Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge

We took the nearby Buena Vista Ferry, because kids love ferries!
It was guided by cables above ground and under the water.

Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge is an interesting place. Its mission is to provide a place for birds to overwinter, especially the dusky Canada goose, so that they will have an alternative to hanging out on private land. Apparently they are a nuisance, not just because they are messy; they can cause crop damage. Most of the refuge is actually open fields for the birds to forage, but there are also extensive forests and wetlands. Boardwalks grace many of the trails, and there are two lovely blinds for wildlife viewing. It is difficult to spot the trailheads, but when we visited, the parking areas all seemed to have fliers with maps and detailed descriptions of the trails. Jasper was armed with a cool butterfly net that we picked up at Paxton Gate. Despite its size, he does not want to go anywhere without it. (Their butterfly nets are approved by The Bug Chicks.)

Marsh marigold.

Birdsfoot trefoil.

Damselflies. 

Yellow parentucellia.

Vetch.

Great blue heron.

Marsh marigold.

Lorquin’s admiral.

European bittersweet.

Bullfrog tadpole.

Wild roses.