Have you ever seen an owl up close in the wild?Owls are some of the coolest birds on the planet. They’re known for being incredibly stealthy nocturnal predators with highly efficient hunting skills.Yet unlike a lot of other sneaky predators we hear about in storybooks & nature shows, owls are actually surprisingly easy to find in real life (when you take the right approach).In my … [Read more...] about How To Find Owls
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How Do Forests Form? (Forest Succession, Pioneer Plants & Growth Stages)
Forests are some of the most fascinating environments on the planet, filled with amazing natural mysteries to explore and discover.One of the best ways to really appreciate these environments more deeply is by learning how forests form through a process called “forest succession”.All forests go through distinct stages of growth as they develop from non-forested lands into full canopies of … [Read more...] about How Do Forests Form? (Forest Succession, Pioneer Plants & Growth Stages)
How To Find Bird Nests
Every year during spring, the forests & fields of nature become filled with a hustle & bustle of nesting birds.When you know what clues to look for, this brings a rare opportunity to practice finding bird nests and study their predator defence strategies.The easiest way to find nests is by watching for birds carrying nest materials like twigs, mud, plant fibers, moss & sticks, … [Read more...] about How To Find Bird Nests
6 Fascinating Questions About Plants To Ask Outside
When I first began studying nature, one of best skills I learned was how to ask really good questions about plants.Whether you want to learn about plants for yourself, or if you’re a teacher looking for ways to engage your students outside, good questions are the foundation of effective learning!The most common question people ask about plants is ‘what kind of plant is this?’… But there’s … [Read more...] about 6 Fascinating Questions About Plants To Ask Outside
What Do Animal Tracks Tell Us?
Animal tracking is a lot like being a detective.Every track and sign is another clue that tells us valuable information we can use to read the fascinating stories of local wildlife.Most trackers primarily focus on what kind of animal left a track, and while this is definitely a valuable skill, it’s really just the beginning of what’s possible.With good observation & critical … [Read more...] about What Do Animal Tracks Tell Us?
Where Do Birds Go At Night?
Whenever I watch birds around dusk, it’s always fascinating to wonder about where exactly they go for the night.It’s not always easy to observe birds after dark, so their nighttime habits are a common point of curiosity for students of nature.People often wonder things like: Do birds actually sleep? Where do they go? Can they fly in the dark? And why do they sometimes make noise at … [Read more...] about Where Do Birds Go At Night?
Top 10 Reasons Why I Love Nature (and why you might too…)
I get emails almost every day from people telling me how much they love nature.It’s really not surprising to me…Nature is filled with so much beauty, life & wisdom that it’s only natural to feel uplifted in the presence of big trees & singing birds.But have you ever thought about why we feel this way?I’ve learned from experience that being in touch with a genuine love for … [Read more...] about Top 10 Reasons Why I Love Nature (and why you might too…)
Deer Tracks And What They Tell You (ID, Speed, Direction, etc)
For many people, discovering fresh deer tracks marks the beginning of a life-long journey towards deeper understanding of deer and their environment.If you’ve ever stumbled across these two toed hoof prints in the mud, then you know the feeling of intrigue and curiosity as you realize that not too long ago, a wild animal was standing right here:Is this a deer track?How long ago was it … [Read more...] about Deer Tracks And What They Tell You (ID, Speed, Direction, etc)
How To Identify Birds: 21 Tips To Rapidly Improve Your Bird Identification Skills
Look over there! What bird is that?One of the most common areas where people struggle in nature studies is being able to confidently identify birds.This is because birds are almost constantly moving and changing their behavior in response to whatever is happening in the environment.It can be surprisingly difficult to get that critical closer look and know for sure what birds you’re … [Read more...] about How To Identify Birds: 21 Tips To Rapidly Improve Your Bird Identification Skills
14 Types of Plants Everyone Should Know: Photos, Identification & Uses
There are more than 390,000 different types of plants in the world today.So if you want to identify plants and even practice using them in daily life, that’s an insane number of species and could get pretty overwhelming.Luckily with the right approach, you’ll be surprised how quickly you can start learning some of the most important plants that every nature lover should know.One of the … [Read more...] about 14 Types of Plants Everyone Should Know: Photos, Identification & Uses