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Archive by tag: butterfliesReturn

Survey of regal fritillaries provide insight into population status for prairie icon

• 7/30/2024 2:12:00 PM
• View Count 4914

On this late June morning, a dozen wildlife experts and summer staff were standing in a parking lot near a small pond at the Ringgold Wildlife Area, butterfly nets in hand, awaiting instructions.

Blank Park Zoo Monarch Festival

• 9/12/2017 2:53:00 PM
• View Count 3612

A celebration of the monarch’s journey from Canada, through Iowa, to Mexico, will be held Sept. 17, from Noon to 4 p.m., at Blank Park Zoo, in Des Moines.

Group mapping out way to save the monarch butterfly

• 2/28/2017 12:52:00 PM
• View Count 10877

The recent study by the Mexican government released on Feb. 9 found the monarch butterfly population wintering in Mexico dropped by 27 percent this year, returning its population to historically low levels.

7 Tips for Starting a Backyard Pollinator Garden

• 8/11/2016 2:05:00 PM
• View Count 39721

Not all wildlife is supersized. Small animals, including insects and hummingbirds, are responsible for the processes that bring us everything from cotton for clothes to the strawberries in the supermarket. According to the American Honeybee Federation, honeybees alone are responsible for up to 90 percent of the pollination of certain crops, and contribute more than a $14 billion value to the U.S. agricultural industry. With the recent declines in honeybee and monarch butterfly populations, you can make an importa...

Shimek State Forest Puts on Stunning Show of Butterflies and Birds

• 5/20/2016 11:58:00 AM
• View Count 9976

This southeast Iowa forest hosts one of our most diverse woodland bird migrations, followed by a stunning summer butterfly show perhaps unequaled anywhere else in the state.

Monarchs Embark on Nature’s Most Incredible Migration

• 9/9/2015 12:00:00 PM
• View Count 37168

As the days grow shorter and fall approaches, newly emerged monarch butterflies become restless. Although the bright orange- and black-winged insects currently visiting backyard flowerbeds may appear identical to those seen earlier in the summer, they are biologically different from all others. The group of adults currently flittering about are so unusual that scientists give them a special name—this year’s final crop of young are the annual super generation.

21 Outdoor Experiences Every Iowa Kid Needs to Try

• 7/1/2015 5:24:00 AM
• View Count 30904

From something as simple as chasing fireflies or hiking a trail to bigger adventures like camping and skiing, there are lots of ways to get kids outdoors in Iowa. Use this as a checklist through the rest of the year to guide your outdoor explorations! Be sure, too, to help your kids make a connection between the activity and protecting Iowa’s natural resources. For example, explain how clean water helps the fish when you’re angling. Talk about habitat when chasing butterflies or frogs. Creating these connections ...