Woa, look at all those crazy crows! Why are they swarming like that? One of the most striking displays of crow behavior is when crows gather together in massive groups at the end of the day. These flocks can grow to as many as hundreds or even thousands of crows, which really makes them stand out in the environment. So if you’ve ever seen this massive influx of noisy black corvids, you … [Read more...] about Why Do Crows Gather At Sunset?
Articles
How Do Hawks Hunt?
One of the amazing things about hawks is their huge variety of different strategies for hunting and catching prey. Some hawks hunt by soaring high over open landscapes as they watch for unsuspecting prey animals below. Others will choose a silent perch at the edge of a meadow, then swoop down at just the right moment. There are even hawks that specialize in hunting birds on the fly, swerving … [Read more...] about How Do Hawks Hunt?
How Does Weather Affect Animal Behavior?
I’ve been interested in the relationship between weather and animal behavior since I first started studying nature as a teen. Wild animals are constantly outside, being affected by changes in cold, heat, rain, snow, wind & dry conditions. This presents a great opportunity to gain deeper insight into the lives of local wildlife, and learn some amazing things about our … [Read more...] about How Does Weather Affect Animal Behavior?
Why Do Owls Bob Their Heads?
Have you ever seen that weird head bobbing movement owls make? Recently I've had multiple people describe encounters they had with owls bobbing their heads. And it just so happens I caught some great video footage of young Barred Owls doing this exact head bobbing while learning to hunt crickets in the yard. So I figured this is the perfect opportunity to talk about why owls bob their … [Read more...] about Why Do Owls Bob Their Heads?
How To Identify Raccoon Tracks
Raccoon tracks are some of the most common footprints found in north america. These masked bandits love to hunt for tasty morsels along the edges of creeks and wet areas where they have no fear of getting their feet muddy. Raccoons are also a common visitor of garbage cans and compost bins, leaving plenty of opportunities to track raccoons close to home. Because they’re so common, knowing … [Read more...] about How To Identify Raccoon Tracks
How To Predict Weather With Clouds
Before the invention of modern forecasting, humans knew how to predict weather by looking at clouds. So on my quest to learn ancient survival & awareness skills, I decided to investigate what clouds can tell us about the weather. To predict weather with clouds, you simply have to look at observable patterns like cloud size, cloud shape, altitude, vertical depth, and color shading within … [Read more...] about How To Predict Weather With Clouds
How Do Birds Communicate?
Have you ever wondered how birds communicate with all those amazing sounds they make? Many years ago I began studying birds to better understand what messages they might be sending around the forest. After much study and personal research, I’ve discovered there are some pretty fascinating things to know about what birds are saying. Birds communicate with vocal sounds like songs, companion … [Read more...] about How Do Birds Communicate?
How To Find Owls
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
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