Crane Count 2026

Very early this morning, before the sun appeared near the horizon, while temperatures were near or below freezing, and the wind was blowing strong, conservation-minded individuals spread out across suitable habitat in the Upper Midwest to count sandhill cranes. Joining me for this year’s count were my brother, my niece, and my nephew. None of them had counted cranes before, so today was a learning experience.

My count location each year tends to be a hotspot for seeing and hearing cranes. We counted 32 bird-in-flight observations and heard unison calls from…..

Hiking the Driftless Area in Eerie Weather

Sometimes, when you have a one-day - “do it now or you won’t do it opportunity,” you take it. Such was the case today when my brother, two nephews and my niece joined me on a hike in the driftless area of Northeast Iowa.

Our hike began a bit later than I normal hit the trail, but with today’s eerie, then threatening weather, the timing worked…

Ideas in Mind

Seldom do I go out with very specific photography ideas in mind. Usually I just go with the flow, taking advantage of whatever I might see. Today though, I wanted to find at least on nice composition featuring a dogtooth violet (trout lily).

Success came quickly and often since the woodland is decorated with so many wildflower species in good numbers. In fact, get out soon if you want to see a carpet of wildflowers.

As Determined as Red-winged Blackbirds

I don’t know if they have an attitude problem, a chronic mean streak, or a “little bird” complex, but the spunkiness of red-winged blackbirds really impresses me. Over time I have watched them hassle bald eagles, hawks, and again today sandhill cranes.

Today’s antics involved a male red-winged blackbird repeatedly going after the tail end of a sandhill crane that was not threatening the blackbird in any way. Yet, the blackbird made contact with the crane many times. I was trying to document the actual assault, but it was too fast. The best I managed today was the blackbird flying away after irritating the tall crane.

Visual Trait I Cannot Explain

This morning as I was driving along a wet meadow I somehow spotted a group of shorebirds that I would imagine other motorists did not see. Or, if they did notice them, they did not stop to study them. From the vantage point of my truck I was able to photograph several Wilson’s snipes.

What was interesting was I first noticed seven snipe. Eventually the snipe count approached close to two dozen birds. Notice in one image how one of the birds is displaying.

For fun I am including a wide shot of what I first saw and somehow picked out the birds. See how many…

Sharing What I Learned

When I went outside early this morning to look around at the heavy fog, I eventually looked down to the ground. I was somewhat surprised to see many nightcrawlers mating, even though daylight was present. After photographing the loveworms, I then did a little research on them and was surprised by what I learned.

Iowa has no native worms. All worms you see in Iowa are invasive species.

As earthworms create tunnels in our soil, they provide an ability for air and water to penetrate deeply. This is a positive impact as the soil structure is improved and enhanced.

Earthworms create natural fertilizer through their castings (excrement). Castings are beneficial for plants.

Earthworms feed on plant residue to speed up the decomposition process. This ability is beneficial for soil fertility. But, this process is also detrimental to hardwood forests. Without leaf litter (consumed by earthworms) some native plants struggle to germinate/thrive. This loss of leaf litter also impacts some forest animals that feed on leaf litter.

Earthworms can process their own body weight in soil and organic content is consumed.

Under the right conditions, earthworms can regenerate lost segments.

A “Jumping Worm” has been documented in about a dozen counties in Iowa. The impacts of this worm are much worse than “nightcrawlers.” Jumping worms are aggressive eaters and thrash/move like snakes when disturbed.

Quite a Bit at Sweet Marsh

During my “check” of Sweet Marsh today I found quite a few things of interest. There really wasn’t much of a common theme, so I will share photos as they come up.

On the road into Sweet Marsh I noticed a small snake “stuck” to the road with its tail…

Ingawanis Woodland Wildflower Challenge - Dang Dog!

Between rain showers this morning I enjoyed (most of the time) a wildflower challenge at Ingawanis Woodlands. My hope was to find a half-dozen spring wildflowers and maybe a fungus. Since it was chilly, cloudy, and had rained, I was not certain if I would find much fauna to photograph..

I am happy to report that I did find plenty of wildflowers and many crimson cup fungi. The woods right now are very showy for those who slow down and look around.

Unfortunately, my wildflower challenge hike was interrupted by a dog running off-leash at Ingawanis Woodland. There are easy to read signs stating dogs are…

A Good Story and A Sad Story

A Good Story - (I can’t make this stuff up!) Last night I was notified that a very young great horned owl had fallen out of its nest 30’-40’ feet in the air. After consulting with my wildlife rehabilitation source, it was decided the best response would be to attempt to put the owlet…

Beauty After Death

A concerned gentleman found a red-tailed hawk face-down in his yard. Not knowing what to do, he called a conservation-oriented fellow (a friend of mine) who reached out to me. We wanted the best for the hawk, whatever the “best” might be. Life beyond minutes did not….

A Very Special “Life” Bird

Over the years of carrying a camera while chasing birds I have observed and documented more than 250-species. A handful of those species on my list might be considered uncommon. Before today I don’t remember any species being on the threatened or endangered list and certainly none were on the brink of extinction. Those details changed this morning.

For the past number of days folks have been reporting seeing a lone whooping crane in Linn County. Birders and outdoor enthusiasts shared the information with me in the event I was able to find the bird. Today I took a chance that I too might be one of the lucky individuals to see this rare bird.

I drove the distance to search for the bird and my efforts were quickly rewarded. In a matter of minutes I located the bird and did my best to photograph it. Please understand, the whooping crane was on the far side of a corn stubble field. Using my long lens I was able to create a couple/few images acceptable enough to share.

What makes the presence of this bird special is that the whooping crane population reached an all-time low of 15 birds in 1941. According to the International Crane Foundation, there are currently 834-whooping cranes alive in the world. Of those, 131 birds are in human care.

To have seen the whooping crane was a special experience. I will admit, as I watched the bird it was a challenge to recognize how unique that single bird was. I am thankful to have seen it.

By the way, this bird has a tracking device on its leg.

The Power of Water

As happens many times most years, the Wapsipinicon River in Bremer County rose above its banks. As far as I know, the elevated waters have not caused too much trouble, but do make a mess.

Last year a chunk of log was caught in the recirculating high water below the dam. Thousands of times the log was tossed violently into the surface of the dam - each impact removing pieces of the log. Eventually what remained of the log was a large bullet or torpedo-shaped block of wood.

Somehow the interesting piece of wood was placed on this stump after a dead tree was removed.

The power of water is very impressive!

Fungal Still-life Images and Wildflowers

After days of rain last week I expected I might find some mushrooms popping up. But, without warm temperatures, progress by the edible varieties was non-existent. However, the crimson cup (aka scarlet cup) fungi seemed to be doing very well. During my walk I saw so many crimson cup fungi that i decided to create fungal still-life images.

Easter Animals and Wildflowers

On this meaningful and beautiful Easter Sunday I was blessed to enjoy a number of flora and fauna interactions. Most numerous were….

Hoodie and Woodie Challenge

Each spring I try to complete what I call the “Hoodie and Woodie Challenge.” This accomplishment consists of photographing at least one hooded merganser and one wood duck in the same day - preferably drakes. Today, with Kristy’s help, my 2026 Hoodie and Woodie Challenge was completed. I found the ducks, Kristy turned the car around and positioned me in…

Familiar Faces, Some with First Names, All With No Last Names

Once again today a close acquaintance I made a trip to the healing spot to the north. As we have always done, we counted wildlife observations during our travels. And, when conditions allowed, we photographed what we felt was worthy of imaging. With today’s weather conditions we turned around only a couple of times, but still - we saw wildlife.

At the healing spot to the north it was quite evident the…

Weather for the Wet

For some flora and fauna, days of rain, like today, are insignificant. In fact, without the rain…

Bird Photos

Some days my outdoor photography efforts are challenging. Other days, like today, nature photography opportunities were plentiful.

American white pelicans were the first subjects I pointed my lens at. Pelican after pelican swam or flew by, with a couple…

Time, Weather, and Rust

Hanging on what remains of a stump deep in one of my favorite woodlands was this long-forgotten axe head. Missing was the handle and wedge, along with any history of why the head was found weathering away in the timber.

I can only guess that the axe head came…

Chasing Colors (in reverse)

I have often thought it would be fun to follow fall colors from north to south some year before winter hits. Today I did the opposite - I drove north to follow early spring colors as winter transitions to spring.

During today’s pursuit I found three early -blooming species: snow trilliums, skunk cabbage, and hepatica. There were a couple of bloodroot plants and false rue-anemones developing buds, but none were displaying blossoms.