Here are some of our favorite reputable, fact-based links.
Please contact us if you find broken links! Click to expand the category.
Amphibians and Reptiles
A Field Guide to Amphibian Larvae and Eggs of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa from USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Amphibians and Reptiles - A Complete Field Guide of Iowa Herpetology - Online field guide to Iowa amphibian and reptiles offering photos and information on habitat, range, diet, identification, and behavior.
Iowa Reptiles & Amphibians in this older Iowa Association of Naturalists publication
Iowa Vertebrates publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Association of Naturalists .
Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa, Lizards of Iowa, Snakes of Iowa
North American Amphibian Monitoring Project: Learn about the project and volunteer opportunities or just take a frog call quiz!
Aquatic Invertebrates and Mussels
Aquatic Invasive Invertebrates from the Iowa DNR
Freshwater Mussels of Iowa (opens as PDF)
Iowa Freshwater Mussels and Water Quality - Iowa PBS Iowa Land and Sky
The Importance of Freshwater Mussels - Iowa PBS Iowa Land and Sky
Zebra Mussels - Iowa DNR (PDF)
Izaak Walton League of America - Resources for stream monitors - click on "Know Your Macros" to learn about stream bugs
Aquatic MacroInvertebrate Collection demonstration project
Freshwater Mussel Conservation Society - Learn about mussel reproduction
Missouri's Freshwater Mussels (Missouri Conservationist article August 1999)
Mussel Conservation - Click on your state for links to specific local conservation sites
Birds - General, Bird Watching
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.
Iowa Ornithologists' Union: Searchable online database of Iowa birding reports, birding site guides, and checklists from the Iowa's Ornithologists' Union.
All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a great resource for sounds, identification, and to improve your birding skills.
American woodcock aerial dance - about a 2 minute YouTube video
American woodcock portrait gives you a good idea of the sound of the male's call - less than 1.5 minute YouTube video.
Birding with Kids: Choosing a Field Guide (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
eBird: Real-time, online bird checklist from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.
Macaulay Library - Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the world's largest and oldest scientific archive of biodiversity audio and video recordings!
Mnemonic Bird Songs from South Bay Birders Unlimited
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.
whatBird: Bird identification search engine and guide.
Birds - Live Cams (please note that once young have fledged, cameras may be turned off)
Birds - Migration, Population Surveys, and Monitoring
IN DEPTH: The Annual Bird Migration From KNIA - KRLS in Knoxville / Pella 8/15/2012
BirdCast - Cornell Lab of Ornithology bird migration forecasts in real time
Christmas Bird Count: The Christmas bird count is the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world and provides critical data on population trends.
Craighead Beringia South migration research including eagles, osprey, and red-tails.
Hawk Mountain: Learn about raptor migration from one of the best places in the US to see migrating hawks in the fall.
LoonWatch program at Northland College in Wisconsin not only monitors loon populations, but also water quality.
Operation Ruby Throat, a cross-disciplinary international initiative in which people collaborate to study behavior and distribution of the ruby-throated hummingbird.
Raptor migration: Resources from the Hawk Migration Association of North America
Birds - Raptors
Osprey in Iowa - Iowa Osprey brochure (PDF)
"High Velocity Falcon" video from National Geographic and check out how fast a peregrine dives!
Characteristics: Check out the Peregrine Funds "Explore Raptors" page to learn what makes a bird of prey (or raptor).
Learning about Birds of Prey - Iowa PBS Iowa Outdoors segment about the 2013 Lake Red Rock Bald Eagle Day
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!
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.
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.
Raptor Resource Project: Learn about this Iowa-based group's efforts to help re-establish the peregrine falcon, also known for Decorah Eagle Cam.
Snowy Owl Invasion - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
The Owl Pages: Everything from species lists and photos to owl physiology and rehabilitation.
USFWS: Bald eagle life history and conservation success.
Birds -Waterfowl
Ducks at a Distance: A waterfowl identification guide from USFWS, information to help you ID ducks (PDF).
Butterflies, Moths, Pollinators, and other Insects
Best Practices to Promote Pollinator Habitat Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Iowa Odonata Survey is a loosely organized group of folks interested in furthering the knowledge of Iowa invertebrates, dragonflies and damselflies in particular.
Iowa’s Woodlands: Vital Habitat for Native Pollinators Iowa DNR (PDF)
Plant. Grow. Fly. from Blank Park Zoo
Pollinator Facts, Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Pollinators in the Garden Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (PDF)
Poweshiek Skipper Forecasts for Central Iowa
Reiman Gardens Butterfly and insect links, articles - Iowa State University
Reiman Gardens How do butterflies / moths spread their wings after emerging?
Reiman Gardens regal fritillary
Reiman Gardens regal fritillary butterfly life cycle poster (PDF)
Animal Pollinators - US Forest Service 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.
Butterfly Activity Guide (PDF)
Learn About Pollinators US Fish & Wildlife Service
Managing Roadsides for Bees and Butterflies - Xerces Society
Monarch Watch: Students, teachers, volunteers and dedicated researchers dedicated to the study of the Monarch Butterfly.
Native Bee Benefits USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (PDF)
Plant Lists for Wildlife: Midwest The Metropolitan Field Guide
Pollinator Habitat USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (PDF)
The Pollinator Prairie - Pollinator Partnership
The Simple Truth: We Can't Live without Them, USDA Forest Service (PDF)
Why is Pollination Important for Native Wildflowers? USDA Forest Service
Who are the Pollinators - Xerces Society
Early Childhood Resources
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!
10 Tips for Raising Outdoors-Loving Kids - The Big Outside blog
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.
Do Early Outdoor Experiences Help Build Healthier Brains? Richard Louv, Psychology Today 2/6/13
Right Where You Are Now - This video is a great example of what childhood should be about!
Three Huge Mistakes We Make Leading Kids… Children need to take appropriate risks!
Endangered, Threatened, and Species of Concern
Iowa's Threatened and Endangered Species Program - look for the link for the list of animals and a list of plants
Threatened and Endangered Species - Iowa Animal ID Guide from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (opens as PDF)
NatureServe - Interactive maps of species by county or watershed. Additional information available for purchase.
Fish
Iowa Fish - Iowa’s Wildlife Series (archived Iowa Association of Naturalist publication)
Fish ID: This is from Wisconsin, but has a great glossary and search feature!
Geology, Rocks, and Coal Mining
Coal Mining in Marion County, reclamation projects, coal bed types, bedrock geology, and more (GIS maps in PDF format)
Fossils in Iowa from Iowa Geological Survey
U.S. Geological Survey: Provides scientific information and resources by grade level about natural resources, natural hazards, geospatial data, and issues that affect our quality of life.
Lead Awareness
Hunt and Fish Lead-Free: Learn the importance of hunting and fishing lead-free
Lead Poisoning in Wild Birds - US Geological Survey (USGS) Handout (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.
The Peregrine Fund 2008 Spent Lead Ammunition Conference: Go here to see all the abstracts from this scientific gathering.
Mammals
Mammals of Iowa Field Guide from Iowa State University Extension and Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Echolocation - Amazing Music Video, Bat Conservation International
Marion County, Iowa - Links for Educators and Students
Marion County's Gladys Black Eagle Refuge map and info (PDF)
Marion County History Buffs Facebook community page or reach them via email
Natural Resources Conservation Service - 1445 Lake Dr Suite 1, Knoxville, IA
US Army Corps of Engineers - Lake Red Rock
Outdoor Recreation
Explore Iowa's county conservation board system for local areas near you to get outside!
Prairies and Prairie Habitat Restoration
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.
Iowa: The Power of Prairies - US Fish and Wildlife Service
Iowa Habitat Loss and Disappearing Wildlife (archived Iowa Association of Naturalists)
Iowa Prairies (archived Iowa Association of Naturalists)
Prairie management for grassland birds - Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Prairie Resource Center - Iowa DNR
Tallgrass Prairie Center at the University of Northern Iowa
Soil and Plants
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.
Iowa’s Spring Wildflowers Iowa Association of Naturalists Iowa Plant Series
Soil Your Undies for Soil Health (PDF) and here is a companion video is an experiment to try with your group.
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.
K-12 Soil Science Teacher Resources from the Soil Science Society of America
Soil Biology: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Learn about the components of soil.
Soil Education: Learn about soil from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plants Database - Searchable, online database of plants found across the nation. Provides a 40,000-image gallery, state species checklists, and additional resources.
Teacher and Parent Resources
EE / CE Supports and WILD Resources from Iowa Conservation Education Coalition
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.
Teacher resources from the Iowa DNR: Iowa Department of Natural Resources environmental education resources for teachers and youth leaders.
Water Rocks! - A site creating a new public awareness toward the many issues surrounding water.
Animal Diversity: Searchable online database and research for teachers sponsored in part by the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Connecting Kids and Nature, Mind Body Spirit fact sheet (PDF), Be Out There, full report (PDF), and Ranger Rick's magazines and apps from the National Wildlife Federation
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. Click here for past episodes and information!
Educator Resources - National Wildlife Federation
Feathered Friends Activities - Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdSleuth K-12, Engaging science activities using your local birds!
Field investigations create an essential link between classroom activities and what students see and experience outside the school settings. These investigations 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:
Field Investigations: Using Outdoor Environments to Foster Student Learning of Scientific Processes from Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (opens as PDF)
Inquiry-based Learning from WNET and thirteen.org
Manual of Instructional Materials for Teachers and Naturalists Teaching about Fungi: Grades K-12 - North American Mycological Association
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.
North American Conservation Education Strategy: The toolkit contains resources developed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to support conservation educators.
Project Bluestem Curriculum - Friends of Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Resources for Investigating Evidence - BirdSleuth - The Cornell Lab
Schoolyard Habitats - National Wildlife Federation
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!
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
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.
Virtual owl pellet dissection from KidWings!
Trees and Forests
Interactive Tree Identification Key from Iowa State University Extension Forestry
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
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.
Water and Water Quality
Clean Water Iowa - Iowa Water Quality Initiative... working together to make a positive impact on water quality
Explore More: Water Quality - Iowa PBS YouTube video and companion website Explore More!
Iowa Wetlands Iowa Association of Naturalists (PDF)
Our Land Our Water YouTube Channel - Drake Law School Agricultural Law Center
Project AWARE - A Watershed Awareness River Expedition sponsored by the Iowa DNR
GLOBE, Watershed Dynamics: Enables students to investigate their own watershed.
Missouri River Relief - Missouri-based group focused on cleaning up the river, mini-grants, and educational opportunities!
The Last River Rat - Listen to this Iowa Public Radio Talk of Iowa archived broadcast about Kenny Selway, 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.
The Leaf Pack Network is an initiative of Stroud™ Water Research Center. The Stroud Center seeks to advance knowledge and stewardship of freshwater systems through global research, education, and watershed restoration.
The Water Sourcebooks: EPA 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.
US Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources: Provides scientific information and resources on several water topics.
USGS National Atlas Streamer Map -- You can trace a stream upstream or downstream! A great visual tool that shows a watershed.
USGS Water Science School All about water!
Water Cycle, Precipitation Education from NASA
Weather, Stars, and the Moon
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
Find planets and constellations in the night sky (can display the night sky anytime and for any position on earth)
Full Moon Names from the Farmer's Almanac
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.
Minnesota Starwatch from the University of Minnesota for us everyday folks!
Night Sky Planner from NASA
Wetland Protection, Management, and Restoration
A Landowner’s Guide to Wetland Conservation in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie - the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture
USDA NRCS plants database (this will help you find the hydrophyte classification for plants)