Feb 17, 2015: Thinking of Summer

Too much cold! Had to post a view to look forward to. 8/2/2012 (Kevin Kane)

Feb 16, 2015: Frozen Wetland

A composite photograph showing a NW and N view across Pool F, towards the highlands, on another overcast day. 2/15/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Feb 15, 2015: Angling Success

 By Todd Burras, Ames Tribune

They came by the truck- and carload – scores of eager anglers ready to get their lines and feet wet for the chance at catching a few hatchery-raised rainbow trout.

“It’s really hard to tell how many people there are,” said Andy Long, of JAX Outdoor Gear, a jam-packed parking lot at Ada Hayden Heritage Park behind him. “I’d say there’s got to be 400 or 500.”

The majority of those anglers crammed close to the boat ramp where shortly after noon Saturday the Iowa Department of Natural Resources dumped some 2,300 rainbow trout into the lake’s north basin. Anglers of all ages stood, sat on buckets or hid away inside portable ice shacks.
- See more at: http://amestrib.com/blog/woods-wildlife-and-wanderings/angling-success.html#sthash.QT7BCPYC.dpuf

Feb 14, 2015: Alone on the Ice

From the Ames Tribune:
Chris Jensen prepares to go ice fishing at Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake on Tuesday afternoon. While yesterday’s warmer weather may have been welcome following the weekend’s snow storm, temperatures had a high of 23 degrees and a low of 12 degrees. Ames is expected to see similar weather today, with warmer temperatures coming later in the week. Photo by Julie Ferrell/Ames Tribune - See more at: http://amestrib.com/news/alone-ice#sthash.xkgWyLPn.dpuf

Feb 13, 2015: South Lake

A northwest view across the south lake and towards the bluff area.  A few waterfowl are present, especially around the hole (open water).  More waterfowl began to trickle back in later in the afternoon. 2/10/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Feb 12, 2015: This time last year...

With the sun settling down behind them, these fishermen were just starting to get situated by the fishing pier (north lake). 2/12/14 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Feb 11, 2015: Northeast Woods

The recent snowfall still covers the trees located in the northeast corner of the Park. 2/3/25 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Feb 10, 2015: South Lake

From the east side of the south lake looking towards the bluff area.  Only a sliver of open water remained along the east edge of the former "hole" in the ice.  The waterfowl were concentrated along this sliver. 2/2/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Feb 9, 2015: Swans on the Ice at Sunset

2/7/15 (LaDan Omidvar)

Feb 8, 2015: Northern Hills

Sunshine and wispy clouds over the northern hills on Sunday.  These are the hilltops that will be developed in the spring. 2/8/15 (Kevin Kane)

Feb 7, 2015: Family Fishing Event

The annual Family Fishing Event was held today.  This event was sponsored by the Iowa DNR, Story County Conservation, City of Ames, Hy-Vee, JAX, and ISU.  Twenty-three tents had set set up on the north lake, near the boat ramp.  Participants were still awaiting the arrival of the 2000+ Rainbow Trout when this photograph was taken. 2/7/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Feb 6, 2015: Snowy Road

The inviting entrance to the southeast corner of the park along Dawes Drive. 2/2/15 (Kevin Kane)

Feb 5, 2015: Snow and Sun

The late afternoon sun is veiled by some thin clouds.  Snow drapes the landscape. 2/3/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Feb 4, 2015: The Bluff

Trees on the bluff loaded with the weekend's snow, looking northwest across the south lake. 2/2/15 (Kevin Kane)

Feb 3, 2015: Snow on the North Slope

Snow-covered north slope on an overcast day. 2/2/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

Feb 2, 2015: Silver Lake

Ducks, geese, and swans rest at the water/ice edge after the weekend's snow left a sparkling blanket of silver across the lakes. Looking NW across the south lake towards Jensen Pond and the northern hills.  2/2/15 (Kevin Kane)

Feb 1, 2015: Wolf's January 2015 Wildlife Report

We don't usually find Swamp Sparrows in January, but I found 1 to 3 early in the month. 1/9/15 (Wolf. Oesterreich)


A total of 34 avian species was recorded this month, ranking this month as the 4^th highest January (tied with 2014) among 18 years of records.

Listed below, following the species’ names, are the date(s) of sighting(s), plus the occasional miscellaneous information regarding numbers, gender (♂=male, ♀=female), age (im=immature, ju=juvenile, abp=adult breeding plumage, ad=adult, anb=adult non-breeding), color phase (b=blue, w=white), and location (BY=back yard, FY=front yard).  The order follows the 55^th Supplement (2014) to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds and the 14^th Supplement to the 7^th Edition (1998).

AVIAN

     GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 26-27 (7)

     CACKLING GOOSE: 1-2, 6, 26 (5+), 27-28, 30-31

     CANADA GOOSE: 1-16, 18-31

     TRUMPETER SWAN: 1 (36+), 2 (59), 4 (12+), 5 (61), 6 (45), 7 (16+), 8 (13), 9 (14),

                                    10-12 (13), 15 (2), 19 (2), 22 (7), 31 (7)

     AMERICAN BLACK DUCK: 19-20 (1♂), 22 (1♂)

     MALLARD: 1-2, 4-16, 19-31

     NORTHERN PINTAIL: 27 (1♂ + 1♀)

     COMMON MERGANSER: 22 (2♂), 25 (1♂)

     RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 10 (8), 16, 21-22, 31

     BALD EAGLE: 1 (1 ad), 2 (1 ad + 1 4-year old), 5-8 (1 ad), 11-12 (1 im), 27 (1 ad)

     SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 9 (1)

     COOPER’S HAWK: 1 (1 BY), 2 (1 im BY + 1 ad), 5 (1 im BY), 6 (1 ad BY), 29 (1 im)

     RED-TAILED HAWK: 1 (1), 2 (3), 5 (3), 6 (2), 9 (1), 13-15 (2), 19-21 (1), 22 (3), 23 (1),

                                    25 (2), 26 (1), 28 (1), 31 (1)

     MOURNING DOVE: 1 (2 BY), 2 (1), 4 (1 BY), 5 (2 BY), 6 (2 BY + 1), 10-11 (1 BY), 16,

                                    22 (2), 25 (1 BY)

     GREAT HORNED OWL: 1 (2)

     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 31 (1)

     DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-2, 4-11, 13-16, 19-21, 23-25, 27-28, 30-31

     HAIRY WOODPECKER: 7-8, 12, 27

     NORTHERN SHRIKE: 2 (1), 9 (1)

     BLUE JAY: 1-2, 5-7, 10, 19, 25, 28, 31

     AMERICAN CROW: 1-2, 4-11, 13-16, 19-20, 23, 25-26, 29, 31

     BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1-2, 4-16, 19-23, 25-28, 30-31

     WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1-2, 5, 11, 13, 31

     AMERICAN ROBIN: 27 (1 BY), 31 (2)

     EUROPEAN STARLING: 1-2, 4-8, 10-13, 16, 19, 21-22, 24-25, 31

     CEDAR WAXWING: 25 (~30), 31 (50+)

     AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 1-2, 5-9, 11-16, 19-23, 25-31

     SONG SPARROW: 5 (1), 9-10 (1), 11 (2), 12-13 (1), 14 (2), 19 (1), 23 (1)

     SWAMP SPARROW: 9 (3), 10 (2), 12 (1), 13 (2), 14 (1)

     DARK-EYED JUNCO (Slate-colored): 1-2, 4-16, 19-21, 23, 25-28, 30-31

     NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-2, 4-16, 19, 21-25, 28-31

     HOUSE FINCH: 1-2, 4-11, 13-16, 19-21, 23, 25-28, 30-31

     AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1, 11, 19, 28, 31

     HOUSE SPARROW: 1-2, 4-16, 19-31

Unless indicated otherwise, the White-tailed Deer were antlerless. 

MAMMALIAN

     WHITE-TAILED DEER: 1 (1 + 3 BY), 2 (3), 4 (3 BY), 7 (1 BY), 10-11 (2 BY), 13 (2 BY),

                                    14 (7), 15 (5), 16 (3 BY), 20 (3), 21 (1 + 3 BY), 23 (2), 27 (3),

                                     30 (7)

     FOX SQUIRREL: 1-2, 4-8, 10-12, 15-16, 19-21, 25, 27-31

     EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1, 5-9, 11-15, 19, 24-25, 28, 30-31

LEPIDOPTERA

     WOOLLY BEAR (Isabella Tiger Moth): 27 (1)

Wolf. Oesterreich