Here are some of our favorite reputable, fact-based links.
Please contact us if you find broken links!
Amphibians and Reptiles
North American Amphibian Monitoring Project: Learn about the project and volunteer opportunities or just take a frog call quiz!
HerpNet: Online field guide to Iowa amphibian and reptiles offering photos and information on habitat, range, diet, identification, and behavior.
Learn about Iowa Reptiles & Amphibians in this Iowa Association of Naturalists publication.
A Field Guide to Amphibian Larvae and Eggs of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa from USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Aquatic Invertebrates and Mussels
Aquatic MacroInvertebrate Collection demonstration project, see also the Resources Page - Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Freshwater Mussel Conservation Society - Learn about mussel reproduction
Check this PDF from the Iowa DNR to learn more about zebra mussels.
Mussel Conservation - Click on your state for links to specific local conservation sites
Freshwater Mussels of Iowa (opens as PDF)
Missouri's Freshwater Mussels (Missouri Conservationist article August 1999)
Information on Missouri's Freshwater Mussels (opens as PDF)
Learn about invasive aquatic invertebrates from the Iowa DNR
Bald Eagles
USFWS: Bald eagle life history and conservation success.
Nature - American Eagle: A YouTube link for this PBS produced, hour-long episode of Nature filmed by Neil Rettig shows the lives of eagles in the wild.
Birds and Bird Watching
The Feather Atlas - Feather Identification and Scans from the USFWS Forensic Lab - This website promotes feather identification (species, as well as parts of a feather), research, laws around feathers, and appreciation by providing high-resolution scans of the flight feathers of North American birds.
eBird: Real-time, online bird checklist from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.
All About Birds: Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a great resource for sounds, identification, and to improve your birding skills.
Iowa Ornithologists' Union: Searchable online database of Iowa birding reports, birding site guides, and checklists from the Iowa's Ornithologists' Union.
Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas: This 5-year project started in 2008 will collect information on the current ranges of Iowa’s breeding birds. Link for Iowa early and late nesting dates by species.
whatBird: Bird identification search engine and guide.
National Audubon Society - Frequently Asked Questions: Birds!
From the International Migratory Bird Day Celebration - learn about "birding beginnings" in this slide show (opens as PDF)
Birding with Kids: Choosing a Field Guide (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Observing Birds in the Wild Worksheet (opens as PDF)
Field Checklist of Iowa Birds (opens as PDF)
Mnemonic Bird Songs from South Bay Birders Unlimited
Bird Migration
Raptor migration: Check out these resources to help you hawk watch, from the Hawk Migration Association of North America
Hawk Mountain: Learn about raptor migration from one of the best places in the US to see migrating hawks in the fall.
Check out Operation Ruby Throat, a cross-disciplinary international initiative in which people collaborate to study behavior and distribution of the ruby-throated hummingbird.
Go here for info on cleaning your hummingbird feeder and for a make-at-home recipe for hummer food.
From KNIA - KRLS in Knoxville / Pella -- Dr. Bob Leanord's IN DEPTH: The Annual Bird Migration interview from 8/15/2012
Migration research from Craighead Beringia South including eagles, osprey, and red-tails.
Bird migration forecasts in real time at BirdCast from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Bird Population Surveys and Monitoring
Christmas Bird Count: The Christmas bird count is the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world. Christmas Bird Counts provide critical data on population trends.
US Fish and Wildlife Service Surveys and Data; Providing critical information for managing and conserving North American birds: Monitoring efforts are numerous and varied, and are undertaken by a wide variety of organizations. FWS undertakes a number of surveys in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Regional Offices, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and State and Provincial wildlife-management agencies. Some of these are listed on this site, along with other surveys by other organizations. The list is neither inclusive nor exhaustive, but merely identifies a number of surveys that are of national interest.
Citizen science projects are happening through Hummingbird: Operation Ruby Throat and the Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History.
The LoonWatch program at Northland College in Wisconsin not only monitors loon populations, but also water quality.
Butterflies, Moths, Pollinators, and other Insects
The Life of an Insect Web Adventure (links to many things insect, but links not verified by us!)
Butterfly Activity Guide from South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks (opens as PDF)
Blank Park Zoo - Plant. Grow. Fly.
Iowa State University Reiman Gardens Butterfly and insect links, articles
How do butterflies / moths spread their wings after emerging?
Download a regal fritillary butterfly life cycle poster from Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Learn more about the regal fritillary from Reiman Gardens.
US Forest Service Animal Pollinators, lists of Ants, Bats, Bees, Beetles, Birds, Butterflies, Flies, Moths and the plants that are important
BugGuide: Identification, images, and information for insects, spiders, and bugs in the U.S. and Canada.
Monarch Watch: Students, teachers, volunteers and dedicated researchers dedicated to the study of the Monarch Butterfly.
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Pollinator Habitat (PDF)
US Fish & Wildlife Service, learn about pollinators
Native Bee Benefits (PDF)
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Promote Pollinator Habitat
Pollinator Partnership, The Pollinator Prairie
Poweshiek Skipper Project- Butterfly Forecasts for Central Iowa
You're worrying about the wrong bees, Wired.com, 4/29/15
The monarch butterfly is a new national priority species of Working Lands for Wildlife, a partnership between Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS). The collaboration aims to help species recover by working with agricultural producers to make wildlife-friendly improvements on their farms, ranches and forests. Assistance is available to producers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.
Why is Pollination Important for Native Wildflowers? USDA Forest Service
The Simple Truth: We Can't Live without Them, USDA Forest Service (PDF)
Managing Roadsides for Bees and Butterflies - Xerces Society
The Metropolitan Field Guide - Plant Lists for Wildlife: Midwest
Attracting Native Pollinators - Xerces Society
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pollinators in the Garden (opens as PDF)
Pollinator Facts, Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Iowa DNR publication Iowa’s Woodlands: Vital Habitat for Native Pollinators (opens as PDF)
Iowa Odonata Survey (The Iowa Odonata Survey is a loosely organized group of folks interested in furthering the knowledge of Iowa invertebrates, dragonflies and damselflies in particular. )
Camouflage
Explore animal camouflage at PBS Parents
Early Childhood Resources & Interesting Reads
KinderNature - KinderNature is a resource for parents and early care and education providers to assist in learning, developing, and implementing a well-balanced environmental education preschool program with developmentally appropriate activities that incorporate a variety of learning styles! Go to the WILD Resources page for support for the Growing Up WILD guide, includes a searchable book database.
Children & Nature Network: The Children & Nature Network is leading a movement to connect all children, their families, and communities to nature through innovative ideas, evidence-based resources and tools, broad-based collaboration, and support of grassroots leadership.
Green Hearts: While this nonprofit conservation organization has now closed shop, the website is being maintained for the foreseeable future. There are still great resources to be found there about restoring and strengthening the bonds between children and nature.
Louise Chawla discusses in Early Childhood Matters (June 2012) the importance of access to nature for young children. (opens as PDF)
Do Early Outdoor Experiences Help Build Healthier Brains? Richard Louv, Psychology Today 2/6/13
10 Tips for Raising Outdoors-Loving Kids - The Big Outside blog
Risk and Reward in Nature Play - Ecology Global Network, read about how the risk of nature play is more than offset by the reward, a July 2012 article by Ken Finch, Green Hearts Institute
Children need to take appropriate risks! - All those adults with children in their life in some way, shape, or form need to visit this website, read what the author has to say and consider if you allow children to take age-appropriate risks or do you hover? Three Huge Mistakes We Make Leading Kids...
Endangered, Threatened, and Species of Concern
NatureServe - Interactive maps of species by county or watershed. Additional information available for purchase.
Fish
Fish ID: This is from Wisconsin, but has a great glossary and search feature!
Geology, Rocks, and Coal Mining
U.S. Geological Society: Provides scientific information and resources by grade level about natural resources, natural hazards, geospatial data, and issues that affect our quality of life.
Links to info about Coal Mining in Marion County
New, updated and colored map with Marion County mine names, location, and start and end dates (as known) for each mine! (opens as PDF)
Fossils in Iowa from Iowa Geological Survey
Get Outside!
Connecting Kids and Nature from the National Wildlife Federation
Nature Works Everywhere: Nature Works Everywhere gives teachers, students and families everything they need to start exploring and understanding nature around the globe alongside Nature Conservancy scientists. Interactive lesson plans align to standards and can be customized for each classroom.
How can we reconnect with nature? David Suzuki and author Richard Louv tackle this question and more in their conversation at the Art Gallery of Ontario in July 2012. Produced for the David Suzuki Foundation by Dowling Pictures. For tips on how to add a daily dose of nature to your routine, check out www.davidsuzuki.org. Watch their presentation on YouTube - about 25 minutes.
Use some technology and hike! The official geocaching website
Explore Iowa's county conservation board system for local areas near you to get outside!
Habitat Restoration and Prairie
US Fish and Wildlife Service - Iowa: The Power of Prairies
Download from ISU Extension a PDF of Iowa Association of Naturalists' booklet on
Iowa DNR Prairie Resource Center
University of Northern Iowa Tallgrass Prairie Center
Neil Smith NWR Prairie management for grassland birds
In the Tallgrass - A short animated film (on Vimeo) about exploring the insect world hidden in an Iowa tallgrass prairie. Created as part of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site’s 2017 Artist-In-Residency program.
Lead Awareness
US Geological Survey (USGS)Handout: Lead Poisoning in Wild Birds (1.35 MB PDF)
Reasons to consider getting the lead out of your hunt: Regardless of who's saying what, most of us want to see the evidence behind an argument. This site is intended to act as a place to gather that information together and take a look at reasons to hunt with non-lead ammo.
Research - Eagles & Lead: SOAR - Saving Our Avian Resources has been compiling data on lead and bald eagles since 2004.
Hunt and Fish Lead-Free: Learn the importance of hunting and fishing lead-free
The Peregrine Fund 2008 Spent Lead Ammunition Conference: Go here to see the all the abstracts from this scientific gathering.
National Park Service Public Health Program - Risks to Wildlife and Human Health Related to Ingestion of Lead Fragments
Wisconsin DNR produced a great brochure to help spread the word - "Give Non-toxic a Shot" (3 MB PDF)
Mammals
Mammals of Iowa Field Guide from Iowa State University Extension and Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Marion County, Iowa - Links for Educators and Students
Marion County History Buffs Facebook community page or reach them via email
Marion County's Gladys Black Eagle Refuge map and info (PDF)
Marion County Conservation -- Find us on Facebook!
Natural Resources Conservation Service - 1445 Lake Dr Suite 1, Knoxville, IA
Nest and Wildlife Cameras - Please note that once birds have fledged, cameras may be turned off
Arconic eagles, Davenport, Iowa
Eaglecrest Wildlife near Fresno, California, has eight different cameras about the property where viewers can see hawks, owls, Canada geese, and more. Facilitators are on the social stream 24/7 and can remotely control the camera system. They are identified by a dark green square icon with a capital letter E, and concentrate on-air views to best highlight wildlife activity. They have been trained to answer questions about the Eaglecrest site and the wonderful array of wildlife.
Cornell University red-tailed hawk nest
We Energies link to peregrine nest cams
Sapsucker Woods Pond at Cornell Lab or Ornithology
Eagles4Kids Bald Eagles - A storm in June 2017 took out the cameras, but please check out the class' website!
Minnesota Bound eagle cam (You need Flash Player for this cam.)
Not JUST nest cameras here - A wide range of live web cams at explore.org -- everything from Service Puppy Live Cam to Brown Bear and Salmon Cam!
Hurtsville Interpretive Center (Jackson County, Iowa) trumpeter swans on Ustream. (Currently off-air.)
Project FeederWatch has a new website and two new FeederWatch cameras.
Plants and Soil
Natural Resources Conservation Service
USDA PLANTS Database: Searchable, online database of plants found across the nation. Provides a 40,000-image gallery, state species checklists, and additional resources.
Soil Biology: Learn about the components of soil.
Soil Education: Learn about soil from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Dr. Dirt: These resources have been developed primarily for K-8 teachers and students. Hands-on, exploratory learning activities based on methods of scientific inquiry will encourage interest in science, soil, engineering, agriculture, and natural resources.
Iowa DNR Iowa's Threatened and Endangered Species Program - look for the link for the list of plants
Try this experiment with your group... Soil Your Undies for Soil Health (PDF) and here is a companion video
Don't Treat it Like Dirt - video on Iowa NRCS YouTube. This is a product of a high school collaborating with a District Conservationist – having to do with soil health.
K-12 Soil Science Teacher Resources from the Soil Science Society of America
Iowa Association of Naturalists Iowa Plant Series - Iowa’s Spring Wildflowers
Raptors, General
Characteristics: Check out the Peregrine Funds "Explore Raptors" page to learn what makes a bird of prey (or raptor).
Raptor Resource Project: Learn about this Iowa-based group's efforts to help re-establish the peregrine falcon, also known for Decorah Eagle Cam.
The Owl Pages: Everything from species lists and photos to owl physiology and rehabilitation.
OspreyWatch - for watchers and enthusiasts: This informative site comes from the Center for Conservation Biology and helps you learn more about osprey and where they are nesting.
Teacher and Parent Resources
University of Nebraska State Museum, Animal Detective: A Teacher's Guide (PDF)
Astronomy from the Ground Up is a program from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), developed to provide informal science educators at science centers, nature centers, museums, and other informal education venues with new and innovative ways to communicate astronomy content to their visitors.
Conservation Connect: This web-based video series produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center (NCTC), aims to connect youth, ages 9-13 (although any age is encouraged to enjoy), with the great outdoors, wildlife species, and conservation careers. Each 5-7 minute episode of Conservation Connect will feature a specialist and include footage of a species. Viewers are encouraged to spend time outdoors, observe wildlife in their own communities, and learn more about natural resource conservation. On the third Wednesday of every month at 2:00pm ET, students have the opportunity to view a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Conservation Connect episode.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdSleuth K-12 Feathered Friends Activities - Engaging science activities using your local birds!
Eagle Lesson Plans from Eagles4Kids (This is a page of links that we have not checked.)
Field investigations create an essential link between classroom activities and what students see and experience outside the school settings. They can provide students with examples of how the science concepts they learn in class are used in everyday life and encourage students to ask questions, explore, observe, and investigate their local environment. Direct observation can provide a stimulating and rewarding experience for you and your students. Outdoor experiences in nature increase students’ problem solving abilities and motivation to learn in social studies, science, language arts, and math. Conducting classroom field investigations help students become systems thinkers, learn the skills of scientific inquiry, and understand that science doesn’t only happen in a laboratory or classroom. Learn more about field investigations and scientific inquiry with these great resources:
Engaging students in scientific inquiry from United Federation of Teachers
Field Investigations: Using Outdoor Environments to Foster Student Learning of Scientific Processes from Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (opens as PDF)
FILLING THE TOOL BOX: Classroom Strategies to Engender Student Questioning
Inquiry-based Learning from WNET and thirteen.org
Iowa Learning Farms: Iowa Learning Farms is building a culture of conservation, calling attention to the importance of improved water and soil quality through conservation farming practices, from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
The Leopold Education Project - The Leopold Education Project (LEP) is an innovative, interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education curriculum based on the essays in A Sand County Almanac.
North American Mycological Association - Manual of Instructional Materials for Teachers and Naturalists Teaching about Fungi: Grades K-12
National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitats
National Wildlife Federation Educator Resources
North American Conservation Education Strategy: The toolkit contains resources developed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to support conservation educators.
Place-Based Education: Place-based education (PBE) immerses students in local heritage, cultures, landscapes, opportunities and experiences, using these as a foundation for the study of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and other subjects across the curriculum. PBE emphasizes learning through participation in service projects for the local school and/or community.
Project Bluestem Curriculum - Friends of Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Science Experiments with Water - While we don't endorse any particular water filter company, we are tickled that they link to many cool activities with water!
A must see! Science Friday Science Club posted a club challenge March 2014.
Teacher resources from the Iowa DNR: Iowa Department of Natural Resources environmental education resources for teachers and youth leaders.
US Geological Survey (USGS) Education Resources: Download this PDF to learn about USGS resources to support biology, geology, geography, geospatial data, and hydrology!
USGS Kids: Activities for parents and their children. (Adobe Flash Player needed)
Virtual owl pellet dissection from KidWings!
Great for teachers and parents - Resources for Investigating Evidence - BirdSleuth
Water Rocks! - A site creating a new public awareness toward the many issues surrounding water.
The Way We Live: Helping Iowans protect the environment and live well! - The Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) and Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) offer interdisciplinary, PreK-12 lesson plans, resources and workshops to help Iowans protect the environment and live well.
Teacher Learning Opportunities
Environmental Issues Instruction: eii is a graduate level in-service program for teachers designed to prepare them to teach environmental issues to students K-14.
Iowa Conservation Education Coalition: ICEC is a non-profit organization with a long-standing tradition of providing professional development to formal and non-formal educators and in conservation and environmental education.
Technology
Journey North has a smart phone app: Here's what a friend said about the app, "Yes the smartphone app Journey North has collects data for bald eagle sightings, daylight (hours of daylight), gray whale sightings, hummingbird sightings, monarch butterfly sightings (egg, larvae, pupae, adult), robin sightings, signs of Fall, symbolic monarchs (like people in costume). So, for me... I can see an adult monarch as I am driving, pull over, get out my phone and go to the app and log on, fill out the form and submit. It confirms, and then I am on my way again."
Trees and Forests
Trees Forever: This non-profit is dedicated to helping each of us improve and sustain the places we live, work, and play.
Arbor Day Foundation: Besides an on-line tree identification tool, also resources and information about the benefits of trees and picking the right tree to plant for your location.
Iowa State University Extension Forestry Interactive Tree Identification Key
Emerald Ash Borer Information from ISU Extension and Outreach
Learn more about the Emerald Ash Borer and other pests that are threatening Iowa's tree population - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Native Iowa Woodlands Understory Restoration: A Guide to Collecting and Germinating Seed
Videos
As we cannot control the associated content with videos posted on sites like YouTube and Vimeo, please review these videos for appropriate content for your children before showing.
A November 2008 episode, American Eagle from the PBS show Nature.
How are birds of prey able to fly through the forest and other tight spaces without getting hurt? Check out this video on YouTube from the show Animal's Guide to Britain on BBC Two -- Goshawk Flies Through Tiny Spaces in Slo-Mo!
How can we reconnect with nature? David Suzuki and author Richard Louv tackle this question and more in their conversation at the Art Gallery of Ontario in July 2012. Produced for the David Suzuki Foundation by Dowling Pictures. For tips on how to add a daily dose of nature to your routine, check out www.davidsuzuki.org. Watch their presentation on YouTube - about 25 minutes.
Watch this "High Velocity Falcon" video from National Geographic and check out how fast a peregrine dives!
The Last River Rat - Learn about the "Last River Rat" who has lived along the shores of the Upper Mississippi River in Wisconsin for 30 years. As Kenny Salwey explains, River Rat is a title you earn. He explains that he lives with the river and not on the river.
Iowa Public Radio Talk of Iowa archive broadcast of Charity Nebbe's interview with Kenny, the "Last River Rat" and listen about life on the river and his thoughts about nature and life in general.
The BBC also did a Natural World program titled "Mississippi, Tales of the Last River Rat." Visit the Marion County Conservation YouTube channel where you can find this broadcast in five chunks... they are on our list of favorites.
Watch IPTV's Iowa Outdoors segment about the 2013 Lake Red Rock Bald Eagle Day, Learning about Birds of Prey
Iowa DNR prairie chicken release at Kettleson Grassland on April 6-7, 2012
The Right Where You Are Now video is a great example of what childhood should be about!
Seeing Nature - You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you’re finished, you’ll know absolutely nothing whatsoever about the bird... so let’s look at the bird and see what it’s doing That’s what counts! I learned very early on the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something. ~Richard Feynman, physicist
Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes the snowy owl invasion.
Magic of the Snowy Owl from the PBS Show Nature originally aired 10/24/12 and is available through DailyMotion. Infographic from Magic of the Snowy Owl!
Symphony of the Soil is a 104-minute documentary feature film that explores the complexity and mystery of soil. Filmed on four continents and sharing the voices of some of the world’s most esteemed soil scientists, farmers and activists, the film portrays soil as a protagonist of our planetary story. Watch the trailer here. Film can be rented for a one-week streaming period for $5.99.
1986 Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom episode "Where Geese Nest in Trees" that shows how Canada geese in a Montana wildlife reserve adapted to using old osprey platform nests to keep their eggs safe from predators.
American woodcock portrait gives you a good idea of the sound of the male's call - less than 1.5 minute YouTube video.
American woodcock aerial dance - about a 2 minute YouTube video
Check out the Drake Law School Agricultural Law Center Our Land Our Water YouTube Channel
Water and Water Quality
Stroud Water Research Center - Dedicated to understanding the ecology of streams, rivers, and their watersheds — both pristine and polluted. Leaf Pack Network® (LPN) is a network of citizens, teachers, and students investigating their local stream ecosystems. Offers professional development for educators both face-to-face (Pennsylvania) and webinars!
Water Cycle, Precipitation Education from NASA
US Geological Survey (USGS) Water: Provides scientific information and resources on several water topics.
USGS Water Science School All about water!
USGS National Atlas Streamer Map -- You can trace a stream upstream or downstream! A great visual tool that shows a watershed.
GLOBE, Watershed Dynamics: Enables students to investigate their own watershed.
Missouri's Freshwater Mussels (opens as PDF)
EPA The Water Sourcebooks: This environmental education program explains the water management cycle using a balanced approach showing how it affects all aspects of the environment. All activities contain hands-on investigations, fact sheets, reference materials, and a glossary of terms.
Clean Water Iowa - Iowa Water Quality Initiative... working together to make a positive impact on water quality
Missouri River Relief - Missouri-based group focused on cleaning up the river, mini-grants, and educational opportunities!
Project AWARE - A Watershed Awareness River Expedition sponsored by the Iowa DNR
From Iowa Public Television - Explore More: Water Quality (YouTube video) and visit the companion Explore More website!
Learn about Iowa invasive aquatic plant species here from Iowa DNR
Learn about Iowa Wetlands from this Iowa Association of Naturalist's publication (PDF)
Waterfowl
Ducks at a Distance: A waterfowl identifiction guide from USFWS, information to help you ID ducks (opens as PDF).
Weather, Stars, and the Moon
GLOBE at Night (GaN) is a world wide citizen science project that anyone can participate in. The website has information about how to identify Orion and other constellations and use a magnitude chart. GaN asks people all over the world to go out and observe during specific dates (a 9 day period each month) and report the sky conditions and how visible the constellation was.
Night Sky Planner from NASA
Current night sky in Des Moines, Iowa (can display the night sky anytime and for any position on earth)
Farmer's Almanac Full Moon Names
Astronomical Data from the US Navy - Sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moon set, day length, stages of the moon, position of planets - this site is a bit advanced
Minnesota Starwatch from the University of Minnesota for us everyday folks!
Wetland Protection and Management (Restoration)
From NRCS: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs143_010838.pdf
From the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture: https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/publications/wildlife/tall_grass_prairies.pdf
From EPA: https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/principles-wetland-restoration
NRCS plants database (this will help you find the hydrophyte classification for plants): https://plants.sc.egov.usda..gov/java/
USDA regulatory information on farming/ tilling wetlands: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/ia/newsroom/factsheets/NRCS142P2_008540/
US Army Corps of Engineers wetland permitting and mitigation information: https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Wetland-Mitigation/
Fact sheet with more Fen wetland infomation: https://s-iihr34.iihr.uiowa.edu/publications/uploads/wfs-2007-02.pdf
Wildlife
Animal Diversity: Searchable online database and research for teachers sponsored in part by the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library: the world's largest and oldest scientific archive of biodiversity audio and video recordings!
Threatened and Endangered Species - Iowa Animal ID Guide from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (opens as PDF)
Iowa DNR Iowa's Threatened and Endangered Species Program - look for the link for the list of animals
Wildlife Restoration
Osprey reintroduction efforts