Often a symbol of winter cheer, cardinals have become famous for their brilliant, bright-red plumage and showy bills. These birds are a common sight in backyards of Eastern North America and are often a welcome visitor at birdfeeders. If you’ve got cardinals in your own neighborhood, or simply want to know more about them, then you’re in luck. In this Wildlife Spotlight post, we’ll learn 9 facts about cardinals and cover the basics of what makes them special. 10 wild facts about blue jays Cardinals 101 The bird that most people call “cardinal” is the Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis ..read more

Earth is home to some bizarre creatures, there’s no question about that. But did you know that Australia has some of the weirdest? Australia broke off from other continents nearly 100 million years ago, and during that long isolation some truly strange animals showed up on the scene. In fact, nearly 70% of Australia’s mammals and more than 90% of its amphibians and reptiles are found nowhere else on Earth! In this Wildlife Spotlight post, let’s explore some of Australia’s amazing animal oddities. Looking for more bizarre nature? Check out our top 15 weird nature facts! For this post, I’ve hand ..read more

One of the first questions I get from people asking for help with species identification is, “is it poisonous?”. I frequently get pictures of bugs that turn up in people’s houses or snakes spotted in gardens from people with just that concern. If you’ve done any reading up on animals and plants that might pose a danger to you or your pets, you may have run into the terms venomous and poisonous being used throughout. Do these terms mean the same thing? Is there a difference between venomous vs. poisonous? In this Naturalist Answers post, let’s explore this topic and some of the organisms it bri ..read more

Mangroves are some of the world’s most famous plants. Among their many claims to fame, they are uniquely capable of growing in salt water, and are credited with saving thousands of human lives every year. In this Wildlife Spotlight post, let’s get to know these amazing plants and what makes them so fascinating. One name, many species The name “mangrove” actually refers to many different tree and shrub species that are capable of living and growing in salt water. In fact, there are over 70 species of mangrove worldwide, belonging to a whopping 16 different families. In other words, many of the ..read more

Ecologists and naturalists describing ecosystems and other natural places often bring up the concept of ecological disturbance. Whether you’re taking a science course or looking to better understand the outdoors, it’s a central concept. In fact, it helps explore a lot of the patterns that we notice in nature. Let’s step (gently!) into the science in this Deep Stuff post: what is ecological disturbance? Shaking things up Ecological disturbances will often leave signs behind, like these dead trees that were killed by a drought on this mountainside in South Carolina. Without these trees to take u ..read more

One of my favorite things about spending time in nature is that there are so many ways to do so. From backpacking to birdwatching to reading a book under a tree, the natural world is unequal for healthy, relaxing recreation. Mindfulness practices in nature are becoming increasingly popular for their many health benefits, especially since the COVID pandemic. As more and more people began turning to the outdoors for alone time, rest, and relaxation, the secret absolutely got out! One of the biggest recent trends in nature recreation in regions like North America and Europe is forest bathing, or ..read more

Every spring I hear from readers about finding baby birds outside. Finding an unexpected and seemingly helpless baby bird in your backyard or a nearby park can be worrisome. After all, the little things typically can’t fly yet and look very vulnerable. Sometimes you might find such a bird in a place that is dangerous. There might be cats around, or they are sitting in the street or on a sports field or somewhere else that they might get trampled. Committed nature-lovers want to help, but are worried about causing more harm than good. People sensibly ask, “if I touch a baby bird, will its mothe ..read more

You may have heard rumors that 2024 will be a big year for the cicada. News outlets and magazines are putting out panicked headlines about an “insect apocalypse”. As if we didn’t have enough to worry about in 2024! In this Biologist Ruins Everything post, let’s get to the bottom of these claims and learn about the cicadas in question. The specific group that folks are worried about consists of several species belonging to the genus Magicicada. Folks more often call them by their common name, periodical cicadas. If you’re looking for a quick run-down on cicadas in general, check out my post 14 ..read more

Large mammals are some of the most exciting wildlife to watch in nature. Not only are they often somewhat shy and elusive, but they often display some fantastic adaptations. Whether you’re out for a stroll a neighborhood park in England, or India or on safari in the tropics, big furry beasts are super exciting. Among the most impressive characteristics of some large mammals is their headgear. Deer, antelopes, oxen, bison, and all manner of other hoofed mammals come sporting impressive horns. Or are they antlers? As it turns out, there is a lot more to these fascinating body parts than meets th ..read more

A dash of color can go a long way among the browns and grays of a long winter. With many trees losing their leaves, many of us are desperate for the vibrant green of Spring by the time it rolls around. Fortunately, if you know where to look, it can be relatively easy to find plants that are evergreen. This means that they stay green in Winter. If winter colors are making you feel a little “blah”, keep an eye out for some of the plants mentioned below. In this Wildlife Spotlight post, we’ll learn about 9 groups of plants that stay green all winter long. 1. Hollies There’s a reason why folks de ..read more