Driftless Prairies & Nature Areas
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway
May 8th 2021 The tracks of a large raccoon intersect with the faded prints of a river otter along the north shore of the Wisconsin River.
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway
May 8th 2021 The tracks of a large raccoon intersect with the faded prints of a river otter along the north shore of the Wisconsin River.
Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area
A black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) pauses to regard me.
Thick clouds of smoke billow up from blazing grassland during a controlled burn that fosters native fire-dependant vegetation.
Thick clouds of smoke billow up from blazing grassland during a controlled burn that fosters native fire-dependant vegetation.
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area
Flaps Down Trumpetting cries announced their arrival to the nesting site. These paired Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) spent the day hunting and feeding along the recently burned valley to the south. Controlled-fire had been carefully applied to the ridges and drier grasslands of the oak savanna that surrounded the wetlands they called home. The marsh sits at the confluence of smaller spring fed streams that make their way north into the Wisconsin River. Beforelong they and this year’s fledglings will be hidden among the cattails, their heads and necks blending in with the tall vegetation.
Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area
Flaps Down Trumpetting cries announced their arrival to the nesting site. These paired Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) spent the day hunting and feeding along the recently burned valley to the south. Controlled-fire had been carefully applied to the ridges and drier grasslands of the oak savanna that surrounded the wetlands they called home. The marsh sits at the confluence of smaller spring fed streams that make their way north into the Wisconsin River. Beforelong they and this year’s fledglings will be hidden among the cattails, their heads and necks blending in with the tall vegetation.
Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area
Flaps Down Trumpetting cries announced their arrival to the nesting site. These paired Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) spent the day hunting and feeding along the recently burned valley to the south. Controlled-fire had been carefully applied to the ridges and drier grasslands of the oak savanna that surrounded the wetlands they called home. The marsh sits at the confluence of smaller spring fed streams that make their way north into the Wisconsin River. Beforelong they and this year’s fledglings will be hidden among the cattails, their heads and necks blending in with the tall vegetation.
Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area
American pussy willows attract small insects with their furry catkins on this early spring day.
Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area
Strands of spider silk catch the late day sunlight. They blow like banners from the various cattails and other marshland plants.
Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area
A small meandering stream runs into the East Branch Blue Mounds Creek and then on into the Wisconsin River to the north.
Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area
A Timely Flyover As I was slowly hiking along the edge of the marsh I noticed a turkey vulture circling above the ridgeline further along my path. While the back of my head whirled in thought on how to emerge from this past year I slowly scanned my surroundings. I was carrying my camera ready as I hoped to capture the play of light on the textures or perhaps an eagle or crane? Eventually I found myself considering the new course in life I seem to be drawn to exploring. Just as I felt courage in having made recent choices I noted movement high and above the ridgeline. By then I had slowly worked to the same area I earlier spotted the turkey vulture. Raising my lens I figured I would see what kind of photos I could get. To my astonishment I found myself snapping shots of an adult bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). I took the timing of this to be a good omen of sorts.
