Jan 7, 2022: Busy

This beaver was working on a large tree between pond P and pool F. The beaver moved on after a couple of weeks but I saw that the tree finally came down in the past week. (Tana Tesdall, 10/18/21)

Aug 15, 2019: Black Swallowtail

A Black Swallowtail on a butterfly milkweed along the highway 69 prairie strip. (Kevin Kane 8/15/19)

August 11, 2014: I'll Follow the Sun

Following the setting sun along the east shore of the south lake. 7/25/14 (Kevin Kane)

Mar 5, 2012: Ames Reads Leoplod (video)

Opening passages read by Erv Klaas and played by Tim Southwick Johnson (Kevin Kane)
See video here

Other photos of the event can be found here.

The 5th annual Ames Reads Leopold at the Ames Public Library was a great success with readings by community members and music interludes by folk singer Tim Southwick Johnson of Wisconsin.  Johnson featured his original ballads and other songs inspired by Leopold's essays.

The event was sponsored by the Aldo Leopold Foundation, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Ames Public Library, Big Bluestem Chapter of the National Audubon Society, Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park, and Ames Chapter of the Isaac Walton League.

Feb 14, 2012: Calm Morning on South Lake

As  I drove south on Highway 69 Tuesday morning, two huge white Trumpeter Swans flew over me from the west looking for a landing spot on the south lake while another group of three flew in further toward the south.  I pulled into the southeast parking area and tried to see if I could find them for a photo.  I never did see them again but did take this 30 second video of the south lake.

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

After sunset, Dec. 28th, 5:30pm (video)

This video was taken after sundown from the new fishing pier on the north shore of the north lake panning from south to west.  You can hear the geese overhead as they come back in to the south lake.  You can see Venus at the very top of the video in the southwestern sky almost directly above the water tower.

Ice Chimes*, Dec 27th, 2011

On a walk around Ada Hayden Park on the evening of Dec 27, 2011.

When I got to the southeast corner of the south lake and heard the coolest sound - it was the ice breaking up into small pieces and being pushed by the wind into the corner of the lake. It sounded like thousands of tiny wind chimes - you can hear a little of it in the video. Then the geese started coming in. Very cool.

*title courtesy of Kelly Poole and Robin McNeely