Máistir Nádúraí: Devil's Lake State Park!

10.30.2024

Devil's Lake State Park!

"I love to walk in the woods. But what I love even more is when the woods walk within me."

― Craig D. Lounsbrough

Few things compare to a beautiful fall hike at Devil's Lake State Park. The weekend crowd was out in force, but quieter trails offered peaceful spots to take in the park's stunning scenery. Now, October draws to a close, and we’re heading into the long stretch of winter until March. While the current warmth feels almost out of season, the chill will soon set in, and the last of the insects will fade away

Until November ...

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range firearms. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry and has more binoculars than you.