Here's what is happening in Iowa Nature this month. For information on attracting or identifying wildlife, use the links to the left.
Love is in the Air
By Buchanan County Conservation Naturalist Jenni Webster
With Valentines Day quickly approaching, signs of romance seem to literally be in the air. In fact, the fields and woods around us are brimming with wildlife doing their best to attract mates and establish territories at this time of year.
A typical February morning may begin with eavesdropping on the sweet nothings of black-capped chickadees. The male black-capped chickadee has three, high sweet notes to his song. It sounds a bit like “cheese-bur-ger,” almost as if the bird is asking for a dinner date. This charming fellow isn’t just talk. He will indeed feed his mate when courting, though seeds and insects are more likely to be on the menu. While romance has begun for the chickadees, they will not nest until late March when a pair will excavate a small tree cavity.
Male northern cardinals have also begun advertising for a mate. Many a morning will be filled with the clear, sweet call of “cheer, cheer, cheer, what, what, what, what” projected by these handsome birds.Cardinals don’t rely solely on their enchanting voices to attract a mate; they also use their bright coloration. For this bird, it appears that red truly is the color of love. The brighter a male cardinal is the better success he will have in reproducing when March rolls around.
The groundhog, or woodchuck, is a bit stealthier in his winter romance. While it is true that male groundhogs briefly awaken and emerge this month, they aren't actually looking for their shadows-they're searching for a mate! Male groundhogs will emerge in early February to check out the underground burrows of several nearby females. While no mating occurs, he’ll stay the night with each female before returning home to hibernate for another month. When he awakens in spring, he’ll have a head start on locating potential mates. He’ll then revisit the females’ burrows again...this time to breed.
Animal courtship is not confined to the woods and fields; it may be going on right under your nose! The common house mouse, which often sneaks into our homes during cold months, has his own song to sing. Scientists have just discovered that this little creature has a complex series of chirps and whistles that it uses to court a female. The vocalizations of the house mouse are so high frequency that the human ear cannot pick up on them.
Whether inside or out, a February day will also end with romance. Owls are belting out evening love songs all around us. Like other birds, owls vocalize to attract a mate and establish a territory. If you’re lucky, you may have heard the deep "Who's Awake? Me Too!" call of a great horned owl echoing across the woods. Or perhaps the barred owl’s “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” is ringing near you. The males (who are the smaller of the two sexes) have a deeper voice than the females, so you may be able to tell if you have a pair nearby.
February truly is a month of love in Iowa, filled with the unique scents, sounds, and sights of the animal courtship. The next time you step outside, keep your eyes and ears open to the signs of romance all around you.
