Mallards are some of the most common wild ducks in North America. Their behavior also overlaps significantly with many other common duck species, making mallards an excellent place to start learning about the world of wild ducks. So today let's take a dive into the exciting world of mallards. For a video introduction you can check out the following video that highlights some common … [Read more...] about Mallard Duck Behavior Explained: Diet, Mating, Calls & More
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Canada Goose Calls (And What They Mean)
Canada goose calls are some of the most commonly heard sounds in north american wetlands. But have you ever wondered what these calls actually mean? Most Canada goose calls relate to territorial and courtship behaviors, as shown in the following video: Additionally, it’s possible to identify male and female Canada geese by their voice, which can help us further interpret goose … [Read more...] about Canada Goose Calls (And What They Mean)
How To Find Crow Nests:
Crows are very sneaky about the location of their nests. But with so many crows raising families around our homes and neighborhoods, crows nests are actually very common. So how can you find them? This video has everything you need to find crow nests: As shown above, there are 3 main methods you can use to find a crow nest in early spring: Let's look at these more … [Read more...] about How To Find Crow Nests:
Do Owls Eat Birds? (And How Do They Catch Them?)
Considering how fast and agile birds are, I've sometimes wondered whether owls can actually catch birds for food. Well it turns out that while the primary diet of owls is small mammals like mice and voles, owls do eat birds on a fairly regular basis. Birds typically only account for about 10% of an owl’s diet. However considering that owls need to eat every day, this is still quite a few … [Read more...] about Do Owls Eat Birds? (And How Do They Catch Them?)
How To Identify White Pine And Red Pine Trees (Needles, Cones, Bark & More)
Red pine and white pine are two species of pine tree that commonly grow together in eastern North America. So if you live in a place that has both red and white pines, you may have wondered how to tell these two species apart. The differences between red and white pines are subtle, but quite obvious once you know what to look for. Learning these two trees will also lay a solid foundation to … [Read more...] about How To Identify White Pine And Red Pine Trees (Needles, Cones, Bark & More)
Identifying Raccoon Tracks In Snow: Winter Trail Behavior
This winter I did a bunch of raccoon tracking in snow and it was really informative to study their trails. One thing I love about raccoon tracks in snow is that you can follow them long distances and connect the dots of their behavior to the different ecologies of your landscape. It's extremely common to see raccoon tracks during winter anytime the weather isn't in a deep freeze. So today … [Read more...] about Identifying Raccoon Tracks In Snow: Winter Trail Behavior
Identifying Squirrel Tracks In Snow: VS Rabbit & Mouse Tracks
Have you ever been out in the snow and wondered whether the tracks you're seeing are made by squirrels or some other animal? Squirrel tracks are some of the most commonly found tracks in the winter woods. They're also quite easy to identify in snow when you know what to look for. So let's cover everything you'll need to identify squirrel tracks in snow. Squirrels bound along their … [Read more...] about Identifying Squirrel Tracks In Snow: VS Rabbit & Mouse Tracks
Crow Habits & Behaviors (And What They Mean…)
Have you ever seen a crow doing something strange and wondered what it means? I’ve been studying crows for a long time and today I’d like to cover some of most common and revealing crow behaviors you’re likely to see in the field. Crow behavior helps us understand crows through careful observation of their body language, vocalizations & actions. We’ll start with the most common … [Read more...] about Crow Habits & Behaviors (And What They Mean…)
What Do Squirrels Eat? Squirrel Diets In All 4 Seasons
I’ve watched squirrels eat a huge diversity of foods from mushrooms to insects, tree buds, bird eggs & even small mammals. But there’s one major category of food that squirrels value above all else (and it’s a big part of why squirrels are so successful at surviving harsh winters). So what is this critically important squirrel food? Almost all food eaten by squirrels is seeds and … [Read more...] about What Do Squirrels Eat? Squirrel Diets In All 4 Seasons
Beginner’s Guide To Groundhogs: Habitat, Diet, Behavior & More
I used to have a female groundhog living under my shed, which provided amazing opportunities to watch an active den and study groundhog behavior up close. Groundhogs are extremely common in many parts of north america, so let's explore some key facts to help interpret their activity in the likely event that you encounter one. Watch this video with some fantastic clips I got of the mother … [Read more...] about Beginner’s Guide To Groundhogs: Habitat, Diet, Behavior & More