Gray Tree Frogs are very small creatures, typically measuring 1.5 to 2 inches long. Believe it or not, these tiny amphibians are equipped with two amazing “super powers”. One of those remarkable powers is their climbing ability.
All in Wildlife Watching
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Cliff Swallows Call Bridges Home
Most of us have seen barn swallows flying around the countryside, but how many have seen a cliff swallow? The American cliff swallow is a member of the bird family that includes swallows and martins. These small, swift birds breed throughout much of the United States during the summer and migrate to South America during the winter.
Black Bear Encounters
There’s something unsettling, visceral even, about a bear attacking a person. It’s not the way it should be. We’re supposed to be the top predator in the food chain, not the second link. Fortunately, events like this are rare which is why they attract people’s attention as they do.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Common Crayfish
Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans that look like miniature lobsters. People around here call them crayfish, crawfish, crawdads or mudbugs, but if you lived in Europe or Australia you might call them yabbies!
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Rockbass - The Kids' Favorite
The lowly rockbass is the first fish caught by many kids. These members of the sunfish family are aggressive and will eagerly take most small baits presented to them. That makes them the perfect target for young anglers.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Migrating Common Loon
The Common Loon is an interesting bird. Although not normally seen in many of the central states during the summer, in the spring they can be observed on lakes and reservoirs as they migrate north in search of nesting grounds.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Tiny Smooth Green Snake
Snakes are interesting creatures. Many people don’t like them or are frightened by them, but snakes are very beneficial and they are a vital and natural part of the ecosystem. One fascinating species of snake in the United States is the Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis).
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Barn Swallows Are Great Flycatchers
Most birds are great insect hunters. While some bird species are just as happy to eat an insect as they are other things like seeds and small fruits, there are some birds that prefer to eat insects almost exclusively. One of those insect specialists is the barn swallow.
The Ermine: A Weasel By Another Name
“If they were as big as a bear, it wouldn’t be safe to go in the woods,” Dad said. Those were his comments to his young son after I told him about my first encounter with a weasel at the end of deer hunt. I’d been sitting at the base of a blown down tree when I first saw the flicker of white in the fallen branches.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Marbled Salamanders Love Forest Habitats
Salamanders are one of the less frequently seen types of amphibians in the USA. For example, there are 23 species of salamanders living just in the state of Indiana, yet most people never see any of them. One of the most interesting species is the marbled salamander.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Mergansers Are Super Moms
Mergansers include a few different species of diving ducks that either live in the Midwest or pass through while migrating north. There are three species that are commonly seen spring and fall migrations, including common mergansers, hooded mergansers and red-breasted mergansers.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Backyard Cooper’s Hawks
One of the most common hawks seen by backyard birders in the continental US is the Cooper’s hawk. The reason is simple: Cooper’s hawks are bird-eaters, and they are attracted to backyard bird feeders.