I first got interested in naturalist intelligence because one of my big goals in life is to become the best possible human I can be. After many years studying nature, an important thing I’ve learned is that being a well-rounded naturalist isn't just one skill. Naturalist intelligence is all about using the human brain to engage sensory awareness and observe patterns in living systems (like … [Read more...] about 9 Essential Skills of Naturalist Intelligence (And How They Help You)
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How Does Animal Communication Work? (Examples, tips, myths)
Recently I’ve been getting a lot of emails from people who want to know how animal communication really works… Maybe you’d like to develop a friendship with local birds and get closer to animals in the woods like deer and foxes without scaring them. Or maybe you just want to know what nearby animals are communicating so you can be more sensitive to your impact on nature. Over the years … [Read more...] about How Does Animal Communication Work? (Examples, tips, myths)
Complete Guide To Using A Sit Spot In Nature (Benefits & Steps)
When I was a teenager, I embarked on a personal mission to consciously transform my connection with nature. By far, one of the most impactful things I ever did to achieve this result was the decision to use a sit spot. A sit spot (or secret spot) is simply a favorite place in nature that you visit regularly to cultivate awareness as you expand your senses and study patterns of local plants, … [Read more...] about Complete Guide To Using A Sit Spot In Nature (Benefits & Steps)
Do Birds Have Language? Yes! And It’s Amazing What They Say…
Have you ever wondered whether all those tweets, chirps, tuts & whistles coming from the tiny mouths of birds have meaning? If you like to spend time watching birds, then at some point you’ve probably wondered what birds are actually saying with all those calls & sounds… in other words, do birds have language? This is a really fun question that I’ve spent quite a few years … [Read more...] about Do Birds Have Language? Yes! And It’s Amazing What They Say…
How Does Environment Affect Animal Behavior?
I was trained as a wildlife tracker starting in my teen years, and one of the most important things I ever learned about animal behavior is that you can never truly know an animal without looking at the environment it lives in. In fact, when it comes to animal behavior, very often the first thing you need to look at isn’t the animal itself - but the environment. In order to predict why … [Read more...] about How Does Environment Affect Animal Behavior?
What Is A Naturalist? (And Why It Matters…)
In a world driven by technology, being a naturalist is a somewhat rare aspiration. Most people never think about nature as being worthy of careful study in the same way you might study business or sports or music. But I was lucky in my teen years to gain some amazing mentors who pointed me in the direction of studying as a naturalist in a more focused way, and it really had a huge impact on who … [Read more...] about What Is A Naturalist? (And Why It Matters…)
Crow vs Raven Differences: ID, Behavior, Calls, Personality
Is that a crow or a raven? Telling these smart black birds apart is easier than you think once you know the key differences in size, sound, and behavior. Many focus on subtle details, but often the most obvious clues are overlooked. Take size for example. To accurately capture this difference, the comparison below uses photos taken moments apart on the exact same perch and from the same … [Read more...] about Crow vs Raven Differences: ID, Behavior, Calls, Personality
How To Create Nature Study Lesson Plans (Fun activities & tips for engaging kids)
One of the big challenges faced by everyone who wants to share nature with children is planning the best possible outdoor experiences. With the right encouragement, kids are amazing at soaking up the lessons of nature, and this can have incredible effects on the emotional & intellectual well-being of young, developing minds. But I’ve also noticed many educators really struggle to find the … [Read more...] about How To Create Nature Study Lesson Plans (Fun activities & tips for engaging kids)
What Does Nature Teach Us? 14 Lessons From The Natural World
When I was 17 years old, I became interested in how nature can provide practical lessons and answers to challenges I was facing in my own life. I read many inspiring books, attended hundreds of classes and sought out the best mentors of nature awareness & wilderness skills I could possibly find. What I discovered had a huge impact on my own life, and it just goes to show that nature is … [Read more...] about What Does Nature Teach Us? 14 Lessons From The Natural World
8 Mammal Families Everyone Should Know (With photos & traits)
A big part of my naturalist background is animal tracking, which means I’ve spent thousands of hours studying the behavior & biology of local mammals. One of the most helpful things I ever learned along my journey was how to categorize mammals into their respective families. Mammal families link together groups of animals that share similar characteristics and evolutionary history, making … [Read more...] about 8 Mammal Families Everyone Should Know (With photos & traits)