Every bird watcher and nature observer has his or her "lists." Here are mine for Birds, Insects, Mammals, Plants, Reptiles, and Crustaceans, complete with pull down menus.
BIRDS
Categorized by genus/species, placed chronologically by common name
American Coot
American Crow
American Flamingo*
American Goldfinch
American Kestrel
American Robin
American Tree Sparrow
American White Pelican
Bald Eagle
Baltimore Oriole
Barn Swallow
Belted Kingfisher
Black-Capped Chickadee
Black-Headed Gull*
Black Vulture*
Blue Jay
Blue-Winged Teal
Bobwhite
Broad-Winged Hawk
Brown Creeper
Brown-Headed Cowbird
Brown Thrasher
Bufflehead
Canada Goose
Canvasback
Cedar Waxwing
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle
Common Goldeneye
Common Pochard*
Common Redpoll
Cooper's Hawk
Dark-Eyed Junco
Double-Crested Cormorant
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Goldfinch - See American Goldfinch
Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Towhee
Eurasian Coot*
European Starling
Fox Sparrow
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
Gray Catbird
Graylag Goose
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Greater Flamingo*
Hairy Woodpecker
Harlequin Duck
Hermit Thrush
Herring Gull
Horned Lark
House Finch
House Sparrow
House Wren
Indigo Bunting
Killdeer
Lesser Scaup
Lincoln's Sparrow
Mallard (Domestic)
Mallard (Wild)
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow
Northern Shoveler
Orange-Crowned Warbler
Palm Warbler
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Red-Headed Woodpecker
Red-Tailed Hawk
Red-Winged Blackbird
Ring-Billed Gull
Ring-Necked Duck
Rock Pigeon
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
Scarlet Tanager
Solitary Sandpiper
Song Sparrow
Spotted Sandpiper
Swamp Sparrow
Tufted Duck*
Tufted Titmouse
Turkey Vulture
White-Breasted Nuthatch
White-Crowned Sparrow
White-Throated Sparrow
Wild Turkey
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
INSECTS, ARACHNIDS, MYRIAPODS & GASTROPODS
Categorized by family, placed chronologically by common name
Size varies greatly; a small to medium-size deer. Tan or reddish brown above in summer; grayish brown in winter. Belly, throat, nose band, eye ring, and inside of ears are white.
Although mentioned by eNature.com as endangered in some areas, White-Tailed Deer are, in fact, over-abundant in Iowa. Our main problem is that not enough people seem interested in hunting them and thinning their numbers to a healthy (for them and us) amount. Plus, just the thought of hunting angers many people, and with the eradication of their main predators (wolves, etc.) from most of Iowa, the deer are in a position to expand exponentially.
Taken with the Canon Digital Rebel XT / 350D and a Sigma 70-300mm Lens on March 4, 2007, at Scott County Park, Scott County, Iowa.
Great picture, I love how you captured the alarm flight of these beautiful deer. Flashing white tail as they flee. I agree with the over-abundance issue, it is the same here in Missouri as well. Seems almost each day I see a new one hit on the highway on my way to or from work. I know many people are sensitive about hunting, but in some instances I believe it is better for all involved. Nothing is worse than seeing a species die a slow agonizing death due to disease caused from large numbers of these living in too confined areas with little to no habitat or ready food available to them. Mother nature will take care of what we won’t. Not to mention the damage done to vehicles and injuries sustained in these accidents not just by the deer, but the people in the vehicles.
MoBugs - Your sixth sentence hit it exactly. People are against hunting for the sake of protecting the animal, but when the animal reaches unsafe numbers it suffers with disease and starvation. Thinning the herd and donating the finished meat to homes that serve the less fortunate not only weeds out weaker members of the herd while thinning their numbers to manageable levels (thus strengthening the overall herd), but feeds poor humans, as well.
Chris, it is great to see them, even if they are considered pretty common.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:07 am
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This blog is about: Iowa, Illinois, Midwest, United States, nature, wildlife, animals, birds, ornithology, insects, bugs, entomology, Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island, Moline, Quad, City, Cities
Great picture, I love how you captured the alarm flight of these beautiful deer. Flashing white tail as they flee. I agree with the over-abundance issue, it is the same here in Missouri as well. Seems almost each day I see a new one hit on the highway on my way to or from work. I know many people are sensitive about hunting, but in some instances I believe it is better for all involved. Nothing is worse than seeing a species die a slow agonizing death due to disease caused from large numbers of these living in too confined areas with little to no habitat or ready food available to them. Mother nature will take care of what we won’t. Not to mention the damage done to vehicles and injuries sustained in these accidents not just by the deer, but the people in the vehicles.
March 19th, 2009 at 12:17 pmGreat action shot of the white-tails. We also have an abundance in Il, but I can’t help get excited everytime I spot one!
March 19th, 2009 at 3:07 pmMoBugs - Your sixth sentence hit it exactly. People are against hunting for the sake of protecting the animal, but when the animal reaches unsafe numbers it suffers with disease and starvation. Thinning the herd and donating the finished meat to homes that serve the less fortunate not only weeds out weaker members of the herd while thinning their numbers to manageable levels (thus strengthening the overall herd), but feeds poor humans, as well.
Chris, it is great to see them, even if they are considered pretty common.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:07 am