A male sage-grouse arrives early, when temperatures are still below freezing in the Red Desert area in Wyoming. The first males to arrive on the lek are the older, experienced ones; they often arrive before sunrise to guard coveted territories. The spring mating season of sage-grouse begins in late February and extends through May. Males in full breeding regalia have sharply pointed tail feathers, a white ruff inflated yellow air sacs and yellow patches over each eye. The upright posture, semi-extended wings and puffed-up chest make them appear larger to opponents and predators.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
One of the rarest and most endangered birds in North America, a male Attwater’s prairie-chicken, performs a spring ritual dance accompanied by his characteristic boom on a prairie in southern Texas. The physical differences between Attwater’s and the Greater prairie-chicken – such as a slightly smaller body and darker coloration – are so minor the two are considered almost identical. Every spring, male Attwater’s prairie-chickens gather on the booming ground to perform their mating dance. When females are in the vicinity, booming intensifies. Booming is infrequent early in the year but increases in vigor and frequency as the season advances.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
A honey bee hovers near a spiderwort to collect pollen during the summer months in Columbia. Many honeybees and other native bees depend on native flowers for food.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
Eastern tiger swallowtails measure at nearly 5.5 inches and live in open, sunny, upland fields and wet meadows. They are also easily attracted to flowers, such as purple coneflower, wild bergamot and milkweed.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
After morning display, a male greater sage-grouse flies away from his mating ground in south central Wyoming. Lekking activities come to an end when all the females have been bred, usually in May. Males will stop displaying and leave the lek for summer habitat. They have no role in nesting or caring for the next generation.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
After we moved to our new house a few years ago, we searched for a tree that could create shade as well as be a potential host plant for pollinators. Ever since we learned that our green lawn is unfortunately a “green desert” to most living things, our family always looks for a way to convert the lawn and plant more trees and plants. This spring we planted four tulip poplar trees on our sidewalk. This tree can grow very fast, and more importantly it is a host plant for eastern tiger swallowtail. To my surprise I found three well-camouflaged swallowtail caterpillars this summer!
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
A male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse creates vivid color against a blanket of snow in south central Wyoming. With their feathered feet acting as snowshoes, the birds are able to dance on crusted snow.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
An earlier version of this story misnamed Missouri Conservationist, the magazine published by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Growing up in Thailand, Noppadol Paothong often had nature at his fingertips. It inspired him to grab a camera and train his eye to see the beauty in wildlife.
That enchantment with natural surroundings was the beginning of an illustrious career as a nature photographer.
Eastern tiger swallowtails measure at nearly 5.5 inches and live in open, sunny, upland fields and wet meadows. They are also easily attracted to flowers, such as purple coneflower, wild bergamot and milkweed.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
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A male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse creates vivid color against a blanket of snow in south central Wyoming. With their feathered feet acting as snowshoes, the birds are able to dance on crusted snow.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
After we moved to our new house a few years ago, we searched for a tree that could create shade as well as be a potential host plant for pollinators. Ever since we learned that our green lawn is unfortunately a “green desert” to most living things, our family always looks for a way to convert the lawn and plant more trees and plants. This spring we planted four tulip poplar trees on our sidewalk. This tree can grow very fast, and more importantly it is a host plant for eastern tiger swallowtail. To my surprise I found three well-camouflaged swallowtail caterpillars this summer!
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
A honey bee hovers near a spiderwort to collect pollen during the summer months in Columbia. Many honeybees and other native bees depend on native flowers for food.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
After morning display, a male greater sage-grouse flies away from his mating ground in south central Wyoming. Lekking activities come to an end when all the females have been bred, usually in May. Males will stop displaying and leave the lek for summer habitat. They have no role in nesting or caring for the next generation.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
A male sage-grouse arrives early, when temperatures are still below freezing in the Red Desert area in Wyoming. The first males to arrive on the lek are the older, experienced ones; they often arrive before sunrise to guard coveted territories. The spring mating season of sage-grouse begins in late February and extends through May. Males in full breeding regalia have sharply pointed tail feathers, a white ruff inflated yellow air sacs and yellow patches over each eye. The upright posture, semi-extended wings and puffed-up chest make them appear larger to opponents and predators.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
One of the rarest and most endangered birds in North America, a male Attwater’s prairie-chicken, performs a spring ritual dance accompanied by his characteristic boom on a prairie in southern Texas. The physical differences between Attwater’s and the Greater prairie-chicken – such as a slightly smaller body and darker coloration – are so minor the two are considered almost identical. Every spring, male Attwater’s prairie-chickens gather on the booming ground to perform their mating dance. When females are in the vicinity, booming intensifies. Booming is infrequent early in the year but increases in vigor and frequency as the season advances.
Noppadol Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation
