Author: Winneshiek County Conservation Board

December weather calls for a reminder of the beautiful summer green that many of our native plants display! Let’s round off our year of Knowing Nature quizzes with just a few more plants. Congratulations on sticking with us as we met over 100 of the lesser known plants, animals, and other wildlife of Winneshiek County in 2025!

Take the quiz here: Knowing Nature – A Few Plants

Each Knowing Nature quiz features species found in Winneshiek County. In total, we have learned 168 different Winneshiek County species this year! Find more of the Knowing Nature Quizzes here: https://www.winneshiekwild.com/news-article

Want to dive deeper into learning about the wildlife of Winneshiek County? Track seasonal changes and natural wonders with our YouTube playlist: “Noting Nature.”

Thank you to Luther College professor, Birgitta Meade, for compiling these “Knowing Nature” quizzes and allowing us to share them with the wider public. Most of the photos in these quizzes were taken by Winneshiek County Conservation naturalist Larry Reis.

Northeast Iowa is home to many fantastic landscapes and opportunities for adventure. In the Iowa Driftless Region, Winneshiek County Conservation manages over twenty natural areas that provide recreational benefits while also protecting unique landscapes and species. This list compiles just a few of the lesser known gems accessible to the public in Winneshiek County—take a trip to get outdoors and experience these valuable areas.

 

Chattahoochie Park

From the 1960s to the early 2000s, this park used to be a part of a ski run called Nor-Ski Runs. The hill above the park still features an algific talus slope, a fragile and rare ecosystem, that is best not disturbed to protect its unique plant and animal species. Winneshiek County Conservation manages a picnic table and canoe access area in the park with great views of the Upper Iowa River and Luther College’s prairie plantings.

 

Chimney Rock Park

At Chimney Rock Park, you can find a historic bridge, vault toilets, and river access for paddling or fishing on the Upper Iowa River. For the bridge history buffs out there, the old Chimney Rock bridge is unique and historically significant, as it is an intact version of a rare bridge made by a company that has few remaining examples. The more adventurous may try hiking off-trail up the hills around the parking area for a scenic view of the Upper Iowa River from above. From the river or valley, look for the 150-foot tall chimney rocks that give the park its name. These spires are the result of weathering and erosion when softer limestone is carved away from the bluffs.

 

Chipera Prairie

Step back in time to when most of Iowa was tallgrass prairie. Southwest of Fort Atkinson is a 90-acre park that features both restored and remnant prairie, as well as established trails that are excellent for birdwatching. Bobolinks, warblers, sparrows, phoebes, eagles, hawks, and flycatchers are just some of the birds you might see.

 

Bluffton Bluffs

If you are planning a canoeing or kayaking route on the Upper Iowa River, the Bluffton Bluffs are a must-see. These 300-foot tall bluffs are some of the best the Driftless Area has to offer. The park itself does not have trails, making this natural area best to view from the river below.

 

Ludwig Preserve

This small—3.5 acre—park is home to a remnant upland prairie with limestone outcroppings. Off trail hiking is allowed, but please be careful to leave as little trace as possible. Ludwig Preserve is a great place to visit more than once a summer: each visit you will see a different explosion of colors thanks to the unique prairie wildflowers such as wild bergamot, rough blazing stars, leadplant, gray-headed coneflowers, and flowering spurge. Prairies are colorful places, and there’s no better place to see that than Ludwig Preserve.

 

Sindelar Wildlife Access

Sindelar Wildlife Access contains one of the only healthy and naturally reproducing populations of native brook trout in northeast Iowa, a rarity that was once commonplace before European settlement. This 18-acre park has several trails along Casey Springs Creek that are great for birdwatching or angling.

Throughout the year, 11 different species of raptor birds call Winneshiek County their home! You may have seen pairs of brilliant Bald Eagles near the Upper Iowa River, or maybe you’ve heard the Red-Tailed Hawk’s iconic call from overhead. Whether you’re a casual bird-watcher, or a professional ornithologist, how well do you know your raptors?

 

Raptors are diurnal birds of prey who are grouped together and classified by their shared specialized physical characteristics that allow them to hunt other animals. Some of these characteristics include large wingspans, sharp talons, hooked beaks, and dynamic bodies meant for flying at high speeds. Examples of raptors include hawks, eagles, ospreys, and falcons.

 

Raptor birds can be found on almost every continent and live in a wide variety of climates. While most raptors are not true migratory birds, some have migration patterns that vary between species. Some migratory raptor species migrate singly, while others migrate in flocks. A few species are even considered to be nomadic and only leave an area when conditions decline, not based on season like migratory birds!

 

Raptors are all carnivorous but their diets depend on their size and habitat. Their home range sizes depend largely on the availability of food. For example, if prey is abundant near their nest, many raptor species will choose to keep their home range small. If they need to travel to hunt, their home range will be larger. A difference in home range size is not necessarily based on species because there can be differences in home range size between the same species of raptor.

 

Raptor birds of all species can be threatened by habitat loss and pollution, so conservation efforts aimed to protect these fierce birds are incredibly important.

 

So, are you ready to put your raptor knowledge to the test? Take this quiz to see how well you can identify the raptor birds of Northeast Iowa!

 

Take the quiz here: Knowing Nature – Raptors of Northeast Iowa 

 

Each Knowing Nature quiz features species found in Winneshiek County. By the end of the year, we’ll have experience identifying over 100 different types of plants, animals, and fungus!

 

Want to dive deeper into learning about the wildlife of Winneshiek County? Track seasonal changes and natural wonders with our YouTube playlist: “Noting Nature.”

 

Thank you to Luther College professor, Birgitta Meade, for compiling these “Knowing Nature” quizzes and allowing us to share them with the wider public. Most of the photos in these quizzes were taken by Winneshiek County Conservation naturalist Larry Reis.

Build With Bags Grant Funds New Tables at Lake Meyer’s East Picnic Shelter

Winneshiek County Conservation has been awarded $2,000 through the Build with Bags grant program to help fund the purchase of eight new picnic tables that have been placed at the East Picnic Shelter overlooking Lake Meyer.  These tables will provide sturdy, durable seating at this scenic picnic area, and this project will free up existing tables for use at other parks.

The tables are made from recycled plastic bags by Plastic Recycling of Iowa Falls, Inc. Each table represents approximately 10,600 plastic bags that won’t end up in the landfill and have been put to use in a durable, recycled product!

Now in its 16^th year, the Build with Bags grant program is a cooperative effort of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association, Keep Iowa Beautiful, Metro Waste Authority in Des Moines, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  In addition to providing funding for the purchase of furniture and equipment made from recycled plastic for parks and schools, the Build with Bags program also strives to reduce the consumption of plastic bags, encourage the use of reusable bags, and increase the amount of plastic bags recycled.

The Decorah Hy-Vee store played an important role in making this grant possible, as Store Manager Ariana Cervantes provided a letter of support on behalf of Winneshiek County that led to it being selected to receive a grant.  The Decorah Hy-Vee store encourages its customers to reduce plastic waste by promoting the use of re-usable bags in our community’s store.

For more information on Build with Bags or its grant program opportunities, please visit www.iowagrocers.com.

As the fall foliage dies back and before they are covered in snow, now is a great time to go fossil hunting in northeast Iowa! Most of the fossils found in Winneshiek County are approximately 487 to 443 million years old from the Ordovician Period. During this time, the land we now call Iowa was underwater, so our fossils often resemble ocean life. Have you found any of these common fossils?

Take the quiz here: Knowing Nature – Fossils

Want to learn more about some of the most recently discovered Winneshiek County fossils? Visit Decorah, the county-seat of Winneshiek County, for information about the Decorah Impact Crater, Giant Sea Scorpion, and other amazing fossil finds at this link: https://visitdecorah.com/decorah-impact-crater/

Each Knowing Nature quiz features species found in Winneshiek County. By the end of the year, we’ll have experience identifying over 100 different types of plants, animals, and fungus!

 

Want to dive deeper into learning about the wildlife of Winneshiek County? Track seasonal changes and natural wonders with our YouTube playlist: “Noting Nature.”

 

Thank you to Luther College professor, Birgitta Meade, for compiling these “Knowing Nature” quizzes and allowing us to share them with the wider public. Most of the photos in these quizzes were taken by Winneshiek County Conservation naturalist Larry Reis.

Many of these plants have bloomed and gone by mid-October in the wetlands of Winneshiek County. Wetlands were once a much more common habitat in northeast Iowa. In addition to providing food, water, and shelter for a variety of species, they also improve water quality, mitigate flooding, and stabilize soil. Test your knowledge on these wetland species to prepare for next year when you can go out and find them in the wild!

Take the quiz here: Knowing Nature – Wetland Species

Each Knowing Nature quiz features species found in Winneshiek County. By the end of the year, we’ll have experience identifying over 100 different types of plants, animals, and fungus!

Want to dive deeper into learning about the wildlife of Winneshiek County? Track seasonal changes and natural wonders with our YouTube playlist: “Noting Nature.”

Thank you to Luther College professor, Birgitta Meade, for compiling these “Knowing Nature” quizzes and allowing us to share them with the wider public. Most of the photos in these quizzes were taken by Winneshiek County Conservation naturalist Larry Reis.

With the hobby of bird-watching growing in popularity, you can never know too many birds! Over 295 species of birds call Winneshiek County home at different times throughout the year. Can you name these common species? A few of these birds migrate, but many live year-round in Winneshiek County, surviving the winters with special adaptations to find food and stay warm.

Take the quiz here: Knowing Nature – More Birds

Each Knowing Nature quiz features species found in Winneshiek County. By the end of the year, we’ll have experience identifying over 100 different types of plants, animals, and fungus!

Want to dive deeper into learning about the wildlife of Winneshiek County? Track seasonal changes and natural wonders with our YouTube playlist: “Noting Nature.”

Thank you to Luther College professor, Birgitta Meade, for compiling these “Knowing Nature” quizzes and allowing us to share them with the wider public. Most of the photos in these quizzes were taken by Winneshiek County Conservation naturalist Larry Reis.

In the fall, many of our local amphibians and reptiles begin seeking safe places to survive the winter. Most frogs, snakes, and turtles in Iowa go into a state called brumation (similar to hibernation) to save energy while food is scarce in the colder months. Help out these reptiles and amphibians by giving them space when you see them and leaving their habitats intact. You can also learn about which species Iowa are protected by Iowa law at: https://www.iowadnr.gov/programs-services/iowas-wildlife/threatened-endangered-wildlife.

Take the quiz here: Knowing Nature – Amphibians & Reptiles

Each Knowing Nature quiz features species found in Winneshiek County. By the end of the year, we’ll have experience identifying over 100 different types of plants, animals, and fungus!

 

Want to dive deeper into learning about the wildlife of Winneshiek County? Track seasonal changes and natural wonders with our YouTube playlist: “Noting Nature.”

 

Thank you to Luther College professor, Birgitta Meade, for compiling these “Knowing Nature” quizzes and allowing us to share them with the wider public. Most of the photos in these quizzes were taken by Winneshiek County Conservation naturalist Larry Reis.

A brand-new picnic shelter has been completed at Moe Park, a 40‑acre park managed by Winneshiek County Conservation between Decorah and Waukon on Old Stage Road. The new shelter brings both functionality and charm to this beloved park, adding to other park amenities including a playground, ball diamond, and vault toilet.

What makes this project truly special is that it was completely constructed by volunteers from the community. These friends of Moe Park came together to design, landscape, gather materials, and manage the entire build.

Many of the volunteers who contributed to the new shelter in Moe Park expressed having a special connection from their youth and reminisced about their experiences at the park. Through their contributions, they have improved this community greenspace for generations to come.

Winneshiek County Conservation extends a sincere thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers who came together to build the new shelter. A special acknowledgement to Jan Dansdill for his hours of planning, fabricating, building, and fundraising for the shelter.

Pack a picnic and visit Moe Park’s new shelter! Learn more about Moe Park here.

Butterflies belong to the order Lepidoptera, meaning scale-winged, after the microscopic scales that cover their wings like shingles. A single butterfly can have scales of hundreds of colors that make up a mosaic of patterns we recognize them by. These scales also provide a function for flight, defense, and thermoregulation. Wings may be bright colors to warn that this species does not taste good, mimic other species, look like eye spots to startle predators, or camouflage into their surroundings. In fact, to blend into its rainforest surroundings, the Greta oto butterfly’s wings are partially transparent!

 

Butterflies have a complex life cycle, undergoing metamorphosis in four stages: eggs, larvae (caterpillars), pupae, and adults. Some species may migrate or hibernate (called diapause in insects) in winter.

 

A host plant is a kind of plant that specific butterflies rely on for survival. Each species has its own host plant preferences where it chooses to lay eggs, although some are more generalists.

 

Many butterflies also play a role in pollination if they drink nectar, frequenting flowering plants in gardens, forests, orchards, and prairies. Some only drink nectar as a last resort, instead choosing to feast on dung, carrion, tree sap, and rotting fruit instead.

 

Butterflies are widespread, found on every continent except Antarctica. Winneshiek County provides breeding habitat for around 118 species of butterflies. How well do you know the butterflies found in Winneshiek County?

 

Take the quiz here: Knowing Nature – Butterflies of Winneshiek County

 

Each Knowing Nature quiz features species found in Winneshiek County. By the end of the year, we’ll have experience identifying over 100 different types of plants, animals, and fungus!

 

Want to dive deeper into learning about the wildlife of Winneshiek County? Track seasonal changes and natural wonders with our YouTube playlist: “Noting Nature.”

 

Thank you to Luther College professor, Birgitta Meade, for compiling these “Knowing Nature” quizzes and allowing us to share them with the wider public.