One of the more wary and secretive shore birds that visit our wetland areas is the black-crowned night heron. These stocky herons are shorter than great blue herons, but they are still relatively large since they have a wingspan of nearly four feet.
All in Wildlife Watching
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Beautiful Fritillary Butterfly
Most butterflies are beautiful – but the various species of fritillary butterflies really take it to the next level. Many of them are dazzling! There are 14 species of greater fritillaries and 16 species of lesser fritillaries.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Elegant Hooded Merganser
There are many species of ducks in North America, but one of the most elegant-looking is the hooded merganser. Both males and females sport a remarkable crest, or “hood” on top of their heads, which they can raise or lower at will.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Invasive Mute Swan
Swans are well-known as very large, graceful white birds. There are three species of swans currently living in North America: trumpeter swans, tundra swans and mute swans. Trumpeter and mute swans are similar in size, and they can each have a wingspan of more than seven feet.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Elusive American Mink
he American mink is a small mammal that most people never see. They are semi-aquatic creatures, meaning they spend a lot of their time in and around the water. Mink are also mostly nocturnal animals, which also helps explain why most people never see one.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Cute Canada Goose Goslings
Surely everyone is familiar with the Canada goose. These large, noisy waterfowl seem to be everywhere these days, from lake and river settings to residential front yards. Canada geese have a distinctive brown, white and black coloration, and they have a long neck and a wide black bill.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Hated Squash Vine Borer Moth
Early last summer I was watering plants in my vegetable garden when I saw an interesting insect sitting on the leaf of a nearby flower. It looked a bit like a moth, but it was unlike any I had ever seen before. It was black and reddish-orange in color, with black antennae that looked like some moths I’ve seen in the past.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Smallmouth Bass are Feisty Fighters
The smallmouth bass is a much sought-after gamefish. Pound for pound, many anglers believe they fight harder than any other freshwater fish. They also have a habit of leaping completely out of the water when hooked in an attempt to get away, making them very exciting to catch.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Northern Shoveler Duck
Ducks are common throughout the United States. One of the most common is the mallard duck. Male mallards have a green head and are very easy to identify. There is another green-headed duck, though, that is not a mallard at all. It is the male northern shoveler duck.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Vocal Northern Mockingbird
Everyone knows most birds love to sing, and the pleasant sounds of birds chirping or chattering in nearby trees is a welcome sound. Some bird species sing more than others, though, and one of the most vocal birds of them all is the northern mockingbird.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Forest-Dwelling Eastern Red Bat
Some people are afraid of bats. There is really no reason to fear these small creatures, though. Bats are beneficial and they are actually quite interesting. Bats are the only mammals in the world that can truly fly, and they eat thousands upon thousands of insects (including hordes of mosquitoes) every summer.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Rare Copperbelly Water Snake
Most people have never seen a copperbelly water snake. The reason is simple: these snakes are very uncommon and they are becoming downright rare. The northern population of the copperbelly water snake (living in southern Michigan, northern Indiana and northwest Ohio) is even listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.