April 30, 2013: April Photo Collage

April 2013 photos from the blog by Wolf Oesterreich, Kevin Kane, and Erv Klaas.

April 29, 2013: Bloodroot

Today was the first time that I have seen Bloodroot in bloom at the park.  The plant gets its name from the red juice that oozes from the roots when cut or damaged.  Initially, the leaves emerge coiled around the flower stalk and should "flatten out" after the flower appears.  Bloodroot is a member of the Poppy Family (Papaveraceae). 4/29/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

April 28, 2013: Greening Up

Although we are almost three weeks behind last year at this time, things are finally starting to green up with the recent warm weather.  This is a view from west of the bridge looking northeast across the inlet and the north lake. 4/24/13 (Kevin Kane)

April 27, 2013: Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel

Spring must really be here now that the Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels are out and about.  Note the distinct alternation between pale stripes and rows of pale pale spots against a dark field.  These squirrels store food in burrows to feed on during bad weather, but survives on its own stored fat during its hibernation from Fall to Spring. 4/26/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

April 26, 2013: Wetlands Filling Up

Note the water in Pools A and B.  These areas have been dry for months.  Most of the waterfowl have settled into this area, especially the Northern Shovelers and Blue-winged Teal.  One American Bittern was observed skulking along the SW shoreline. 4/25/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)

April 25, 2013: Tree Planing

A Forestry Silviculture class from Iowa State U. under the direction of Dr. Richard Hall, assisted the Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park in planting trees for a wildlife habitat plot.  We planted 700 seedlings of Wild Plum, Hazalnut, Chokecherry, Serviceberry, Gray Dogwood, and Nannyberry on April 24, 2013. These are all species that are native to Iowa and will replace the invasive Siberian elm that were removed from this area. 4/24/13 (Erv Klaas)

April 24, 2013: Wolf's Bird Walk

Nice day for a bird walk with Wolf and about a dozen others. The photo is of Wetland F as the clouds and rain started rolling in around 6:30.  Looking west from the east shore of the wetland. 4/24/13 (Kevin Kane)

Wolf. Oesterreich leads the group in spotting some of the bird life around the east shore of the south lake on Wednesday.