CottonwoodSeedsCooper06112009JGWardIMG_3240
Originally uploaded by jward199
A beaver lodge is located near the boardwalk at Cooper Park wetland in East Peoria, IL. This guy swam from the lodge down a narrow stream until he reached the open water. This area has been underwater most of the spring, due to flooding on the Illinois River.
A Great Blue Heron sat out by the edge of the river.
A pair of Prothonotary Warblers were flitting around the bottom land forest.
This huge old snapping turtle was just off the boardwalk on the south boardwalk at Cooper Park in East Peoria.
The forest floor was covered with cottonwood seeds.
Another heron was out at the edge of the forest along the river.
Maple seedlings carpeted the woods, in wide rows where the flooding waters dropped them.
Canada Geese were milling around by the water's edge.
More Maple seedlings carpeted the ground out to the playground, like a lawn where the flooding river deposited them in fertile sediment.
