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
Naturalist Training Articles
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)
All About Partridgeberry: An Edible Groundcover Forest Vine
Partridgeberry is a small green vine that grows on the forest floor of eastern north america. Not many people know this plant, but it can be quite common and has an edible berry which is great for survival situations and as a quick hiking snack. So today let’s wander into the world of partridgeberry with everything from identification and edible qualities to growing locations & … [Read more...] about All About Partridgeberry: An Edible Groundcover Forest Vine
Easy Winter Tree Identification: Birch, Oak, Beech & Maple
Tree identification can be very challenging in winter, but some trees are much easier than others to start with. So let’s look at 4 common trees that are also some of the easiest to identify in winter. It’s all here in the following video: For the video mentioned at the end: Go check out How To Read The Secrets Of A Forest You can also read below for more details on how to identify … [Read more...] about Easy Winter Tree Identification: Birch, Oak, Beech & Maple
How To Make Wintergreen Tea: Plant ID & Video Demonstration
Wintergreen is one of my favorite wild edibles to share with beginners of plant foraging. Whenever I see this common little shrub growing in the woods, I can’t help but grab a leaf and tear it open to get that beautiful minty wintergreen scent. Wintergreen is a great way to get started with learning about plants because it’s super delicious and there are some unmistakable identification … [Read more...] about How To Make Wintergreen Tea: Plant ID & Video Demonstration
Red Squirrel vs Grey Squirrel: 8 Key Differences Explained
Red squirrels and grey squirrels share a lot of overlapping territory throughout their range, which often leads to confusion when telling them apart. But contrary to their names, relying on color alone to tell red squirrels vs grey squirrels can be very misleading. Did you know grey squirrels aren't always grey? In fact size is often the biggest clue, with additional key differences in … [Read more...] about Red Squirrel vs Grey Squirrel: 8 Key Differences Explained
Quick Guide To Mast Trees: Magic of Bumper Crops, 7 Examples & Implications For Wildlife
As the growing season comes to a close every autumn, something magical happens in the forest which has massive implications for the lives of billions of creatures. They’re called mast trees! And today I’m going to share a quick introduction with all the basics you need to know to identify mast trees and reap the benefits of their harvest. So what are mast trees? A mast tree is any tree … [Read more...] about Quick Guide To Mast Trees: Magic of Bumper Crops, 7 Examples & Implications For Wildlife
How To Identify Coniferous Trees: Easy tricks for pine, spruce, fir & more
When I started learning tree identification, one of my first goals was to find an easy method to quickly identify coniferous trees. Most common types of coniferous trees can be easily identified by observing simple characteristics in how the tree grows, such as: How long are the needles?Are the needles soft or pokey?Do the needles grow in a flat plane or encircle the branch?What does … [Read more...] about How To Identify Coniferous Trees: Easy tricks for pine, spruce, fir & more
When Do Squirrels Mate & Have Babies? (mating calendar + 3 behaviors to look for)
One of the secrets to really understanding squirrel behavior is knowing when they have babies in your local forests. Squirrel mating behaviors are a frequently misunderstood topic in the life of squirrels because their breeding habits have such incredible diversity that all depends on each individual squirrel. As a general rule most Gray and Fox squirrels have their babies during September … [Read more...] about When Do Squirrels Mate & Have Babies? (mating calendar + 3 behaviors to look for)
Robin Nesting Behavior: Full Timeline, Eggs & Finding Nests
Robins are some of the most common backyard nesting songbirds in North America. But despite how common their nests are, most people know very little about their nesting behavior. Let’s start with some quick highlights covering their nests, timeline, and behaviors to look for throughout the spring & early summer nesting season: Of course, the real magic happens when you’re able to … [Read more...] about Robin Nesting Behavior: Full Timeline, Eggs & Finding Nests