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)
Naturalist Training Articles
12 Easy Ways to Find Your Direction Without a Compass
Imagine having the confidence and security to always know exactly where you are, and which direction you're facing while hiking, camping & enjoying the woods. Most people become way too dependent on modern navigation tools, which causes their sense of direction to atrophy. While a compass can always be helpful… there's simply no replacement for good old fashioned observation skills. Are … [Read more...] about 12 Easy Ways to Find Your Direction 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 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…)
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)
How To Read Wind Speed & Direction
When I was first getting serious about developing my outdoor skills, I became fascinated with how to observe wind in the physical environment. The ability to identify wind patterns is extremely practical for sailing & weather prediction, as well as anyone who just wants to feel more in tune with their environment (wildlife trackers, birders, naturalists, hunters, etc). So today, let’s … [Read more...] about How To Read Wind Speed & Direction
Where To Find Animal Tracks: 7 Practical Tips & Tricks
When I was first learning to track animals, often the biggest challenge was knowing where to find real tracks to practice with. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot of great strategies, and even developed some unique approaches of my own that help me find really cool tracking spots whenever I visit new locations. The best places to find animal tracks are any environment with lots of mud or sand… … [Read more...] about Where To Find Animal Tracks: 7 Practical Tips & Tricks
Crow Territorial Behavior: Why do crows fight each other?
Since crows are such common and obvious birds, it can be surprisingly easy to gain insight about their lives just by watching for simple, repetitive behaviors. One of the most informative behaviors to explore is how they choose and maintain their territories. So how does crow territorial behavior work? The most obvious sign of territorial behavior from crows is when they defend their nest … [Read more...] about Crow Territorial Behavior: Why do crows fight each other?
Nature Awareness Journey: How The Forest Can Change Your Life
Humans beings are custom-designed for nature awareness. Before there were computers, smart phones and televisions, most of our time was spent outside in the fresh air, tuning in with birds, plants, trees, and all the stories of nature. Our lives were entirely consumed by looking at... listening to... and talking about things in nature. This deep level of knowledge & understanding about … [Read more...] about Nature Awareness Journey: How The Forest Can Change Your Life
Plant Identification Cheat Sheet
Plant identification... what plant is that? Have you ever tried to master this skill? Plants are truly one of the most important knowledge skills when it comes to being in nature. But it also tends to be one of the most common challenges that prevents aspiring naturalists from creating truly satisfying relationships with the outdoors. Perhaps you can relate to the following sentiment: All these … [Read more...] about Plant Identification Cheat Sheet