Photo Credit - Shelly Randerson
The following article was written by Jessica Johnsrud, the Education Coordinator at the Woodland Dunes Nature Center.
As Father’s Day approaches, I think of my own father and I am grateful for all the time we spent outside together when I was a child. I have memories of my dad showing me the magic of opening a dried milkweed pod and finding the silky, smooth seeds inside. We would let them go and watch the breeze carry them away. I remember laying in the grass next to him in the backyard, looking up at the night sky. We still spend time together outdoors, walking on trails and enjoying the scenery. In the natural world, we often think of the females as the main care givers, however there are many exceptions. There are some males that care for their offspring and I thought I would highlight a few of these exceptional “nature dads”.
Smallmouth Bass
The males are the homemakers and build a nest in shallow rivers. They use their tail to sweep out a circular depression and their mouths to move small rocks until the nest is just right. Once the female lays eggs, the bass dad will guard them from predators and even protect the young fry when they first hatch. He will stay with them until they are about one inch in size and able to care for themselves.
Red Fox
This nature dad is quite the provider. He is the main hunter for his family while the female nurses the newborn kits in the den. Once the kits are old enough, dad will teach them how to hunt and other skills that foxes need to know.
Giant Water Bug
This is one of nature’s best primary parents in Wisconsin. The female cements the eggs onto the male’s wings and he carries them for several weeks in the water. During this time, he cares for them by taking them to the surface to make sure the eggs get enough oxygen. Once they hatch, dad’s job is done and the nymphs are on their own.
Wilson’s Phalarope
Gender roles are completely reversed in this interesting marsh bird species. The females are flashier in color, fighting over males and courting a mate through courtship displays. Once she lays the eggs, she abandons them and the male will camouflage the nest. He incubates the eggs and rears the young chicks all on his own.
