physically, mentally, and emotionally. Additionally, exploring nature promotes environmental awareness. Make a point to take children outside and give them the gift of nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter: Overstaying its Welcome

Tags

backyard, backyard dubuque, birds, cold, crane, dove, dubuque, eagle, fish, ice, Iowa, Mississippi River, river, robin, water, winter

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Spring has officially been here for 7 days and 2 hours…can you tell?  I thought today we might actually get some spring-like weather, but no…it’s days like this that I really appreciate electricity, hot running water, my house and my car.

This morning I set out to see what was happening around the Mississippi River and as far as I can tell, winter never left.  I have assembled a slideshow over the past two weeks from photos that were originally supposed to signal the beginning of spring…unfortunately, they do not.  While I had a few promising shots of the returning pelicans, as the days passed it became clear that we are still in the grip of winter and many animals are still struggling to survive it.

Eagle Valley Eagles

Tags

backyard dubuque, eagle cam, eagle valley, eagles, egg, fledgling, Mississippi River, nesting, preserve, raptor resource project, wildlife, wisconsin

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Here are a few wonderful shots of the pair of eagles that can be observed through the  EagleValley webcam.  These eagles are in Eagle Valley, Wisconsin on a 1450 acre preserve that runs along the Mississippi River.  This pair has been nesting there since about 2007.  They are working very hard on reinforcing their nest for the eventual arrival of their first egg.

Enjoy yet another treasure from the Raptor Resource Project at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/eaglevalley!

Welcome to Kids’ Corner

Tags

activities, animals, backyard, backyard dubuque, birds, conservation, dubuque, eagle, falcon, kids, kids' corner, outdoors, outings, wildlife, young adults, youths

Hi, I’m SkyWolf, welcome to Kids’ Corner.

Kids’ Corner is a place where you can find answers and more information on how kids can help preserve our natural resources.  If you have any questions you want answered, click on the link to the left labeled “Ask SkyWolf” to submit your question.  Five questions will be chosen, posted, and answered every Sunday at Kids’ Corner.

Make Kids’ Corner your source for the tools and resources you need to connect  and get them involved with everything that can be found in Dubuque’s backyard!

So check in regularly for information on activities and outings for you to enjoy!