Central Iowa Group NewsletterSpring/Summer 2010

Central Iowa

In This Issue:

Lake Red Rock Campground Page 1Conservation Volunteer of the YearNew Location for Meetings

Calendar of Outings Page 2

Hike A Threatened Greenbelt Page 3Sandhill Cranes at ChichaquaBirdwatching in 1945Wildflower WeekRiver Run Garbage Grab

Goin’ on Safari Page 4The Prints of Jay N. Darling

Ginger Soelberg NamedPolk County ConservationVolunteer of the Year

Ginger Solberg, member of the Central Iowa SierraExecutive Committee, received the Polk CountyConservation (PCC) Volunteer of the Year award at thePCC volunteer banquet in March.

Ginger has been actively volunteering for PolkCounty Conservation for many years. She is currently

a member of theTrails andG r e e n w a y sCommittee andserves as a TrailAmbassador onthe Trestle toTrestle Trail. Shealso serves on thePCC AdvisoryCommittee and thePolk County REAPC o m m i t t e e .Besides committeework, she hasvolunteered for

river clean-ups, seed harvest, removal of invasivespecies, and other PCC sponsored events.

Congratulations, Ginger!

We’re moving!Beginning in May, the Central Iowa Group of

the Sierra Club will hold their monthly programsat the Northwest Community Center. This islocated at 5110 Franklin Avenue, Des Moines,about a mile west and a mile north of our currentlocation. We think you will enjoy the easy access,convenient parking and attractive meeting roomat the Center.

Remember, our May 19th program will be atthe Northwest Community Center, and this willcontinue to be our meeting spot in the future.

Jane Clark, Chairjrclark@radiks.net or 223-5047

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) and its partners are seeking help to convert an abandonedprivate campground along the south shoreline of Lake Red Rock in Marion County into a beautiful place forkids and adults to immerse themselves in nature. The future Hickory Ridge Wilderness Camp, with 47 acres of oak-hickory woodland, rises above the lake ona secluded cove just southwest of Whitebreast Recreation Area. It will be the first primitive public camping areaavailable on the lake. Anita O’Gara, Vice-President of INHF, and John Craun of the Red Rock Lake Association (RRLA) spokeabout the project to the Central Iowa Group of the Sierra Club in February. INHF is helping raise funds andcoordinate the project, working with the RRLA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Craun is spearheading aPaddle Across Iowa fundraiser. He plans to paddle 400+ miles on the Des Moines River this spring to gainsupport for Hickory Ridge and increase awareness of the value of the state’s growing water trails system. “We envision Hickory Ridge as a great place in central Iowa for individuals and families to hike, picnic,view wildlife or cross-country ski at a quiet, natural area on the lake. It will be especially attractive to canoeists,kayakers and youth groups,” said O’Gara. “It will be a great place for youth to train for trips to wilder places likethe Boundary Waters.” “INHF is proud to be working with the community to turn a former eyesore into an attractive destination,”added O’Gara. The site’s transformation has already begun. From the 1970s to the 1990s, Hickory Ridge was a timesharecampground. When that business became insolvent, the owners left everything behind, including old trailers,household items, waste tires, junked vehicles and a broken swimming pool. Hickory Ridge partners andvolunteers have already removed debris and hazards. In addition to restoring the area’s natural beauty, theirclean-up efforts also will help protect public safety and prevent pollution by addressing problems, such as ahaphazard array of old electrical facilities and abandoned wells. With help from volunteers, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has removed about 200 tons of concrete, sixtruck loads of appliances (about 10 appliances per load), about 60 old tires, 11 “roll offs” of steel, and more.Much of this debris has been recycled. “This is a diamond inthe rough,” said RussBenedict , a biologyprofessor at CentralCollege in Pella. “Thewoodland here is abeautiful example of nativeoak-hickory forest that isa haven for many types ofwildlife.” Benedict and hisstudents are involved withthe site’s cleanup andrestoration. They havealso been surveying thearea’s plants and animalspecies to provide sitemanagers with informationon Hickory Ridge’secology. The project got aboost recently when LakeRed Rock was designated as a state water trail, with Hickory Ridge as a planned access and camping area forwater trail users. Red Rock Lake Association coordinated the water trails application and will receive a DNRgrant to help fund directional and interpretive signage and improved lake access for non-motorized boats. Organizers plan minimal site improvements that avoid damage to the surrounding ecosystem and giveIowans an opportunity to enjoy Lake Red Rock, while getting away from motorboats, RVs and concrete. Plansinclude tent pads, fire rings, limited footpaths, and renovation of the existing picnic shelter. When fundraising and cleanup are complete, ownership of Hickory Ridge will be transferred to the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers for long-term management and oversight. In early March, the Corps hosted a scopingmeeting to gain public input as plans for the property are refined. The refined site plan will be posted on theCorps’ Lake Red Rock website. Check the INHF website, www.inhf.org, for the direct link. Comments or questionsabout the plan are invited through May 1st and may be sent to Wendy Frohlich, PD-E, U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers, Rock Island District, Clock Tower Building, P.O. Box 2004, Rock Island, IL 61204-2004, orwendy.m.frohlich@usace.army.mil. About 80% of the funding for this $405,000 project is committed, but about $80,000 in contributions orpledges are still needed. To donate or get more project information, visit www.inhf.org/hickoryridge or callAnita O’Gara at 515-288-1846. Those wishing to be notified of events and volunteer opportunities at the site orreceive project updates can provide their e-mail address through this website.

Partners Seek to Create New Primitive Camp on LakeRed Rockby Ann Robinson, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

SIERRAN

Central Iowa Group Spring/Summer 2010 Calendar of EventsPLEASE CALL THE OUTING LEADER IF YOU PLAN TO GO ON ANY OUTINGS. This helps the outing leader plan and alert you to possible changes. Everyone, includingnon-members, is welcome to attend programs and outings. Children are also welcome to attend with their parents or caretakers unless otherwise indicated by the outing leader.In order to participate in an outing, you (or your parent or guardian if under 18) will need to sign a liability waiver. To read a copy of the waiver, please see http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms/ or call 415-977-5630. Carpooling on outings is encouraged. However, it is strictly a private arrangement among participants, andparticipants assume all risks associated with such travel. All telephone numbers in this listing are area code 515 unless otherwise indicated.

Central Iowa SIERRAN Spring/Summer 2010Page 2

ALL DURING CALENDAR MONTHS

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY OUTINGSAnyone interested in Nature Photography Outings shouldemail Mary Ann (mahynes@crosspaths.net Subject: NaturePhotography) and she’ll notify you of upcoming events.

APRIL EVENTS

INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVALVolunteer at Yellow Banks County Park for invasive speciesremoval beginning in April every Thursday night at 6 p.m.Meet at the maintenance shed just inside the park and wearheavy work shoes or boots, sturdy gloves, long sleevesand long pants. Difficulty level: Moderate. Contact Pennyat 262-1224 to sign up or to check on weather conditions.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21: PUBLIC PROGRAM, 7 p.m.Iowa Food Cooperative by Lynn FallonThe Iowa Food Cooperative facilitates farmer-consumerrelationships and builds farms and communities through aweb-based marketing of Iowa products. Lynn Fallon, whorecently began working with the Iowa Food Cooperative,will present a program on this exciting and local cooperativefeaturing only Iowa products. Check out their website athttp://www.iowafood.org/. The program is 7:00-9:00 p.m. atGrace United Methodist Church, 37th & Cottage Grove inDes Moines. Contact Jane at 223-5047 or jrclark@radiks.netfor more information.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21: Spring Wildflower Hike,7 p.m.Soper Mill in Story County. Meet at 170th St. on thesoutheast side of the river. This hike starts at 7:00 p.m. Moredetails are available at www.schikes.org , by emailingvitol_g@yahoo.com or by calling 515-663-9251.

SATURDAY, APRIL 24: HIKE, 2 p.m.Des Moines River Greenbelt, Neal Smith TrailHike the Neal Smith Trail to learn more about the seriousimpact of a proposed interchange at Interstate 35/80 andNW 26th Street, and a 4-lane elevated roadway extendingsouth through the Des Moines River Greenbelt to MartinLuther King Parkway at Euclid Avenue. Come to appreciatethe natural beauty of the area and learn how you can helppreserve this invaluable recreational and natural resource.

We will meet (weather permitting) at the small parking lotnext to the trail off Morningstar Drive. Access from north ofI-35/80 by way of NW 26th Street. From the south, take 12thStreet north of Euclid to Morningstar Drive. Contact Janeat 223-5047 or jrclark@radiks.net or Ginger atsoelbergv@dwx.com or 253-0232 for further details ordirections. Difficulty: easy.

TUESDAY WEEKLY HIKES BEGINSierra Club Tuesday Evening Hikes resume on April 27.Hikes are held at a different location each week around theGreater Des Moines Area, begin at 6:30 p.m., and end around8 p.m. Get to know hiking areas you may have never visited,or to revisit old favorite trails. For all hikes, please contactthe hike leader to sign up each week so you can get directionsand be notified if there is any change in plans. You mayrequest to be placed on an email list to be notified of eachweek’s hike and any changes by contacting Jane atjrclark@radiks.net. Difficulty level is usually easy to moderate.Hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes are recommended, asare light weight long pants, mosquito repellent and water.Bring rain gear whenever there’s a chance of rain.

TUESDAY, APRIL 27: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Thomas Mitchell Wildflower Hike—Meet in front ofOkoboji Grill in Copper Creek shopping area in Pleasant Hill.Contact Jackie at 577-0375 for more information. Difficulty:moderate, hilly terrain.

MAY EVENTS

TUESDAY, MAY 4: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Margo Frankel Woods State ParkCelebrate Iowa Wildflower WeekMargo Frankel Woods is a good place to find wildflowersafter our long winter. Follow 2nd Avenue (Hwy 415) about 2

miles north of I-80/35. Margo Frankel Woods is located onthe east side of the highway, just south of NW 66th Avenue.We will meet at 6:30 in the parking lot. Contact Peggy atpeggybrowndm@yahoo.com or285-6864 for moreinformation. Difficulty: moderate, hilly terrain.

TUESDAY, MAY 11: 6:30 p.m.BIRDING AND WILDFLOWER WALKWalnut Woods State Park—For a bird hike/nature walk,meet in the picnic area at the circle drive found inside theeast entrance to the park. Bring binoculars and wearappropriate footwear! Contact Jane at jrclark@radiks.net or223-5047 for more information. Difficulty: easy.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12: OFF-ROAD BIKING, 7 p.m.West Peterson Park in Story County—The ride beginsat 7 p.m. from the West Peterson parking lot at the SW sideof the river off of 180th Street. More details are available atwww.schikes.org, by emailing vitol_g@yahoo.com or bycalling 515-663-9251.

TUESDAY, MAY 18: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Brown’s Woods Preserve—Meet in the Brown’s Woodsparking area at 6:30 p.m. to hike the long loop. Take 63rdStreet in West Des Moines south to Brown’s WoodsDrive, turn west and go about a half-mile, then turnright into the parking lot. Difficulty level: moderate, hillyterrain. Contact George at 745-7563 for information.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19: PUBLIC PROGRAMNOTE NEW LOCATIONProgram to be announced: The Central Iowa Sierra Group’sPublic program will be at 7 p.m. at Northwest CommunityCenter near 50th and Franklin Avenue in Des Moines.Contact Jane at 223-5047 or jrclark@radiks.net for moreinformation. Please note the new location.

TUESDAY, MAY 25: HIKE 6:30 p.m.Walnut Creek Trail—Meet at the Q-Trip gas station atthe corner of SW 63d Street and Railroad Avenue for anevening walk of 1½ to 2 hours through bottomland forest.Contact Jackie at 577-0375 for information. Difficulty level:moderate.

JUNE EVENTS

TUESDAY, JUNE 1: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Maffitt Reservoir—Meet at the west entrance to MaffittLake for a hike through the park and around the lake. Asalways, boots, water and bug repellent are recommended.Difficulty level: moderate. Contact Jackie at 577-0375 forinformation and/or directions.

TUESDAY, JUNE 8: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Raccoon River Park—Meet in the parking lot at the Lodgein Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines to walk aroundBlue Heron Lake. Please contact Jackie at 577-0375 for moreinformation. Difficulty level: easy.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9The Executive Committee of the Central Iowa Group of theSierra Club will meet from 6-9 p.m. All members are welcomefor the quarterly planning meeting. Contact Jane for locationat jrclark@radiks.net or 515-223-5047.

SUNDAY, JUNE 13: HIKE, 11 a.m.Madison County, Clanton Creek Natural ResourceArea—Meet at 11 a.m. in the east side of the parking lot ofthe Hy-Vee store across from Valley West Mall in West DesMoines. From there we will carpool to Madison Countywhere we will hike in the Clanton Creek Natural ResourceArea, which is located about three miles southeast of thetown of East Peru. A 5+ mile trail system transects this entirearea, The primary habitat is upland oak/hickory forest withterrain that varies from gently rolling to steep ravines. Otherunique habitats found there are small wetlands. Bring lunchand water, and wear hiking boots. Call Jackie at 577-0375 forinformation. Difficulty: moderate to difficult.

TUESDAY, JUNE 15: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Summerset State Park—Meet at Summerset State Parksouth of Des Moines at 6:30 p.m. To get to the park, travel 5miles south of Des Moines on Highway 69—there is a

posted sign pointing east. Meet at the public restroom justinside the park gates. This hike will take approximately 60minutes on a level trail. Difficulty level: easy to moderate.Contact Jackie at 577-0375 with questions.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16NO PROGRAMS DURING THE SUMMER—SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER

TUESDAY, JUNE 22: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Jester County Park—We will take advantage of several ofthe hiking trails that Jester County Park in northwest PolkCounty has to offer. Meet at the parking lot just inside thepark entrance at 6:30 p.m. Contact Ginger atsoelbergv@dwx.com or call 253-0232. Difficulty: moderate.

TUESDAY, JUNE 29: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Waterworks Park—Meet at the popular woodenfootbridge which is located less than a mile inside the parkfrom the entrance. From there we can cross the bridge andthe Raccoon River and hike along trails, perhaps going to apoint where we can spot the Terrace Hill Mansion fromafar—and possible wildlife along the way! Contact Georgeat 515-745-7563 with questions. Difficulty level: easy.

JULY EVENTS

TUESDAY, JULY 6: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Polk City Five Bridges—Meet at the Casey’s on the southside of Polk City just east of the Mile Long Bridge. We willtravel to the entrance of Big Creek State Park where there isa parking lot. From there we will get on the recreation trail,where there are 5 wooden bridges running along Big CreekLake and Saylorville Lake. The trail is paved and mostlywooded and the hike will take about 90 minutes. ContactJackie at 577-0375 to let her know you’re coming. Difficultylevel: easy to moderate.

TUESDAY, JULY 13: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Greenwood/Ashworth Park—Meet in the parking area onthe west side of the Des Moines Art Center, located justwest of Polk Boulevard on Grand Avenue. Difficulty level:easy to moderate. For more information, contact Doug atdra427@mchsi.com or 277-1263, or Karen atkktigges@live.com or 274-0545.

TUESDAY, JULY 20: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Sycamore Trail—Meet at the Sycamore Landing on theparking lot south of NW 66th Street on the east side of theDes Moines River. We’ll hike about 90 minutes. Difficultylevel: easy. Contact George at 745-7563 for questions anddirections.

TUESDAY, JULY 27: HIKE, 6:30 p.m.Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge—Meet in the parkinglot of the refuge’s Prairie Learning Center at 6:30 p.m. Hikethe Tallgrass Trail to catch glimpses of butterflies andsongbirds among the summer prairie blooms. Afterward,take an optional drive through the bison range. Difficultylevel: Easy to Moderate. Contact Doug atdra427@mchsi.com or 277-1263 to sign up and getdirections.

LOOKING AHEAD: AUGUST EVENTS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 3: 7:00 p.m..FUNDRAISER PRAIRIE HIKESand Hill Prairie, Chichaqua Bottoms GreenbeltMeet at 7:00 p.m. in the Sand Hill Prairie parking lot on 118thAve. off Hwy. 65/330 in northeast Polk County. After hikingon prairie paths enjoying the variety of grasses and forbs,we will have refreshments and linger to watch the sun setover the prairie. Difficulty level: easy to moderate. A $10minimum contribution is requested. Please RSVP to Jo at276-6359 or johudson@q.com for directions or to carpool.

For later August events, see the calendar in our nextnewsletter, or check our website http://iowa.sierraclub.org/ciag.

Central Iowa SIERRAN Page 3Spring/Summer 2010

Hike the Trail through aThreatened Greenbelt

Join us as we hike the Neal Smith Trail to learnmore about the serious impact of a proposedinterchange at Interstate 35/80 and NW 26th Streetand a 4-lane elevated roadway extending souththrough the Des Moines River Greenbelt to MartinLuther King Parkway at Euclid Avenue in DesMoines. Come to appreciate the natural beauty ofthe area and learn how you can help preserve thisinvaluable recreational and natural resource forcentral Iowa.

We will meet (weather permitting) on April 24that 2:00 p.m. at a small parking lot off MorningstarDrive just south of I 80/35. This can be accessedfrom north of I 80/35 by way of NW 26th Street.Coming from the south, take 12th Street north ofEuclid Avenue until it joins Morningstar Drive.Contact Jane Clark (jrclark@radiks.net or 223-5047)or Ginger Soelberg (soelbergv@dwx.com or 253-0232) for further details.

Sandhill Cranes at ChichaquaBottoms Greenbeltby Loren Lown

Since its inception, Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt(CBG) has been an excellent location for wildlifeobservation. As the restoration grows in size andcomplexity, the species of animals occupying thewetlands, grasslands, and woodlands have alsodiversified.

The hundreds of acres of wetlands and wet soilrestorations within the complex create the properhabitat to support species that were once common butare now rare in Iowa. Egrets, herons, bitterns, andcranes have all returned. Black and yellow-crownednight herons, American and least bitterns, green andgreat blue herons, egrets, and Sandhill cranes all areresidents of CBG.

The presence of nesting pairs of Sandhill cranesindicates that restoration efforts at CBG are successful.Drake University scholar Keith Summerville will bestudying the return of the Sandhills during the 2010season. Keith and his students will determine the arearequired for a nesting pair, including the foraging andnesting requirements and what the potential carryingcapacity of CBG is for this exceptional bird. Theinformation gained from this study will allow managersto make wise decisions when determining restorationgoals.

Polk County Conservation staff is looking forwardto this and other collaborations to better understandthe system recovery at one of Iowa’s premierrestoration projects. We hope to offer the results ofthis season’s study in late 2010. Stay tuned.

Loren Lown is the Natural Resources Specialist forPolk County Conservation.

Bird Watching 65 Years Agoby Carol Berrier

I began bird watching as a child in the early 1940s,in Cedar County, Iowa. This was before the post-World War II use of herbicides, pesticides, andchemical fertilizers, and before the widespreadpractice of roadside spraying and mowing. Farmingwas diversified, and pastureland studded with oak,hickory, hawthorn, and cedar was abundant. Manymore farmsteads existed then, with their woodlots andorchards. A drive in the country provided numeroussightings of bluebirds, dickcissels, bobolinks,meadowlarks, goldfinches, eastern kingbirds,loggerhead shrikes, and a variety of sparrows. Woodfence posts were in common use, and the large cornerposts sometimes housed bluebird nests. If westopped in the woods, the beautiful songs of woodthrush, rose-breasted grosbeak, scarlet tanager, vireo,and phoebe greeted us, and occasionally theincessant calls of the whip-poor-will. The cacophonyof barred owls resounded across the Cedar River.

A drive to north-central Iowa took me past potholesand cattails where I could spot bitterns as we passed.Barn owls nested in my uncles’ barns in WinnebagoCounty. Their eerie voices startled me, but the sightof parents with fledglings in a tree one evening wasunforgettable!

I did not need to go to the woods to see and hearbirds. I lived in Tipton, in a neighborhood with hugebur oaks, American elms, sugar maples, and blackwalnuts. Most mornings I awoke to the drumming ofa red-headed woodpecker, and the songs and calls ofpewee, cardinal, house wren, brown thrasher, catbird,robin, chickadee, flicker, blue jay, oriole, indigobunting, chipping sparrow, song sparrow, mourningdove, purple martin, common yellowthroat, and insome years, tufted titmouse. On sultry afternoons Ioften heard and sometimes saw rain crows (yellow-billed cuckoos). Ruby-throated hummingbirds busiedthemselves in my mother’s flowerbeds. Every townwith big elms, including Tipton, had a population ofwhite-breasted nuthatches which feasted on cicadas.Orioles also favored the American elms, hanging theirnests from overarching branches. In the evenings asthe swifts funneled into our chimney, night hawksand little brown bats appeared. Screech owls calledafter dark.

In winter we put out cracked black walnuts andhickory nuts, as well as suet. Red-headed, red-bellied,hairy and downy woodpeckers, chickadees andnuthatches dined in peace, for the starling invasionwas yet to come.

Early spring delighted me with kinglets, cedarwaxwings in our high bush cranberry, brown creepers,and the sweet voices of white-throated sparrows.May was magical! I stared in awe at the featheredjewels bedecking our great bur oaks. So manyvarieties of exquisite wood warblers inspected eachnew leaf cluster for inchworms that I didn’t knowwhere to turn my eyes next. Oven birds, thrushes,towhees, fox sparrows, and water thrushes pokedunder the oak leaves below our windows. All in mybackyard!

Fragmentation and loss of habitat in both NorthAmerican breeding grounds and South Americanwintering grounds, use of chemicals, introducedcompetition from starlings and house sparrows, andthe proliferation of the native, parasitic brown-headedcowbirds have visibly taken their toll on our songbirds. But each spring, in my mind’s eye, I see thebirds of over sixty years ago.Central Iowa

Group Directory(See directory in Chapter newsletter for

state and national information)

Chair Jane Clark, 223-5047Vice Chair Phyllis Goodman, 274-4319Treasurer Ginger Soelberg, 253-0232Secretary Karen Tigges, 274-0545Membership Chair Jo Hudson, 276- 6359Conservation Chair Jo Hudson, 276-6359Fundraising Chair Ginger Soelberg, 253-0232ExCom Members Donna Balzer, 285-7787

Carol Grimm, 278-4057Carolyn Walker, 779-1680

Managing Editor Jo Hudson, 276-6359Layout Editor Neila Seaman, 277-8868

http://iowa.sierraclub.org/ciag/

CENTRAL IOWA SIERRANManaging Editor: Jo HudsonLayout Editor: Neila Seaman

The Central Iowa Sierran is published three times ayear. We invite submissions of letters, articles,photographs and illustrations. Deadlines are March5 for the Spring/Summer issue; July 5 for the Autumnissue; and November 5 for the Winter issue.

Preference will be given to articles relating to theCentral Iowa Group. The editors reserve the right toedit for clarity, space and for libel reasons. Allsubmissions must have name, address, and phonenumber.

Submissions may be sent to Jo Hudson. Call 276-6359 for submission address. Electronic submissionof articles is preferred: johudson@q.com orneilaseaman@mchsi.com. Hard copy submissionsshould be written neatly or double-space typed.

Ninth Annual River RunGarbage Grab (R2G2)by Phyllis Goodman 

August 14, 2010 is the date for the ninth annualDes Moines River clean up, R2G2, the River RunGarbage Grab, and the third year the Central IowaSierra Group will help. Mark your calendar!

Last year about 400 paddlers combed the riverfrom Sycamore access to Yellow Banks Park, andover 25 TONS of trash were remo ved andrecycled by enthusiast ic volunteers. After theday was over, volunteers celebrated downtownby the riverside with music and a free dinner.

You can volunteer for this year ’s R2G2 in oneof two ways.

F irst , yo u can b e a h o st at t h e S ie r raClub’s Yel low  Banks host   site .  Hosts  he lpboaters unload, welcome them with drinks, andprovide communication with the other sites. It’sa beautiful location to spend the day or a fewhours. It’s as easy or challenging as you want itto be.

Second, you can canoe on the Des MoinesRiver or walk adjacent trails and pick up trash.Support equipment is provided.

The R2G2 website is www.riverstewards.org . At the time of this writing (late March), the 2010update is not yet installed, but if you did notpart icipate last year you can see scenes andinformation from R2G2 in 2009 that will give youan idea of what you can expect this year. Watchfor the 2010 update as it gets closer to the dateof this year’s event.

And again, al l volunteers, both hosts andcollectors of garbage, will be invited to join inthe free dinner and music afterwards, to celebratea job well done!

For more information or to volunteer for oursite, contact Phyllis at goodmanph@mchsi.comor 515-274-4319. 

First Annual IowaWildflower Week

The Iowa Native Plant Society (INPS) has announcedthat the first annual Iowa Wildflower Week will be May 2-8,2010.

The week will be coordinated by the INPS. Activities willbe announced on the INPS list serve, added to the INPScalendar and newsletter, and provided in press releasesabout Iowa Wildflower Week in your area of the state.

If you are planning or know of a wildflower-related walkor talk during the week of May 2-8, please considerrequesting that it be identified with Iowa Wildflower Weekand listed with the INHF. Email your information to Dianneat bennaid@hotmail.com.

And be sure to mention Iowa Wildflower Week whenyou announce your events. Extra publicity will helpintroduce more people to our native plants and natural areas.

Bobolinkphoto courtesy Polk County Conservation

Central Iowa SIERRAN Spring/Summer 2010Page 4

Jay N. “Ding” Darling (American, 1876-1962), twentieth centuryeditorial cartoonist and conservation activist, promoted educationabout America’s natural resources. Darling was a noted PulitzerPrize winning editorial cartoonist for the Des Moines Register.He was also a fine arts print maker, and created over 84 etchings,photo-etchings and dry-points between 1925 and 1960. His printsdepicted Iowa wildlife realistically and naturalistically.

Renowned for advocating conservation of our naturalresources, Darling was the father of the Federal Duck StampProgram, founder of the National Wildlife Federation, and creatorof the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program.“Ding” Darling laid the groundwork for the system of today’sNational Wildlife Refuges.

A current exhibition at the Brunnier Art Museum in theScheman Building in the Iowa State Center, Ames, consists of 61of Darling’s prints, including the one for which he is best knownas a printmaker, the original 1934 design for the first Federal DuckStamp.

Museum hours are Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 1-4 p.m.

A Witness to Waste: The Prints of Jay N. Darling

SPRING! Grab your pith helmet, camera, tripod, and flip-flops! We’re goin’ on a safari! Youdon’t have to go to exotic, far away places to enjoy and photograph the flora and fauna. Stayin your own backyard or wander, not too far, to your local park. Wild birds and animals arechallenging. They are hard to approach, and are always flitting from here to there. From thesmall, fast-paced songbirds, the cautious, elegant deer, the skittering ground insects andgraceful butterflies, to stately, colorful blooms, you’ll find photographing backyard life extremelyrewarding.

Because birds are most prolific at the average backyard feeders, the bulk of this article willcenter on birding and the photography of birds. Much of the skills and equipment used areeasily carried over toshooting most wildlife andplant life.Equipment

The quality of imagesdepends on the type ofcamera you use. The simple,lower end, point-and-shootcamera will not satisfy theaverage birder. A lens capableof bringing the subject closerand a shutter capable ofcapturing action is anecessity.

Which is better, digital orfilm? There have been greatimprovements in digitalcameras. The higher-endmodels have improvedtelephoto abilities and theability to adjust shutter speedand lens opening. You mustalso be aware of the pixels thedigital camera is capable oftaking. Pixels are dots usedto display an image on ascreen or printed matter.Pixels are not a measure ofsize, but are the number ofindividual dots that go intomaking each image. A millionpixels are abbreviated as MP.A 3MP camera can make excellent 4"x6" prints and very good 5"x7" prints. If you intend tomake lots of 8"x10" prints, then perhaps a 4MP or 5MP camera would be a better choice. Mid-and higher-end SLR digital cameras have interchangeable lenses. A good starting lens is a 75-300 or 100-300mm zoom lens. The longer the lens the heavier it is and the harder to keep steady.A good macro lens is a must for shooting flowers, insects, and other small, crawly creatures.

Images taken digitally give instant gratification. Seeing your results immediately allows youto make any adjustments then and there to obtain the results you want. Depending on theresolution, a large number of photos can be saved on one card. Images can also be manipulatedin your computer, using software such as Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, andiPhoto. Some birders prefer slides, therefore use film. The same guidelines apply regardinglenses of film cameras.

Using Aperture Priority Mode when shooting birds that are at a water source or feedingallows you to control the depth of field. The manual mode in setting the shutter and apertureis best when shooting birds in flight. The bottom line: know your camera. Read the manual! Befamiliar with all its settings and its capabilities. The learning takes patience, but the rewards aregreat.

Waiting while holding a camera with a long lens can be a tiring, shaky, blurry situation, soa good tripod is a must—a big, heavy one, but one you can carry. It will aid in sharper images.You will be able to set up your camera on a tripod and wait for the subject to land at a point ona perch. Small, short tripods are available for getting an eye-to-eye, stable shot of ground levelflora or fauna.

Other items to consider are a remote release for your camera, a polarizing filter, lens hood,wrinkled tin foil for redirecting light, and, of course, a bag for all your stuff.

Time of year, time of dayThe very best time of the year to shoot birds is spring. You capture some in the migration

cycle, and nesting and tending their young. Spring and summer are also a good time forshooting fawns and their does. Autumn picks up another migration cycle, while the winterpicks up your diehard “here to stay” animals.

Birds are the most active shortly after sunup, and the lighting then is beautiful. Thesame is true of later afternoon. Walk your yard at different times of day. Practice focusingyour camera on likely perches or probable resting places. You want the subject to fill theframe. This will also help you layout your backyard to attract and sustain birds.Attracting wildlife

Basically, birds need food, water, and shelter. Plant wildlife-friendly trees, shrubs andperennials to create a backyard wildlife habitat. Do research on what flora attracts what

birds. Stick with what isnative to your area. A dead tree is good.Woodpeckers love theinsects the tree attracts.Cavities in dead trees arehabitats for birds andmammals. Critters need tohide and feel safe. A brushpile in the back of the yardis a good place for birdsand mammals to hide.

Whether it a fancy birdbath or a simple, shallow dish, water is a must for birds to drinkand bathe. They are especially attracted to the sound of water, like a fountain. Care mustbe taken to keep the container clean and the water fresh.

Birdhouses and nesting boxes are good ways to attract birds. Do your research. Everybird has certain demands for a house: diameter of hole, material, location, etc. They’re funto make and a great project for kids.

You can attract specific birds by choosing certain feeder designs and filling them withthe right foods to attract a particular type of bird. Some birds are primarily ground feeders.Birds feel safer with cover nearby, so consider this when placing feeders. Place feeders sobirds must wait their turn. They will perch while waiting, allowing you to do some shooting.During feeding is a great time to shoot birds. You’ll probably catch a few other great shotsof wildlife such as raccoons, chippies, squirrels, and deer at the feeders.

One other consideration in choosing a location for bird feeders is lighting. Direct frontlighting is best for shooting pictures, to get all the color and detail of the feathers. You wantto be in the shadows, the bird in full light. Ensure that your subject is evenly lit with noshadows

Make friends with or learn how to control the other animals visiting your feeders. Ifyou’re patient, you’ll shoot some stunning pictures. You can master your skills in yourown backyard and carry them to wherever your adventures take you. Your patience,understanding, appreciation and love of nature are the real determinants of yourphotographic excellence, regardless of how sophisticated your equipment or how exoticthe surroundings.

Goin’ on a Safariby Ann Defenbaugh

Photos by Ann Defenbaugh.