My Incredible World

09/01/2026

Researchers planted acoustic recorders at 13 Midwestern solar farms and found nearly double the grassland bird species compared to nearby corn fields, plu

09/01/2026

Head's up that our 20% off all books sale on our website will be ending tomorrow.

Don't miss your last chance to stock up!

08/31/2026

House wrens (Troglodytes aedon) are tiny, energetic songbirds found across much of North America. Their plain brown feathers may not be flashy, but their remarkably loud and bubbly songs can make them one of the most noticeable birds in their habitat.

These little birds spend much of their time searching through branches, shrubs, and other vegetation for insects and spiders. They are also cavity nesters and may build their nests in tree holes, birdhouses, and all sorts of unexpected spaces around homes and gardens.

Despite their small size, house wrens can be fiercely territorial, especially when defending a nesting site.

Have you ever heard a house wren singing in your backyard? 🎶🐦

08/31/2026

Female mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) may not have the glossy green heads of the males, but they have beautiful markings of their own! Their mottled brown feathers provide excellent camouflage, while both males and females have a brilliant blue patch on each wing called a speculum.

Mallards are dabbling ducks, which means they often feed by tipping forward in shallow water rather than diving. They eat a varied diet that includes aquatic plants, seeds, insects, and other small animals.

Female mallards also make the familiar loud “quack” most people associate with ducks!

Have you ever noticed the bright blue wing patches on a female mallard? 💙🦆

08/29/2026

Western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) are common across much of the western United States, where they can often be spotted basking in the sunshine on rocks, logs, trees, and fences.

Their rough, spiny scales help give them a rugged appearance, while their brown and gray coloring provides excellent camouflage against rocks and tree bark. Males are especially colorful underneath, with brilliant blue patches on their bellies and throats that have earned these lizards the nickname “blue-bellies.”

Western fence lizards eat insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates and spend much of their time watching for both prey and approaching predators.

Have you ever spotted one of these little lizards basking in the sun? ☀️🦎

08/28/2026

Common eastern bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) are among the most familiar bumblebees in eastern North America. These fuzzy pollinators visit a wide variety of wildflowers and garden plants, collecting both nectar and pollen.

Like other bumblebees, they live in colonies led by a queen. Worker bees spend much of the summer traveling from flower to flower, helping pollinate plants as they gather food for the colony.

Common eastern bumblebees can even use a technique called buzz pollination, vibrating their flight muscles to shake pollen loose from certain flowers.

What flowers are attracting the most bumblebees where you live? 🌼🐝

08/27/2026

A reminder.

08/27/2026

Black swallowtails (Papilio polyxenes) are beautiful butterflies found across much of North America. Females can be recognized by their dark wings decorated with rows of colorful spots and patches of shimmering blue.

Their caterpillars feed on plants in the carrot family, including parsley, dill, fennel, and Queen Anne’s lace. After growing through several stages, each caterpillar forms a chrysalis before emerging as an adult butterfly.

Black swallowtails visit many kinds of flowers for nectar and can often be spotted in gardens, meadows, and other sunny, open areas.

Have you ever found a black swallowtail caterpillar in your garden? 🐛🦋

08/26/2026

Gray treefrogs are amazing climbers found in forests, wetlands, backyards, and other wooded habitats across much of eastern North America. Their large toe pads help them cling to trees and other surfaces, while their color can change from gray to green depending on their surroundings.

There are actually two nearly identical species found in Wisconsin (where this one was photographed): the gray treefrog (*Dryophytes versicolor*) and Cope’s gray treefrog (*Dryophytes chrysoscelis*). They are so similar in appearance that they usually cannot be reliably distinguished by sight alone. Their calls are one of the best ways to tell them apart.

Since we photographed this frog without hearing its call, we’ve included both scientific names here.

Have you ever spotted a gray treefrog where you live? 🐸

08/19/2026

LOVE 😍😍😍

Books are still available to check out, but the Anythink Nature Library is also home to items and programming all focused on getting outdoors.