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: Useful tips and different types of nests
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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? (Roosting And Sleeping Birds Explained)
Apart from a short time during the nesting season when some birds may sleep on their nests to keep eggs warm, you may be surprised to learn that birds don’t actually use their nests for sleeping. So then where do birds go at night? And where exactly do they sleep? At night, birds go to a safe place to sleep called a roost. Roost sites include sheltered bushes & tree branches, or inside … [Read more...] about Where Do Birds Go At Night? (Roosting And Sleeping Birds Explained)
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 (Observation + Experience)
Hey... 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 constantly moving and changing their behavior in response to whatever is happening in the environment. Most of the best bird identification advice can be summed up in the following general guidelines: Of course, there's … [Read more...] about How To Identify Birds (Observation + Experience)
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
7 Chickadee Calls & What They Mean (Chickadee Sounds Explained)
I was quite young when I first heard the characteristic chick-a-dee-dee-dee call that so many people know and love. But it wasn’t until I began exploring nature more intentionally that I discovered chickadees actually have a whole variety of calls & sounds to signal different meanings depending on the situation. For such a small bird, chickadees really do have a lot to say! In fact, … [Read more...] about 7 Chickadee Calls & What They Mean (Chickadee Sounds Explained)
Online Guide To Animal Tracks: 6 track families & how to identify with confidence
What animal left this track? I still remember the first time one of my tracking mentors showed me the trail of an animal that was completely unknown to me. Like many nature lovers, I had some basic experience with dog and cat tracks… but these bizarre impressions in the mud were completely unlike anything I had ever seen before. Eventually with a bit of study and plenty of dirt time in … [Read more...] about Online Guide To Animal Tracks: 6 track families & how to identify with confidence