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
Naturalist Training Articles
How To Spend More Time Outside (14 simple ways to easy nature enjoyment)
Do you want to spend more time outside? In this age of electronics there’s a growing appreciation for all the amazing life benefits gained from spending lots of time outside. Nature is a free source of fresh air & simple enjoyment that calms the mind & body, releases stress and improves happiness. But even with this understanding of nature’s role for overall life satisfaction, I … [Read more...] about How To Spend More Time Outside (14 simple ways to easy nature enjoyment)
What Do Hawks Eat? (With diet lists for 9 common hawks)
Most nature adventurers have probably at some point caught the sight of a hawk flying above an open field or even around your local neighborhood. Hawks are truly fascinating and magnificent birds to see up close, but they also tend to be significantly more reclusive than most other birds you might be familiar with. So one of the big keys to help you really understand the patterns of local … [Read more...] about What Do Hawks Eat? (With diet lists for 9 common hawks)
Bird Nesting Facts & Behaviors: When Do Birds Lay Eggs?
It’s always exciting to watch a bird fly into their secret little spot in the bushes and know there’s a nest with bird eggs hidden inside. On my own journey to get connected with nature, some of my biggest discoveries and lessons have come from time spent watching nesting birds in action. Bird nesting behavior is pretty easy to observe so this is a great place for beginners to explore… but … [Read more...] about Bird Nesting Facts & Behaviors: When Do Birds Lay Eggs?
Pheasant Territorial Behavior: Video with pheasant calls explained
If you've ever heard ring-necked pheasants calling during early spring, you might have been hearing their territorial behavior. Male pheasants are quite territorial during the breeding season. They will climb up on rocks or leaf piles to crow at regular intervals. These calls are made to defend territories, and also to attract females. This video is a perfect example of the body … [Read more...] about Pheasant Territorial Behavior: Video with pheasant calls explained
Beginner’s Guide to Nature Journaling: 12 Tips For a Better Nature Journal
One of the most impactful methods I ever learned to improve my experience of the outdoors is nature journaling. Nature is filled with amazing things to discover at every turn… but it’s also incredibly complex! The first time I tried to observe meaningful patterns in birds & plants, it was like my brain couldn’t fully process all the information coming in through my senses. There are … [Read more...] about Beginner’s Guide to Nature Journaling: 12 Tips For a Better Nature Journal
9 Real Life Examples Of Bird Alarm Calls (With Video & Audio)
When I was first getting into bird language, one of the toughest things was building my confidence about identifying bird alarms vs other types of calls that could be confused for alarms. Bird language is a truly amazing and impressive skill to witness live in the field. Unfortunately, it’s actually pretty rare to meet people who can consistently locate different types of animals by … [Read more...] about 9 Real Life Examples Of Bird Alarm Calls (With Video & Audio)
12 Easy Ways To Navigate Without A Compass
When I first began exploring nature, one of my goals was to navigate without any man-made tools like compass or GPS. There’s a real sense of confidence and security that comes from knowing exactly where you are in the woods, and being deeply tuned with your surroundings through traditional methods. Yet most aspiring wanderers and explorers become way too dependant on modern navigation tools, … [Read more...] about 12 Easy Ways To Navigate Without A Compass
9 Essential Skills of Naturalist Intelligence (And How They Help You)
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)
What Does It Mean To Be A Naturalist? (3 Things To Know)
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 Does It Mean To Be A Naturalist? (3 Things To Know)