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Outdoor Winter Adventures

Peg Craft
Jan 13, 2019

Here are three adventures to get you out of the house and into Missouri's great outdoors this winter. They offer a chance to engage all the senses as well as your family and friends. Tap into the fun in this week's Discover Nature Note.

winter trout fishing

Woody Woodpecker's Real Life Model

Peg Craft
Jan 06, 2019

The pileated woodpecker is the real-life inspiration for the Woody Woodpecker cartoon. Its real call is more piercing than the familiar "ha-ha, ha-ha-hah". Spongy skull bones help protect their brains during tree hammering. Learn more in this week's Discover Nature Note.

pileated woodpecker

Bald Eagles

Peg Craft
Dec 30, 2018

Learn more about our national symbol and where you can view bald eagles up-close in this week's Discover Nature Note.

bald eagle flying

Giants of the Sky

Peg Craft
Dec 23, 2018

Learn about these giants of the flyways in this week's Discover Nature Note.

The Holiday Tree Thief

Peg Craft
Dec 16, 2018

The Holiday Tree Thief: People have been stealing kisses under its branches for years, but in nature, mistletoe is the real thief. This parasite plant steals nutrients from trees. It also provides food and homes for birds and mammals. Discover more about mistletoe and where you can find it naturally in Missouri, in this week's Discover Nature Note.

mistletoe berries

Winter Sparrows

Peg Craft
Dec 09, 2018

Winter Sparrows: They're all around us in winter, eat cheap, and frequently feed on the ground. Sparrows are small birds with thick bills for cracking seeds. Sparrows are mostly brown but some have showy accents like yellow eyebrows, red caps, and white mohawks. Discover how sparrows can lively-up your backyard in the dead of winter, and hear their calls and chirps in this week's Discover Nature Notes blog.

american tree sparrow

Missouri's Spicy Evergreen

Peg Craft
Dec 02, 2018

MISSOURI'S SPICY EVERGREEN: Its aromatic wood is used for chests and closets, its oils for soaps and gin, and its high-energy berries feed hungry birds. Meet the Eastern red cedar. A shapely, spicy evergreen that is Missouri's most common and a yuletide favorite for people and wildlife. Red cedar branches provide greenery during winter and protect deer and rabbits from the wind. Learn more fun facts about red cedar trees in this week's Discover Nature Note.

Eastern red cedar tree berries

Christmas Bird Counts

Peg Craft
Nov 25, 2018

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT:  Try a new outdoor adventure by joining an old holiday tradition.  Several Missouri counties have openings where you can be part of Audubon's annual Christmas Bird Count, the longest-running, citizen-science effort in the U.S.  Each count takes place on a single day between December 14, and January 5, from before sunrise to after sunset.  New birders are often paired with experienced counters.  Many groups enjoy a warm meal together after the count.  Learn how you can help birds by counting them in this week's Discover Nature Notes blog.

Eastern bluebird on a branch

The Thanksgiving Turkey

Peg Craft
Nov 18, 2018

THE THANKSGIVING TURKEY: Wild turkeys are birds simmered in American tradition. They have over 5,000 feathers, are swift runners, as well as quick flyers for short distances. Learn more about these powerful birds, how they got here, and watch a video with some tasty ways to prepare them with MDC's Kyle Lairmore and Missourinet's Bill Pollock in this week's Discover Nature Notes blog.

turkey

Dabblers vs Divers

Peg Craft
Nov 13, 2018

DABBLERS VS. DIVERS:  Ducks are amazing creatures.  Discover how to tell dabbling ducks from diving ducks by the way they eat, fly and look.  Check out a video and photos and where you can see them in this week's Discover Nature Notes blog.

Wood Duck

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We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources.