-
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...
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosa) is a native prairie sunflower that has a root system that forms underground tubers. Similar to potatoes,...
Posted in
Ecological Services,
Exploration,
Flora,
grassland,
habitat,
Hiking,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Native Plant,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Plants,
prairie,
RemnantHabitat,
Right of Way Prairie Remnants,
wilderness,
wildflower
-
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
I went for a very lovely stroll with the kids through one of Champaign's urban parks dedicated to prairie restoration. It was definitely a mindful...
Posted in
backyard habitat,
BackyardHabitat,
Birdwatching,
Exploration,
Flora,
grassland,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
Hiking,
illinois,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Native Plant,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Plants,
Pollinators,
prairie,
Robert C. Porter Family Park Champaign IL,
Wetlands,
wilderness,
wildflower,
wildlife
-
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
In the prairie pothole region of Iowa and the surrounding states, the landscape was scraped flat by the Des Moines Lobe of the Wisconsin Glacier. ...
Posted in
grassland,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
iowa,
Kettlehole Lake,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
prairie,
Prairie Pothole,
Wetlands,
wilderness
-
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
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
In most Midwestern states, the dickcissel is listed as a grassland species of greatest conservation need. Due to the conversion of grasslands to a...
Posted in
Animals,
backyard habitat,
BackyardHabitat,
Bird Calls,
Bird Sound ID,
Bird Sound Identification,
birding,
Birds,
Birdwatching,
Declining Species,
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,
RemnantHabitat,
Right of Way Prairie Remnants,
Robert C. Porter Family Park Champaign IL,
Trees,
Wetlands,
wildflower,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
The great egret was on a path to extinction in the late 1800s when women found it fashionable to decorate their hats with beautiful bird feathers....
Posted in
Animals,
birding,
Birds,
Birdwatching,
Declining Species,
Endangered Species,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
illinois,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
MississippiRiver,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Rivers,
Wading Bird,
Wetlands,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
It's katydid season! Katydids sing at night by rubbing their wings together. While it can be hard to spot a well camouflaged katydid, hearing...
Posted in
Animals,
backyard habitat,
BackyardHabitat,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
On hot, sunny days, dragonflies tilt their abdomen up in the air to reduce sun exposure and overheating. The perched blue dasher is partaking in t...
Posted in
Animals,
Damselfly,
Dragonfly,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Odonata,
Odonate,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device
