mrgreatplainspants, Author at Great Plains Nature Center

Coralberry

Common Name: Coralberry Scientific Name: Symphoricarpos orbiculatus A.K.A.: Buckbrush February is a waiting time on the prairie. Winter is not over with, and occasional dazzling, sunny days with temperatures up into the 50’s tease us with the promise of spring. The landscape is all colored in shades of grey and brown. You may notice a flush of red…

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus One of the most familiar shorebirds, the Killdeer is a robin-sized plover with two complete dark bands across its neck and chest and pale legs in all seasons. A bright red eye ring is visible during the breeding season. The orange-brown rump is obvious as the bird tries to lure intruders from…

Dickcissel Spiza americana written by Jim Mason As you drive by the fields and pastures of the eastern Great Plains between May and September, you notice certain birds perched on the fences and power lines. Two species will look somewhat similar because each has a black “V” on a yellow breast. The robin-size one with…

Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda The Upland Sandpiper is the “shorebird of the prairie”. While most of its relatives are never found far from water, this species has made itself at home on the grasslands. Of the 47 species of shorebirds known to nest in North America, only the Killdeer, Mountain Plover and Long billed Curlew…

Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta written by Jim Mason The meadowlark is one of the most characteristic birds of the North American grasslands. One of the two species, Western or Eastern (Sturnella magna), may be found in meadows and fields from one coast to the other and from the Canadian prairie to Mexico. The Western Meadowlark…

Dragonflies and Damselflies

Widow Skimmer (male) Photo by Jim Mason Dragonflies and Damselflies in Kansas Dragonflies and damselflies are insects in the Order ODONATA. They are some of the more noticeable insects, especially around the bodies of water that they call home. Their amazing aerial capabilities and superb sense of sight make them fascinating creatures to watch. As…

Butterflies in Kansas

Silvery Checkerspot Photo by Jim Mason Butterflies in Kansas Butterflies and moths form the insect order Lepidoptera. They are one of the advanced orders of insects and undergo complete metamorphosis. Most people regard butterflies as colorful and appealing, even if they don’t like “bugs” in general. By studying them, one can gain insight into the…

Western Tiger Salamander Ambystoma mavortium written by Jim Mason Count yourself lucky if you have ever found one of these in the wild. Despite being known to occur all across Kansas, the Western Tiger Salamander can be very hard to find. They spend most of summer and winter in the burrows of other animals or…