Iowa Reptiles and Amphibians

There are a wide variety and number of amphibians and reptiles that make Iowa their home. People are often surprised to learn of the variety of amphibians and reptiles we have in Iowa. Many of these animals are secretive and come out only at night and may not be easily observable. “Herps” is the names given to the large group of amphibians and reptiles and the study of them is called herpetology.

Herps are cold-blooded, which does not mean that their blood is actually cold. Cold-blooded animals are animals that do not generate their own body heat but rather rely on the ambient temperature surrounding them (air, water, soil, etc) to regulate their body temperature. This is why you see snakes and turtles basking in the sun or hiding in the shade – they are regulating their temperature.

Unlike amphibians, reptiles are not tied to water to lay their eggs and for their young to develop. Reptile eggs have tough leathery skins that do not dry out and their young are developmentally identical to adults and do not go through metamorphosis. Below we take a closer look at one of Iowa’s rarest reptiles – the Blanding’s turtle!

Creature Feature – Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

Blanding’s turtles are listed as THREATENED in Iowa and ENDANGERED over much of their range elsewhere. Their population is declining as their habitat is being destroyed. It is illegal to kill, collect, or possess them. Any sightings in Iowa should be reported to the IDNR and/or the Iowa HerpNet at REPTILIA74@aol.com.

Blanding’s turtles are named after Dr. William Blanding, the American naturalist who discovered the species in 1838. The Blanding’s turtle ranges in size from 5 to 10 ¼ inches long. The carapace (upper shell) has a high dome and looks like a helmet. It is black or dark gray with yellow dots or markings. The plastron (lower shell) is yellow with a large black blotch on the edge of each scute. Blanding’s turtles have hinged plastrons which allow them to pull their head and limbs inside their shell and completely close the front of their shell.  Male Blanding’s turtles are larger than females. In addition, females have striping on the upper jaw while the male’s upper jaw is plain black giving the appearance of a moustache.

Blanding’s turtles live in marshes, ponds, or wetlands. They prefer water that is less than four inches deep with emergent vegetation and a mud bottom. They are primarily aquatic turtles but they are often found on land not far from water. They hibernate in the mud at the bottom of the water body where they live. They emerge from hibernation in April and return to the bottom of the marsh to hibernate in October.

Blanding’s turtles feed on a variety of plants and animals with crayfish being their favorite. They also eat earthworms, slugs, snails, fish, aquatic insect larva, frogs, tadpoles, plant material and berries.

Breeding occurs April through May. The female will lay 6-15 eggs in a nest she digs in the soil. The young hatch in about 60 days. Upon hatching they make their way to the marsh. Hatchlings are not as vividly marked as adults and their carapace is not as domed. As with most turtles, the young are not cared for by the adults. Blanding’s turtles may live up to 80 years and do not reach maturity until 14-20 years of age.

Iowa HerpNet: Blanding’s Turtle

http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=40

Threatened and Endangered Species in Iowa

Use Project WILD’s “Back from the Brink” to explore the issue of endangered and threatened species. Students are given background information on the recovery of wildlife species and are then asked to analyze the issue and make recommendations for the resolution. Make the Iowa connection and have students choose an Iowa species to research. Guide students as they choose a species, develop a recovery plan, and present their findings to the class. Something to think about: How could the local community and citizens be involved and help resolve any conflicts of interest?

IDNR: Iowa’s Threatened and Endangered Species Program

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/ThreatenedEndangered.aspx

U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered Species: Iowa

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/Lists/iowa_spp.html

Book List

Bang. M. 1997. Common Ground: The Earth We Share. Blue Sky Press.

Burns, D. and L. Garrow. Frogs, Toads, and Turtles (Take-Along Guide). NorthWord Books for Young Readers.

Crump, D.J. 1987. Wildlife: Making a Comeback. National Geographic Society.

Dinsmore, J.J. 1994. A Country So Full of Game: The Story of Wildlife in Iowa. University of Iowa Press.

Dinsmore, S. 1995. Iowa Wildlife Viewing Guide. Falcon.

Gibbons, W., J. Green, and C. Hagen. 2009. Turtles: The Animal Answer Guide. Johns Hopkins University Press.

Goodnough, D. 2001. Endangered Animals of North America. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.

McClung, R.M. 1993. Lost Wild America: The Story of Our Extinct and Vanishing Wildlife. Shoe String Press, Incorporated.

Prelutsky, J. 1997. The Beauty of the Beast: Poems from the Animal Kingdom. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Pringle, L.P. 1990. Saving Our Wildlife. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.

Reading, R.P. 2000. Endangered Animals: A Reference Guide to Conflicting Issues. Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated.

For factsheets, activity sheets and MORE visit:

IDNR: Education – Classroom Resources (go to the Document Library at the bottom of the page for fact sheets and activity sheets!)

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Education/ForTeachers/ClassroomResources.aspx

Iowa Birds

Iowa is home to an impressive number of bird species - from seasonal migrants to species that make Iowa their home year round. Bird watching is a wonderful hobby enjoyed by many Iowans young and old! Birds are interesting and abundant making them wonderful wildlife to observe and study with children.

Creature Feature – Yellow-Headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

Yellow-headed blackbirds are medium-sized birds with stout bodies, large heads, and long, conical bills. The males of the species have striking yellow heads and chests with black bodies and white patches on the bend of their wings. Females are brown instead of black and have duller yellow heads.

Yellow-headed blackbirds are neotropical migrants. Neotropical migrants are birds that spend their summers in a breeding range in North America and migrate to Central or South America for the winter (see below for more information on neotropical migrants).

Yellow-headed blackbirds live in natural lakes and marsh habitats.  They rest in reeds and cattails over the water. Their song is a drawn out “krick” or “kack” that is often said to sound like a rusty old gate.

Yellow-headed blackbirds eat insects, grain, and seeds. They form large flocks in the winter and flock to farm fields eating left-over grain.

Male and female yellow-headed blackbirds migrate separately with the males arriving in Iowa for the breeding season as early as April. The males stake out breeding territories in wetlands as they wait for the arrival of the females in early May. Males defend a territory and will have as many as eight females nesting within his territory. He may help feed the young of the first nest for a short time but otherwise the females care for the young on their own.

Nesting occurs in May and June. Nests are built by the female. She weaves long strands of vegetation around the upright stems of cattails. Nests are built over the water. Females lay 2-5 grayish to greenish white eggs with brown or rofous splotches. She will incubate the eggs for approximately 12-13 days. The young are born altricial, or helpless, and are cared for by the female. They fledge, or leave the nest, at about 2 weeks of age.

Yellow-headed blackbirds begin their fall migration south as early as July. They are often in large flocks with their smaller cousins, red-winged blackbirds.

All About Birds: Yellow-headed Blackbirds

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-headed_blackbird/id

Neotropical Migrants

There are 386 bird species on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act bird list. Many of the birds on this list are also listed as threatened or endangered. Neotropical migrants are particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction as they face a lack of habitat in their summer breeding grounds, their winter non-breeding grounds, as well as long their migration routes.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Bird List

http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NMBCA/Birdlist.shtm

North America Migration Flyways

http://birding.about.com/od/birdingbasics/ss/North-America-Migration-Flyways.htm

How Birds Migrate

http://birding.about.com/od/birdbehavior/a/How-Birds-Migrate.htm

How You Can Get Involved!

While we cannot directly influence the loss of habitat for neotropical migrants in their tropical winter habitat we can do our part here in Iowa! As a class “adopt” your schoolyard and make it a Schoolyard Habitat. Schoolyard habitats benefit wildlife AND children as they plan, build and LEARN. Learn more about planning a schoolyard habitat project:

National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitats

http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Schoolyard-Habitats.aspx

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Schoolyard Habitat – Stewardship through action

http://www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay/schoolyd.htm

Book List

Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Bailey, D. 1992. Birds: How to Watch and Understand the Fascinating World of Birds. DK Publishing, Inc.

Boring, M. 1998. Bird, Nests, and Eggs. T&N Children's Publishing.

Burnie, D. 2004. Bird. DK Publishing, Inc.

Chu, Miyoko. 2007. Songbird Journeys: Four Seasons in the Lives of Migratory Birds. Walker & Company.

Davies, J. 2004. The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon. Houghton Mifflin Company.

DeGraaf, R.M. 1995. Neotropical Migratory Birds: Natural History, Distribution, and Population Change. Cornell University Press.

Faaborg, J.R. 2002. Saving Migrant Birds: Developing Strategies for the Future. University of Texas Press.

Fitcher, G.S. 1982. Birds of North America. Random House, Incorporated.

Gans, R, Mirocha, P. 1996. How Do Birds Find Their Way? HarperTrophy.

Hume, R. 1993. Birdwatching. Random House, Incorporated.

Johnson, A. 2005. Iowa Birds. Lone Pine Publishing.

Kavanagh, J. 2001. Iowa Birds. Waterford Press Ltd.

Knight, T. 2003. Marvelous Migrators. Heinemann.

Kress, S.W. 2001. Bird Life. Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press.

Peterson, R. T. and L. A. Peterson. 2010. Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Robbins, C.S. 2001. Birds of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press.

Rylant, C. 2006. The Journey: Stories of Migration. Blue Sky Press.

Sibley, D. A. 2000. National Aububon Society: The Sibley Guide to Birds. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

Stokes, D. and L. Stokes. 2010. The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Little, Brown & Company.

Tekiela, S. 2001. Birds of Iowa: Field Guide. Adventure Publications.

Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.

For factsheets, activity sheets and MORE visit:

IDNR: Education – Classroom Resources (go to the Document Library at the bottom of the page for fact sheets and activity sheets!)

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Education/ForTeachers/ClassroomResources.aspx

Iowa Mammals

Mammals are warm-blooded, have a back-bone, are hairy, and have mammary glands that produce milk to feed their young. Mammals live on all continents and in all oceans.  Iowa has 40 species of mammals that are considered common in the state. Iowa’s mammals live in woodlands, prairies, waterways, farm fields, and towns. They are adapted to a wide variety of habitats.

Iowa Wildlife Series – Iowa Mammals

https://store.extension.iastate.edu/Product/ian601-pdf

Creature Feature – Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)

The big brown bat is the most widely distributed bat in Iowa. Big brown bats live in a variety of places including urban and rural areas in attics, barns, caves, mines, bridges, and trees. They hibernate during the cold winter months.

Big brown bats average 3 ¾ - 5 inches in length including their tail. They have a brown body and brown-black wings and ears. They have a broad, round tragus (membranous projection) in their ear.

Big brown bats, like all Iowa bat species, are insect eaters. They are often seen in yards as they forage for food. Bats are very beneficial - a single a bat can eat as many as 3,000 mosquitoes in a single night! Big brown bats prefer moths and beetles although they do eat their fair share of mosquitoes too! Bats are nocturnal and emerge from their roosts each night at dusk to eat.

Like most bats, big brown bats use echolocation to navigate in the dark and to locate food. Bats produce high-frequency sound waves using their nose or mouth.  When the sound hits an object an echo bounces back to the bat's large funnel-shaped ears.   The bat can instantly identify an object by the sound of the echo. Bats can even tell the size, shape and texture of even a tiny insect from the echo.  Although bats rely on echolocation they are not blind as is commonly believed.

All bats are members of the order Chiroptera - which is the second largest mammalian order in the world.  Bats are long-lived animals despite their small size. Big brown bats can live up to 20 years although their average life span is in the wild is shorter than that.

Links

IDNR: Education – Classroom Resources (go to the Document Library at the bottom of the page for fact sheets and activity sheets!)

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Education/ForTeachers/ClassroomResources.aspx

Birds of Iowa: Bats of Iowa – Big Brown Bat

http://www.birdsofiowa.com/bats/eptesicus%20fuscus.htm

IDNR: White-Nose Bat Syndrome

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Education/IowasWildlife/WhiteNoseBatSyndrome.aspx

Bat Conservation International

http://www.batcon.org/

Book List

Ackerman, D., and M. D. Tuttle. 1997. Bats: Shadows in the Night. Random House Children’s Books.

Altenbach, J. S., T. L. Best, and M. J. Harvey. 2011. Bats of the United States and Canada. John Hopkins University Press.

Bash, B. 2004. Shadows of the Night: The Hidden World of the Little Brown Bat. Sierra Club Books for Children.

Carney, E. 2010. National Geographic Readers: Bats. National Geographic Children’s Books.

Carson, M. K., and T. Uhlman. 2010. The Bat Scientists. HMH Books for Young Readers.

Haffner, M., and H. B. Stutz. 1998.  Bats!: Amazing and Mysterious Creatures of the Night. Cengage Gale.

Jennings, J. F. G., and L. A. Hoehn. 1996. Bats: A Creativity Book for Young Conservationists. Bat Conservation International.

Tuttle, M. D. 2005. America’s Neighborhood Bats: Understanding and Learning to Live in Harmony with Them. University of Texas Press.

Tuttle, M. D., M. Kiser, and S. Kiser. 2005. The Bat House Builder’s Handbook. Bat Conservation International.

Get wild with National Wildlife Week March 17-23!!

Celebrate this wild week with us by learning about Iowa’s wildlife! Each day our blogs will feature information about different Iowa wildlife species.  Check every day to get Iowa species facts, classroom activities, books lists and MORE!

Wildlife Week Blog Schedule

Day 1 (March 17) - Mammals
Day 2 (March 18) - Birds
Day 3 (March 19) - Herps
Day 4 (March 20) - Invertebrates

Day 5 (March 21) - Fish

IDNR Education Blogs

Exploring Iowa’s Natural Resources blog

http://iowaprojectswildplt.blogspot.com/

Outdoor Explorations for Early Learners blog

http://outdoorexplorationsforearlylearners.blogspot.com/

Take it Outside: Fish Iowa!

http://takeitoutsidefishiowa.blogspot.com/

IDNR: Education – Classroom Resources

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Education/ForTeachers/ClassroomResources.aspx

Educators would you like a FREE Copy of Season III of Iowa Outdoors?

Iowa Public Television has created yet another outstanding season of Iowa Outdoors.  Iowa Outdoors explores ways Iowans are not only enjoying but also working to protect the state’s natural resources. Iowa Outdoors is a six-part series focusing on Iowa's natural resources, conservation efforts, outdoor recreation activities, and natural beauty  that can help your students better understand environmental science, geology, conservation, and many other concepts. 

IPTV now has DVDs of Season III available free to interested Iowa educators. Please tell your educator friends that they can go to the link below to request one: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mJrnWkxN-TKpJxHas75L45UYX-zs5mNZTwYZG2BKTKQ/viewform

Upcoming Project-based Natural Resources Trainings

Implementing Standards Through Site Based Projects (K-12 Educators)
June 24 & 25, 2014 (100% attendance is required for credit - Assignments due by July 23, 2014)
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Prairie Heritage Center (4931 Yellow Ave., Peterson, IA 51047)

Educators will be introduced to a variety of nationally-developed resources that support authentic learning as well the Projects WILD, WILD Aquatic and Learning Tree (secondary modules). Trainers will work with educators to incorporate activities from the Projects into inquiry-based learning cycles and develop real field investigations with their students. Educators will be encouraged to develop site based projects to study and/or improve their local natural resources. This can include service learning opportunities like Trees for Kids, IOWATER, NatureMapping, Wildlife Diversity monitoring efforts, development of outdoor learning areas or habitats, and more.

Participants are encouraged to bring information about their school site or a nearby natural area for use with workshop activities. Teaching partners/groups are encouraged to facilitate planning/implementation of projects.

You must register online. Registration deadline is June 10, 2014. Registration fees include course materials and 1 license renewal credit for $85.

Exploring Iowa’s Natural Resources On-line Course (K-12 Educators)
September 8 – December 21, 2014

“This course has provided me with information and resources to make lessons more relevant and engaging. The focus on inquiry, sense of place, and many other important aspects of teaching have been beneficial in terms of planning lessons and remembering to keep students and student activities at the core of what I do. It’s not just about the content and this course helped rejuvenate my interest in making lessons more student centered.”

Learn how to utilize local natural resources as unifying themes to implement a STEM-based approach in your curriculum. You will work in small groups and individually to create a network of contacts and resources to teach natural resource concepts. Group and individual assignments will build on each other throughout the course.

Each week a new course module focusing on a specific environmental education topic, strategy or skill will be available (time requirement 4-5 hours per week). You should be comfortable navigating web pages, have access to internet and a computer on a daily basis, and possess basic computer skills.

Registration deadline is August 29, 2014 - you must register electronically. Registration fee includes materials and 3 license renewal credit for $225. This course is being offered by AEA PD Online, a joint initiative by all of Iowa's Area Education Agencies. This course therefore uses AEA PD Online's alternative fee schedule for license renewal credit. Transcripts and credit will be issued by AEA PD Online instead of Heartland AEA.

Winter Fun

Cold temperatures and snowy school yards make it more of a challenge to get kids outside during the winter months. However, there are many engaging activities to get students out the door exploring and connecting with nature!

Winter Nature Walks

Take a winter walk around your schoolyard or a local park. Ideas for your walk: conduct a wildlife or tree inventory, take a listening walk, measure snow fall, look for and record animal tracks and signs, take your art class outside and sketch the winter landscape, have each student write about their winter walk, or come up with your own winter nature study based on your current curriculum!

Winter Study Ideas

Conduct a study as a class or break into small groups. Have a brainstorming session to decide what the students would like to investigate about winter. Some ideas are temperature, snowfall/precipitation, wind, plant growth/dormancy, wildlife behavior (migration, hibernation, survival, etc…), art or literature classes could study winter landscapes in art, or naturalists writings on winter. Have students design and conduct an experiment or study. Have them present their findings to the class upon completion.

 

The family of Craig Tufts, Family Summits, Inc. and National Wildlife Federation announces the 5th Annual Craig Tufts Educational Scholarship Award, which is given to a young person between the ages of 8 and 18 to attend a week-long, summer outdoor educational adventure camp with a parent or guardian. The Craig Tufts Educational Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Craig Tufts, Chief Naturalist of National Wildlife Federation.

Each year the Fund grants an award to one youth to attend a Family Nature Summit. The Fund provides travel, room and board and program fees for the award winner and an accompanying parent or guardian.

The contest is for anyone between the ages of 8 – 18 years old.  Applicants must submit an original essay about their favorite outdoor or nature-related activities describing how nature-related activities and experiences have impacted them.

To view the full details of the scholarship award and to apply for the award visit:

The National Wildlife Federation Website - Craig Tufts’ Educational Scholarship Fund & Family Nature Summit

http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Kids-and-Nature/Programs/Craig-Tufts-Scholarship.aspx?s_email_id=20140207_BOT_ENG_Newsletter_February_Edition|STBot

Harness the Wind

What is wind?

Wind is air in motion. Wind is produced by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun. As the sun warms the Earth’s surface the atmosphere warms too. Some parts of the Earth receive direct rays of sun and others do not. This creates a difference in air pressure. Warm air weighs less than cold air and rises; cold air moves in and replaces the warm air. This movement of cold and warm air, or the change in air pressure, creates wind. Wind is affected by local and global conditions.

Design a Wind Experiment

As a class design an experiment to study or test some aspect of the wind. Let the students design and lead the study. Be a guide and resource for the students as they discuss, design and carry out their experiment/study. Some ideas: wind energy, wind speed, air pressure, how wind shapes the land, benefits of wind, wind damage.

Presentation

Once students have designed and/or carried out their experiment or study have them create a multimedia presentation of their findings.

Links

Kid Wind Project - Learn About Wind: Wind Power Basics

http://learn.kidwind.org/learn

Earth Science for Kids - Wind

http://www.ducksters.com/science/earth_science/wind.php

EPA: Students

http://www.epa.gov/students/index.html

Book List

Grades 3-5

Bauer, M. D., and J. Wallace. 2003. Wind. Simon Spotlight.

Capeci, A., and C. Bracken. 2007. The Magic School Bus Rides the Wind. Scholastic, Inc.

Drummond, A. 2011. Energy Island: How one community harnassed the wind and changed their world. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Friend, S. 2002. Earth’s Wild Winds. 21^st Century.

Frost, H. 2004. Weather: Wind. Coughlan Publishing.

Kamkwamba, W., B. Mealer, and E. Zunon. 2012. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Penguin Group (USA).

Woelfle, G. 2013. The Wind at Work: An Activity Guide to Windmills. Chicago Review Press, Inc.

Grades 6-8

Caduto, M. J., J. H. Mitchell, and D. Bonta. 2011. Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun: 22 Super-Charged Projects for Kids. Storey Publishing, LLC.

Dobson, C. 2010. Wind Power: 20 Projects to Make with Paper. Firefly Books, Limited.

Fitzgerald, S., D. Voege, and Science Applications, Inc. Staff. 2010. Wind Power. Chelsea House Publishers.

Ganeri, A. 2004. Wind. Gareth Stevens Publishing.

Walker, N. 2006. Generating Wind Power. Crabtree Publishing Company.

Grades 9-12

Kamkwamba, W., and B. Mealer. 2010. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. William Morrow.

Rodgers, A., and A. Streluk. 2008. Wind and Air Pressure (Measuring the Weather). Heinemann Library.

Walker, N. 2006. Generating Wind Power. Crabtree Publishing Company.

Bird Song Survey

It is almost time once again for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count! Young and old, students and teachers, parents and grandparents participate every year as citizen scientists to do their part to gather important information for bird conservation. Use Project WILD’s “Bird Song Survey” to explore the importance of inventorying wildlife populations!

Participate in the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count February 14-17, 2014! http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc

Young Child Extension

Young children can help count birds too! Take kids on a walk around the school yard or observe birds through the windows of the classroom. Keep a chart to track the number of birds sighted. Put a bird feeder up outside the classroom window to attract birds for children to watch. Or help the children make pinecone bird feeders to hang up themselves. Use Growing Up WILD’s “Bird Beak Buffet” to learn more about our feathered friends!

Book List

Grades PreK-2

Arnosky, J. 1997. Bird Watcher. Random House Children's Books.

Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Bailey, D. 1992. Birds: How to Watch and Understand the Fascinating World of Birds. DK Publishing, Inc.

Boring, M. and L. Garrow. 1998. Bird, Nests, and Eggs. National Book Network.

Collard, S.B. 2002. Beaks! Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.

Garelick, M. 1995. What Makes a Bird a Bird? Mondo Publishing.

Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.

Johnson, A. 2005. Iowa Birds. Lone Pine Publishing.

Kavanagh, J. 2001. Iowa Birds. Waterford Press Ltd.

Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Oppenheim, J.F. and B. Reid. 1987. Have You Seen Birds?. Scholastic, Inc.

Rabe, T. and A. Ruiz. 1998. Fine Feathered Friends: All About Birds (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library). Random House Children's Books.

Rockwell, A.F. 1992. Our Yard Is Full of Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Sill, C.P. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.

Tekiela, S. 2001. Birds of Iowa: Field Guide. Adventure Publications.

Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.

Yolen, J. 1999. Bird Watch: A Book of Poetry. Putnam Juvenile.

Zim, H.S. 1989. Birds. St. Martin's Press.

Grades 3-5

Arnold, C. 2003. Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.

Arnosky, J. 1997. Bird Watcher. Random House Children's Books.

Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Arnosky, J. 1992. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Bailey, D. 1992. Birds: How to Watch and Understand the Fascinating World of Birds. DK Publishing, Inc.

Bateman, R. 2005. Bateman's Guide to Backyard Birds. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.

Boring, M. 1998. Bird, Nests, and Eggs. T&N Children's Publishing.

Burnie, D. 2005. Birdwatcher. DK Publishing, Inc.

Cortright, S. 1995. Birding Basics. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.

Davies, J. 2004. The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon. Houghton Mifflin Company.

Dawe, N. 1988. Bird Book and the Bird Feeder. Workman Publishing Company, Inc.

Fitcher, G.S. 1982. Birds of North America. Random House, Incorporated.

Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.

Hume, R. 1993. Birdwatching. Random House, Incorporated.

Johnson, A. 2005. Iowa Birds. Lone Pine Publishing.

Kavanagh, J. 2001. Iowa Birds. Waterford Press Ltd.

Kirkland, J. 2002. Take a Backyard Bird Walk. Stillwater Publishing.

Kress, S.W. 2001. Bird Life. Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press.

Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Lerner, C. 1994. Backyard Birds of Winter. HarperCollins Publishers.

Lindsey, T. 1999. Birding. Time-Life Custom Publishing.

Loates, G. and B. Kalman. 1988. Birds at My Feeder. Crabtree Publishing Company.

Maslowski, S. 2001. Birds in Winter. Smart Apple Media.

Peterson, R.T. 1999. Backyard Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company.

Pine, J. 1993. Backyard Birds. HarperCollins Children's Books.

Rabe, T. and A. Ruiz. 1998. Fine Feathered Friends: All About Birds (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library). Random House Children's Books.

Rockwell, A.F. 1992. Our Yard Is Full of Birds. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Sill, C.P. 1997. About Birds: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.

Tekiela, S. 2001. Birds of Iowa: Field Guide. Adventure Publications.

Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.

Yolen, J. 1999. Bird Watch: A Book of Poetry. Putnam Juvenile.

Zim, H.S. 1989. Birds. St. Martin's Press.

Grades 6-8

Burgess, T.W. 2003. Burgess Bird Book for Children. Dover Publications.

Burnie, D. 2004. Bird. DK Publishing, Inc.

Ganeri, A. 1993. Birds. Scholastic Library Publishing.

Johnson, A. 2005. Iowa Birds. Lone Pine Publishing.

Kavanagh, J. 2001. Iowa Birds. Waterford Press Ltd.

Latimer, J. et al. 1999. Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Lee, F. 2005. Backyard Birding for Kids: A Field Guide and Activities. Gibbs Smith.

Robbins, C.S. 2001. Birds of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press.

Spaulding, D.T. 1997. Watching Our Feathered Friends. Lerner Publishing Group.

Tekiela, S. 2001. Birds of Iowa: Field Guide. Adventure Publications.

Ward, A. 2004. Pocket Factfiles: Birds. Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated.

Weidensaul, S. and T. Taylor. 1998. Birds (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.

Grades 9-12

Dobson, C. 1981. Feeding Wild Birds in Winter. Firefly Books.

Gardner, D. and N. Overcott. 2003. Birds at Your Feeder: A Guide to Winter Birds of the Great Plains. University of Iowa Press.

Johnson, A. 2005. Iowa Birds. Lone Pine Publishing.

Johnson, J. 2003. 1000 Facts on Birds. Barnes & Noble Books.

Kavanagh, J. 2001. Iowa Birds. Waterford Press Ltd.

Peterson, R. T. and L. A. Peterson. 2010. Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Roth, S. 2000. Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible. Rodale Press, Incorporated.

Sibley, D. A. 2000. National Aububon Society: The Sibley Guide to Birds. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

Stokes, D. and L. Stokes. 2010. The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Little, Brown & Company.

Tekiela, S. 2001. Birds of Iowa: Field Guide. Adventure Publications.

Wildlife in National Symbols

January is the perfect time to observe bald eagles in Iowa! A great number of bald eagles overwinter in Iowa and can be observed along rivers and streams. Years ago it was unusual to see bald eagles in Iowa at all but today we enjoy their presence year-round as many have made Iowa their permanent home and breed within our borders. On August 8, 2007, the bald eagle was officially removed from the federal threatened and endangered species list under the Endangered Species Act. The bald eagle has a rocky history in the United States and has made a tremendous recovery in recent years.

A wonderful social studies tie in with viewing these majestic birds is the Project WILD activity “Wildlife in National Symbols.” This activity takes a look at the diversity of countries and cultures that include wildlife in their symbols. An interesting extension to this activity is to look at the symbols of other states, and Iowa schools. Are the symbols animals? Are these animals native to the respective state or school? Research more about the history of these symbols.

My Kingdom for a Shelter
One of the basic habitat needs of animals (humans included) is shelter. Animals use different materials in their habitat to create shelters. Wildlife shelters vary by species and while some are elaborate, the underground burrows of prairie dogs for instance, others are very simple, such as a songbird’s use of a bush to escape a storm. Use Project WILD’s “My Kingdom for a Shelter” to explore animal shelters. Pick an animal, explore where it lives and how it makes shelter and then try to recreate it!

Young Child Extension
Talk with little kids about how our homes keep us warm and safe; compare how animals need places to be warm and safe as well. Explore some animal shelters in books and pictures. Try reading “My Very First Book of Animal Homes” by Eric Carle. Then have kids draw pictures of their homes or an animal home that they choose.

Book List

Grades PreK-2
Allen, J. and S. Mendez. 2009. Animal Homes. Kingfisher.
Arnosky, J. 1997. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing Animal Habitats. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Carle, E. 2004. A House for Hermit Crab. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Carle, E. 2007. My Very First Book of Animal Homes. Penguin Group (USA).
Chessen, B. and P. Cahanko. 1997. Animal Homes. Scholastic, Inc.
Hoberman, M. A. and B. Fraser. 2007. A House is a House for Me. Penguin Group (USA).
Lock, D. 2007. Animals at Home. DK Publishing, Inc.
Magellan, M. 1990. Home At Last. Humanics Children's House.
Squire, A.O. 2002. Animal Homes. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Tatchell, J., A. Baker, and J. Rigby. 1999. Animal Homes. E.D.C. Publishing.
Wilkes, A., et al. 2003. Animal Homes (Kingfisher Young Knowledge Series). Kingfisher.

Grades 3-5
Arnosky, J. 1997. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing Animal Habitats. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Hoberman, M. A. and B. Fraser. 2007. A House is a House for Me. Penguin Group (USA).
Magellan, M. 1990. Home At Last. Humanics Children's House.
National Geographic Society. 1987. Animal Architects. National Geographic Society.

Grades 6-8
Ballard, C. 2008. Watching Wildlife: Animal Habitats. Heinemann.
Ganeri, A. 2005. Animal Homes (Nature Files Series). Chelsea House Publishers.

Grades 9-12
Benvus, J.M., and G. Wolff. 1989. The Field Guide to Wildlife Habitats. Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group.
Hansel, M. 2007. Built by Animals: The Natural History of Animal Architecture. Oxford University Press, USA.
Franz, B.S. 2006. The Wildlife Habitat Journal-Restoring and Exploring Wildlife Habitat in Your Own Backyard. Lulu.com.

Dropping in on Deer
Iowa has a large deer population and each year wildlife biologists must make important decisions about how to best manage deer throughout our state. To do this they have to assess the size of the deer population and the ability of the local habitat to sustain it. But how do biologists gather the information that they need to make these decisions? One way in which biologists do this is by taking an inventory or census of the deer by counting them. Across the state biologists keep track of deer populations using aerial and ground surveys and by tracking deer numbers based on hunter reports.

Another way that biologists can track deer populations is through deer poop. Yes, that’s right, deer poop. Deer poop, called deer pellets, can be counted and studied to let biologists know how many deer are using the area. Pretend you’re a wildlife biologists too and use Project WILD’s “Dropping in on Deer” to do your own deer pellet survey!

Young Child Extension
Take young children on a nature hike to look for deer, deer tracks, deer pellets or other signs of deer. Talk about where deer live and what they eat. Read stories about deer - try All About Deer by Jim Arnosky.
Then make deer antler headbands:
1) Help children trace their hands on construction paper and cut them out (these are your antlers).
2) Make headbands with strips of construction paper.
3) Glue the antlers on the headbands. Viola! You have a herd of deer!

Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1999. All About Deer. Scholastic, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Arnosky, J. 2008. Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature's Footprints. Sterling Publishing.
Bailey, J. 1988. Discovering Deer (Discovering Nature). Scholastic Library Publishing.
Biel, T. L. 1996. The Deer Family (Zoobooks Series). Wildlife Education, Limited.
Dorros, A. 1991. Animal Tracks. Scholastic, Inc
Galko, F. 2002. Forest Animals (Animals in Their Habitats). Heinemann Library.
Hodge, D. and P. Stephens. 1999. Deer, Moose, Elk, and Caribou (Kids Can Press Wildlife Series). Kids Can Press, Limited.
James, S. 1996. Wild Woods. Tandem Library Books.
Robertson, K. 1986. Signs along the River: Learning to Read the Natural Landscape. Rinehart P.
Sams, C.R. and J. Stoick. 2004. Lost in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. Carl R. Sams II Photography.
Sams, C.R. and J. Stoick. 2000. Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. Carl R. Sams II Photography.
Townsend, E.R. 2007. Deer. Coughlan Publishing.

Grades 3-5
Arnosky, J. 1999. All About Deer. Scholastic, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1998. Animal Tracker. Random House Value Publishing, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1979. Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracks and Wildlife Signs. Penguin Group (USA).
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Arnosky, J. 1992. Long Spikes. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Arnosky, J. 1983. Secrets of a Wildlife Watcher. HarperCollins Publishers.
Arnosky, J. 2008. Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature's Footprints. Sterling Publishing.
Bailey, J. 1988. Discovering Deer (Discovering Nature). Scholastic Library Publishing.
Bair, D. and P. Wright. 1999. Deer Watching. Capstone Press.
Biel, T. L. 1996. The Deer Family (Zoobooks Series). Wildlife Education, Limited.
Dorros, A. 1991. Animal Tracks. Scholastic, Inc
Galko, F. 2002. Forest Animals (Animals in Their Habitats). Heinemann Library.
Hodge, D. and P. Stephens. 1999. Deer, Moose, Elk, and Caribou (Kids Can Press Wildlife Series). Kids Can Press, Limited.
James, S. 1996. Wild Woods. Tandem Library Books.
Robertson, K. 1986. Signs along the River: Learning to Read the Natural Landscape. Rinehart P.
Sams, C.R. and J. Stoick. 2004. Lost in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. Carl R. Sams II Photography.
Sams, C.R. and J. Stoick. 2000. Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. Carl R. Sams II Photography.
Townsend, E.R. 2007. Deer. Coughlan Publishing.

Grades 6-8
Arnosky, J. 1998. Animal Tracker. Random House Value Publishing, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1979. Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracks and Wildlife Signs. Penguin Group (USA).
Leach, M. 2003. Animal Neighbors: Deer. Hodder & Stoughton, Ltd.
Nelson, R. 2009. Life Cycles: Deer. Lerner Publishing Group.
Robertson, K. 1986. Signs along the River: Learning to Read the Natural Landscape. Rinehart P.

Grades 9-12
Dinsmore, S. 1995. Iowa Wildlife Viewing Guide. Falcon.
La Tourrette, J. 1997. Watching Wildlife: The National Wildlife Federation Guide to Observing Animals in the Wild. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated.
Miller, K.V. and R.L. Marchinton. 2007. Quality Whitetails: The Why and How of Quality Deer Management. Stackpole Books.
Thomas, E.M. 2009. The Hidden Life of Deer: Lessons from the Natural World. HarperCollins Publishers.

The Hunter

Ask a group of adults their opinions on hunting and you may receive responses across the spectrum. The same is true with students. Project WILD’s activity “The Hunter” allows students to take a closer look at their personal feelings regarding hunting, while respecting other points of view.

Explore more about the hunting debate. As a class choose natural resource organizations and find their stand on hunting. Assign students to serve as members of these organizations and hold a debate.
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Wildlife Managment Book List
Grades 3-5
Chandler, G. 1997. Guardians of Wildlife. Lerner Publishing Group.
Patent, D.H. 1986. Buffalo: The American Bison Today. Houghton Mifflin Company.

Grades 6-8
Camp, W.G. 2000. Managing Our Natural Resources. Thomson Delmar Learning.

Grades 9-12
Bailey, J.A. 1984. Principles of Wildlife Management. Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated.
Deal, K.H. 1997. Wildlife and Natural Resource Management. Thomson Delmar Learning.
Dinsmore, J.J. 1994. A Country So Full of Game: The Story of Wildlife in Iowa. University of Iowa Press.
Feldhamer, G.A. 2004. Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation. Johns Hopkins University Press.