Get Out!

Fun things to do and great places to discover nature.

• On your next holiday road trip, be sure to pack a pair of binoculars. Weedy roadsides offer birds of prey ideal hunting grounds. Look for red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, and other raptors perched in trees and atop utility poles along the highway.
• Cedar wreaths smell great and are easy to make. Just clip enough cedar branches to fill a grocery bag. Bend a wire coat hanger into a circle. Tie the branches to the hanger with twine, making sure the green end of each new branch covers up the brown end of the last branch you tied. Once the hanger is covered, tie on a red bow, and your wreath is ready.
• With a thick sleeping pad and an extra-warm sleeping bag, winter is the perfect season to camp without a tent. There aren’t any bitey bugs to bother you, and the crisp, clear air makes it seem like you could reach out and grab a handful of stars.
• When food grows scarce up north, some birds say “See ya!” and fly south to Missouri. It pays to keep a close eye on your bird feeders in winter. An uncommon visitor — like a red-breasted nuthatch, red crossbill, common redpoll, pine siskin, or evening grosbeak — might stop by for a snack.
• At sunset, sit outside to listen for coyotes chatting to each other. It usually starts with a single lonely howl, and then nearby coyotes join in with a chorus of barks and yips. Although it sounds spooky, there’s nothing to fear. Coyotes howl to say, “I’m lonely” or “Let’s find some rabbits to eat.”

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