Get Out!

• Peregrine falcons are the fastest birds in the skies, capable of feather-whipping dives approaching 200 miles per hour. For a peek into the home life of these bullet-headed bird bombs, tune in to the live webcam of a peregrine pair nesting near St. Louis at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZZJ.
• Southern flying squirrels are quite common, but most people have never seen one. That’s because they only come out after dark. To better your chances of spotting these furry gliders, place a bird feeder near a porch light. If you hear a soft whump or musical squeaks, flip on the light to reveal your hungry visitor.
• Ah, spring smells sweet! To find the source of the season’s aromatic aromas, search for blooming trees and shrubs like wild plums, serviceberries, crab apples, spicebushes, and black locusts. Just don’t sniff a bumblebee up your nose. Bees don’t like that!
• In early spring, search the trunks of maples and other trees for tidy rows of shallow holes. These are the handiwork of yellow-bellied sapsuckers. When sweet sap leaks out, the little woodpeckers return to lick it up.
• In March, mama cottontails begin having babies. You might find a fur-lined nest filled with sleeping bunnies and worry that their mom has abandoned them. Don’t despair! Mama rabbits leave their babies tucked away throughout the day and return regularly — usually at dawn and dusk — to feed them.

Looking for more ways to have fun outside? Find out about Discover Nature programs in your area at mdc.mo.gov/events.