Month: February 2023

#2 at Indian Creek Nature Center

~ Jean Wiedenheft ~ Leave a comment

Curl up with a good book and a cup of tea or hot chocolate in the bird room. The chairs are comfy, the bird feeders are full, and you can listen to the birds while you read. If you have already read Katie Mills Giorgio’s 100 Things to Do in Cedar Rapids Before You Die, I recommend reading Connie Mutel’s book Tending Iowa’s Land: Pathways to a Sustainable Future.

Connie shares a collection of essays from thought leaders in the convergence of agriculture, people, and nature. Iowa is one of the top agriculture states. Along with the money that sustains our economy from the corn, soybeans, pigs and chickens comes eroding soil, contaminated water, and habitat loss. Connie recognizes the real agriculture challenges that brought us to the place we are now and explores how we build a future that sustains the land and the people.

#1. Explore how others live in the snow

~ Jean Wiedenheft ~ Leave a comment

We play in the snow and plow the snow and watch the snow fall, but we don’t actually live in the snow. This is the perfect and ephemeral opportunity to check out the lifestyles of those who call the subnivean zone home. The zone is the band of snow that lies on top of the ground, creating just enough space to provide warmth and safety to a surprising variety of wildlife.

The subnivean landscape. The etymology of the word comes from the Latin roots for “under” and “snow”

Throughout the year, we frequently see the larger mammals, such as rabbits, squirrels and opossums. The littler critters, such as mice, typically scurry beneath our notice unless they enter our houses. This time of year, we can see exactly where the voles, shrews, moles and mice are going. They tunnel just above the surface of the ground and beneath the snow, leaving evidence of their routes and habits. A special thank you to Indian Creek Nature Center Executive Director John Myers for sharing this adventure. 100 Things to do at Indian Creek Nature Center