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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Canada bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) wet meadows vs. invasive stands of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea). How to tell the difference...
Posted in
Animals,
Butterfly,
caterpillar,
Declining Species,
Endangered Species,
Farmland,
Flora,
grassland,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
Introduced Species,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Monarch,
Muscatine Iowa USA,
Native Plant,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Pike Run Wildlife Preserve,
Plants,
Pollinators,
prairie,
RemnantHabitat,
Sand Prairie,
WetlandReserveEasementProgram,
Wetlands,
wilderness,
wildflower,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
The eastern fox squirrel prefers more open canopied woodlands and forest edges than the eastern gray squirrel. By utilizing different habitats, the...
Posted in
Animals,
backyard habitat,
BackyardHabitat,
fox squirrel,
gray squirrel,
habitat,
HomerLakeForestPreserve,
illinois,
Mammals,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Squirrel,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Over 3 million years ago, the Panama land bridge formed and connected the North American and South American Continents prompting the Great American...
Posted in
Animals,
backyard habitat,
BackyardHabitat,
habitat,
iowa,
Mammals,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
opossum,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Halloween penants have a habit of sitting on the tip of a perch while fluttering their wings in the breeze. After being disturbed, Halloween penant...
Posted in
Animals,
Dragonfly,
habitat,
illinois,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Odonata,
Odonate,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
The harmless western fox snake is a common Midwest species often found in the transition zone (ecotone) between wooded and herbaceous habitats. The...
Posted in
Animals,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Reptiles,
Snakes,
Western Fox Snake,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Double-crested cormorants nest in colonies that can be so large that their feces can kill the trees they nest in. They may also nest on the ground....
Posted in
Animals,
birding,
Birds,
Birdwatching,
Double-crested cormorant,
illinois,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Nesting,
Plant and Animal Interactions,
Rivers,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Bald eagles have a powerful sense of sight that can see a fish from well over a mile away. Bald eagle eyes also reduce glare, similar to polarizing...
Posted in
Animals,
Bald Eagle,
birding,
Birds,
Birdwatching,
illinois,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Frogs and toads are collectively referred to as Anurans. Anurans can breathe with lungs and through their skin. Highly aquatic anurans make greater...
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
The Veery, and other declining migratory bird species that call the Midwest home during the summer, have been found to reliably predict disastrou...
Posted in
Animals,
birding,
Birds,
Birdwatching,
Declining Species,
Exploration,
habitat,
Hiking,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Migration,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Swainson's Thrush,
Veery,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
While manning a booth at the farmers market yesterday, I noted dragonflies zipping above the crowd. The dragonflies were providing what is called ...
Posted in
Animals,
Damselfly,
Dragonfly,
Ecological Services,
Farmland,
Grazing,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
illinois,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Odonata,
Odonate,
Plant and Animal Interactions,
Prairie Pothole,
Wetlands,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
To tell the difference between dragonflies and damselflies, look at their wings.
Dragonflies, such as this common darner, hold their wings perpen...
Posted in
Animals,
Damselfly,
Dragonfly,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Odonata,
Odonate,
wilderness,
wildlife
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
The spicebush swallowtail is a mimic of the poisonous pipevine swallow tail. The spicebush swallowtail frequents habitats that are wooded to open ...
Posted in
Animals,
backyard habitat,
BackyardHabitat,
Butterfly,
caterpillar,
Flora,
Forest,
grassland,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
illinois,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Native Plant,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Oak Savanna,
Plant and Animal Interactions,
Plants,
Pollinators,
prairie,
Prairie Cemetery,
RemnantHabitat,
wilderness,
wildflower,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
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