Jan 30, 2012: Swans

    Swans on south lake, Jan 2, 2012 -- Kevin Kane

Hello!
Just thought I should mention we saw 16 trumpeter swans yesterday (1/30/12) around 5:20 p.m. in the open water of the south lake.  Several adolescents were in the group, but it was difficult for me to distinguish more detail,  since I do not have a spotting scope. (I had been by the lake earlier in the day--around 3:30-- and at that time I counted 6 swans.) Several pairs of the swans were interacting with each other bobbing their heads and going through ritualistic steps. I was amazed at the loudness of their clapping wings  when the swans lifted up from the water and how perfectly their trumpeting carried over to the shore.  By 5:30, there were at least a “gazillion” of geese, of course, with huge lines coming in from the north .  Also:  a lovely mink scrambling among the rocks near the far southeast corner.

Zora Zimmerman

Jan 30, 2012: The Iowa Wildlife Center

Today's post is to highlight The Iowa Wildlife Center. IWC's mission is to provide professional wildlife rescue, medical treatment and rehabilitation of native wildlife in central Iowa; teaches about wildlife and habitat stewardship; and provides wildlife assistance skills training.

Please take some time to visit them at:

http://www.iowawildlifecenter.org/

Jan 29, 2012: Caspian Tern

With the beautiful weather predicted for this week, maybe we can tun an eye toward spring again -- just a little?  Here is a pic of a Caspian Tern that was spotted over Ada Haden Park in July 2009.  Check out the blog posting - the link is below.

Caspian Tern at Ada Hayden Park by Cory Gregory

from "Corey Gregory's Birding Blog" at:
http://arcticory.blogspot.com/2009/07/caspians-19-july-2009.html

Jan 28, 2012: Video of the Day

Video pan of the north lake from north to south at sunset on
January 25, 2012 showing anglers out on the ice fishing for trout
and flocks of geese taking off from the south lake in the background.
Kevin Kane

Jan 27, 2012: AHHP In the News

Trout restocked at Ada Hayden, Ames Tribune, 1/25/12

Also here at:

ames-eyesandears.patch.com and

walleyewisdom.com

Jan 26, 2012: 40 years of change, 1970-2010

Dave James, local outdoorsman and map maker extraordinaire, produced this animated aerial photo of the changes in the lake boundaries at Ada Hayde Park over the past 40 years exclusively for Reflections:. The blue lines represent the outline of the lakes in 1970. Click on the map above to see the animation.

Jan 25, 2012: Trout Rush!

Anglers on north shore of north lake fish for trout, 1/25/12 -- Kevin Kane

All photos from 1/25/2012

The Iowa DNR stocked the north lake yesterday with trout about 11am and ever since the rush has been on for central Iowa ice fishermen to land them.