JANUARY I FEBRUARY 2012 THE DNR' S MAGAZINE OF IN THIS ISSUE: WINTER PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS TO MAKE YOUR IMAGES POP STATE LIBRARY OP IOWA 1111 E Grand•· D£~ lt\QIMES, lA 50319 8 Consider a vacation m lowH close to home and nPxt to JWrftl t Enjoy it all, from ti mclPl:-ls lnstoru tl Winter fishing in eastern Iowa landmarks to outdoor n•crt-nt 1011 und vibrant urban c.u·pas 11ch m cultural amenities. 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REAU www.kcokukiow~to u d sm .org • 800.383.12 19 ORS JANUARY I FEBRUARY 2012 VOLUM E 71 • ISSUE 1 STAFF \\1wn he's not Br1an Button- EDITOR-IN- CHIEF braving the Alan Foster MANAGING EDITOR b d road-; o Iowa Jacob Zweibohmer · ART DIRECTOR MIKE BUTLER Jess1e Brown - COPY EDITOR cloclg<-; fd 'hng -;ilver Mmdy Kralicek· WRITER maple Iret' limbs m Clay Sm 1th PHOTOGRAPHER tht• front yard and Julie Tack MARKETING AND PUBLICITY paddles whitewater Kev tn BaskinS COMM UNICATIONS BUREAU CHIEF streams in the flood­ prone basement STATE PRESERVES ADVISORY BOARD Dr. Sally Prtckett, Glenwood of hi-; Des :\loines Deborah Lew•s CHAIR, Ames Janelle Rettig, Iowa City h nn~ h.eep up \ i - I s tr 1n·b and ravaib at Wayne Ph1pps Glenwood http· / web.mac com/ miChaelabutler Thomas Putnam Boone ENVIRONMENTAL Inger Lamb Polk Ctty PROTECTION COMMISSION Carl Kurtz St Anthony Dav d Petty CHAIR, Eldora Diane Ford. Des Motnes Lorna Punt1ll0 VICE-CHAIR, Sioux City Lynn Alex, Iowa Ctty Mary Boote SECRETARY, Des Motnes Dee Bruem mer, Davenport ROGER HILL NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION Nancy Couser, Nevad a Ho)!t r H1ll has Gregory Drees, CHAIR, Arnolds Park John Glenn Centerville filmed and Margo Underwood. VICE CHAIR, Clear Lake Dolores Mertz, Ottosen photographed Dennis Schemmel, SECRETARY Gnmes Brent Rastetter Ames \\lldlif<• and nature Conrad Clement, Cresco Marty Stimson. Cedar Rapids sittct• 1962 when R. Kim Francrsco. Lucas he started hunting SUBSCRIBER SERVICES 800 361 8072 big game arumals ADVERTISING OFFICE from Iowa to Alaska. Assoetatron5 Inc, "'<ltd~t> d Ku I I ~ Sl S- 778 8720 r [email protected] Although he has D NR EXECUTIVE STAFF photographed a widC' array of big and small Roger Lande- DIRECTOR game. his passion is capturing Iowa whitetails, Chuck Gipp • DEPUTY DIRECTOR pheasants, prairi<' chick<'ns and the very rare -;harptail grouse in lhl'lr natural settings. In DIVISION ADMINISTRATORS the north country, lw prl'ft•rs pursuing wild Btll Ehm ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES • Chuck Corell CONSERVATION AND RECREATION Cindy Axne MANAGEMENT SERVICES sheep and grizzlit'" \\ ith hi-; !l·ns. His work has been published in ro1mtlt·-;s state and national DNR Central Office 515 281 S918 TIY users contact Relay Iowa 800.735.2942 magazmes Rogu lives on a farm with his wife, 2 ~ dll t f N I Marcia, near Roland. Pe•ood ll 1 t g pd Mo"' lA SUBSCRIPTION RATES SIS FOR ONE YEAR. S24 FOR TWO YEARS AND S30 FOR THREE YEARS PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE lnclud rroa lo olab 1 1 r• Wll 1rc. ddr < hJnq POSTMASTER. nd hJnq to Iowa ura 1 PCI 8 x i78i Boone lA 500 l8 ' Fed r I dl1ct 1 te rl.'qul t n> prohit.'ot a ndto " n tt c ba n I 0110 n ' r J•'Mlb 1ty <tat• aw lsu pr b t dfltnn sf b ,. l"'('{)at " f " HT't flHt I t W t> gto TV SMEDES is a lull 1 me wnter DNR MISSION SHOW YOUR SUPPORT and photographer To <On t'rvt' and t nl " < rc-sourCt'S m ulOpernlton Tiw D:'\ R ~atun• Stort ·s dPI t ami gift from Urbandale. wtth mdtvtdudl, Jnd org-Jno7.auon~ to uuprovt tilt IJuahty of lifo• wtth prof Is fur park' Order onnnt' at for lowtuh nn(l { fl..,urt. It ~al·\ f ~r futur genrrntJons www rowonaruresrore.com or 1·866-410-0130. Published in more than 25 magazines, EDITORIAL MISSION SUBSCRIBER SERVICES Wt· slttVt' In upo·n the door tn tht· ht',out~ md umqut·nt·" In '-'Uh,(.·ribt ua Jnr .my subscription 1ssuc.., ur his work includes uf In\\ .1"s n.ltura1 resour("t's. lltsf>Jrt• pt·uplt• tu gt•l uul"-lcle qu<·~t l nn,, <a lll 800.361 .8072 1\londay throul(h l•rulay images of wildlife, .111<1 t'XpLrit nee Iowa and to motiV.l\t" outdoor muuh-d from 7 a 111 In II pm nr "<Tkt·nds 8 a.m to ti fllll Wildflowers and t.lll7t•ns to undt•r,t.uu) ttOd C.lrt f )r Ullf ll<llllral fl''>OUn.t'' 1- or t•asl" m proct>so:.mg. please have an j,~ue \\ 1lh " nt.~il111g l.ohel,l\ n1ahlt• Ht ltmt' of call To purdtast "<'<'mrs, along with MAKE A DIFFEREN CE a smJd• <OP •,n;< ,all 515-181-5918. photography of lo\\a's <'uilural events and rht• 1\<t per~ ol 1 I o r t atclu"' ,,,lunl~•·rs "oth natural n•,ourtt' •t'rVIC e nC<"ds tllt"vult LEARN MORE attraction-;. He It'a< lws photograph) ciasst's !,tv, b.tck to Iowa' I "tds ",,It rs ~d ,k,.., Our \\eb,tte www.rowodnr.gov '' loadt'd "'lh and leads photo tours to the Eastern Sierras C '1515·181~0878 to match )Our mlcrcst wtth nl't'ds mformat10n fur all ttgt•s .uHI nt'l"d' tsu} hct>n~"i. r< t n:e Hr v- · www. keepersofrh••lond.org. campstlK or h·arn mort ,1bout our en\ ironment on hot and Africa His nt'\\ book, .. Tht• Return of S< .- our r";.lgallilt" tele\ 1'1on shoY.: at 1ptv.org. Iowa's Bald Eagles, .. chronicles the raptor's HOW TO DONATE t h,or ol.thlt !''ivmg of Lond funtl tnll i(ontls ,mel 1s iowan.com in<·rt•dible come bark and sold at o,;,t·rvln':-. Jen·.:ttl}' t.•nhance..., lo\\',t's uuttlnor Jivutg or 1-877-899-9977 ext 211. ( nntad. Kim Rasflor .11 515-281·7111. 4 IOWA OUTDOORS · JANUARY I FEBRUARY 2012 GOT A QUESTION? Send to. [email protected] ( f I 3( I hile many of our feathered friends have Wdeparted for the wmter, numerous spec1es remain. Iowa's wmter b1rds are those that can eat available seeds, dormant msects and smaller b1rds and mammals. Species that overwinter include birds of prey, crows, Jays, song b1rds, upland game c birds and woodpeckers among others. The needs of winter birds are s1milar to those of birds dunng w other times of year, including adequate food T A few people d1sagree regarding the advantages of feedmg wmter b1rds. Some cia 1m bi birds become dependent on feeders as a sole food bt supply. While true that birds become accustomed \\ to a reliable food source and will visit it regularly for conven1ence, they forage for food in many places. While conSIStency IS des1red (especially Jn harsh winters) 1f a feeder goes empty for whatever reason, regular visitors will adapt and find food P< Fro e is elsewhere Because b1rds constantly forage for food to G supply energy and surv1ve the cold, winter b1rds ·~ for the Birds. are easily attracted to feeders Properly ma1ntamed feeders substitute for the loss of eradiCated natural tr habitats and food resources. ecently we have heard orne chirping that in winter a d bird's feet can frc>cze to metal perches du ring feeding. When determ1n1ng food choices, research the R b1rds you w1sh to ent1ce. Use foods that attract s~ There are no claws to this myth (or talons either). T he fact is d/ them. Suet and peanuts are popular as are seeds birds lack sweat glands and do not produce moisture in th eir and grains. When in doubt, use black 011 sunflower th feet. Therefore, unli ke the human tongue that immediately seeds which contains more food value and IS yc freezes when in contact with metal (come on, we know you less expensive than striped sunflower seeds ht have tried it), birds' feet do not produce the moisture needed Most winter birds are seed eaters and black 011 to initiate the freezing process. sunflower seeds attract a variety of speoes PI Birds' tootsics arc well protected in winter. In addition to In add1t1on to the pleasure derived from w having no soft muscle and limited nerve endings, they have the hours of educational entertainment of b1rd a naturally decreased blood fl ow to their lower extremities. feeding, some b1rd watchers provide a valuable Using a process called thermoregulation, birds can constrict service by trackmg spec1es that visit their winter blood vessels in their feet to reduce heat loss.