Watchable Wildlife Trips Afield!

Take a trip afield to watch Watchable Wildlife in NW Iowa - we'll add video links here as we get them. Check back on ocassion for new additions!

American Kestrel

- It's the first week of July and a small family of American Kestrels are just beginning to leave their nest. One sibling has left and is in a nearby tree while it's sibling is still in the nest waiting for a snack to come it's way...in this case - a dragonfly.

Spring Wetland Chorus

- This video takes you to a NW Iowa wetland in early spring. Enjoy the sounds of Chorus and Leopard Frogs calling throughout the marsh - the sound can be overwhelming! The Chorus Frog calls are similar to the sound made by running your finger down a fine toothed comb. The Leopard Frog's call sounds more like a "snore" and rubbing a finger slowly on a balloon.

Spring Dusk Chorus

- Here we are in the evening light of dusk; the fairly new moon presents its crescent shape in the night sky as it sets onto the western prairie horizon. American Toads are now singing and their long drawn out "trill" dominates over the backwaters in the valley.

Summer Chorus

- The time is early July and the Tree Frogs and Cricket Frogs of NW Iowa are celebrating the warming water temperatures - it's now their turn to serenade anyone who ventures out on mid summer nights! The Cope's Gray Tree Frog's call is sort of a fluttering note, actually quite pleasant to the ear. The call of the Cricket Frog is quite a contrast though, it's like the sound of two ball bearings or "steelies" clacking together again and again and again...

Fire Fly Summer!

- I grew up calling them "Lightning Bugs", others called them "Fire Flies"; either way they were a blast to watch on humid summer nights! Listen to the quieter night creatures as the "sparks" light up and down in silence. Save this video for the middle of a long cold winter - turn out all the lights and let it run...gauranteed to warm your soul.

The Monarch Migration

- Late summer is the time for the Monarchs to begin their migration through NW Iowa. These butterflies will begin showing up in larger numbers and will group together in the evening in what is called "roosts". Join us for an O'Brien County roost and an evening and morning of migrating Monarch Butterflies!

Have a great place you'd like us to consider video taping? Contact -

iowalakesrcd@iowalakesrcd.org