Scavenger Hunt – Beaver Creek Valley – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Birds - RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

Male is all black with prominent red patch on wings. Female is all brown. Often seen perching on reeds as they sway in the wind along water edges.

Nice job!

#2. Bird - BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

Friendly bird found throughout MN shows curiosity for humans as it flits around looking for seeds to eat. Male and female look alike.

Woohoo! You found a chickadee!

#3. Birds - NORTHERN CARDINAL

Male is vibrant red, female brown with reddish highlights. Both have distinct crest on head. They sing loudly their sweet songs all year.

Lovely–cardinals are fun to see!

#4. Birds - INDIGO BUNTING

Male is vibrant blue, while the female is all brown. Mostly seen along woodland edges eating bugs.

Amazing! This are truly a remarkable find!

MAMMALS – Many mammals are hiding out there–can you find them?

#5. Mammal - CHIPMUNK

They are very active and inquisitive and find a home in hollow logs, tree cavities, or underground dens where they store piles of food.

Oh, lucky! These are fun to spot.

#6. Mammal - BEAVER (or signs of)

Spends most of its time in water near its lodge, which they build from sticks and mud and enter from underwater. Look for tree stumps that have been chewed by beavers--this counts as finding this mammal.

Woohoo, you found a creature that plays an important role in Minnesota’s wetland ecosystem.

#7. Mammal - RACCOON

Notorious as evening visitor to campsites where it will help itself to any food that's left out.

Great job!

#8. Butterfly - GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY

A pretty butterfly that is easily approached. Found in open wetlands and prairies.

Nice job spotting this butterfly!

WILDFLOWERS — nature’s artwork, these flowers are important part of the ecosystem.

#9. Wildflower - HAREBELL

Blooms June-Oct l Grows in the sun or part shade along rocky slopes or open woods. Flowers are about ¾ inch long, pale blue to violet to bright purple, bell shaped.

Great job!

#10. Wildflower - JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT

Blooms Apr-June. Grows in the shade of moist woods. This unique flower is tube-shaped with a hooded flower that's green with brown stripes. In late summer, a cluster of bright red berries appears.

Great job–These can be hidden in plain sight!

#11. Wildflower - JEWELWEED

Blooms Jul-Sep | Grows in thickets, usually along shorelines or wetlands. Green seed pods form in late summer--gently pinch them to see the seeds explode outward!

Nice job! Were you able to see the exploding pods?

#12. Wildflower - JOE-PYE WEED

Blooms Jul-Sep | Grows in sunny spots along shores. Pink to purple flowers. An important nectar source for butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

Super job finding the Joe-Pye Weed!

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - BASSWOOD

Leaf is heart-shaped with jagged teeth. Bees love to make honey from basswood flowers.

Wonderful job finding this basswood!

#14. Tree - EASTERN COTTONWOOD

This large tree produces fluffy, cotton-like seeds that blow around in wind. Its bark changes from light gray to dark gray and rough as it ages. Leaves are triangular shaped with edges that are toothed or wavy. Underside of leaf is covered with soft white hairs.

Great job!

#15. Tree - SILVER MAPLE

The tree grows in floodplains and can withstand seasonal floods. Leaf is same shape as all maples (think Canada flag) but very jagged with deep notches.

Super, you found a silver maple!

#16. Tree - WHITE OAK

White Oaks are mighty trees whose acorns feed many wildlife. Leaf has 5-9 finger-like lobes that can be notched deeply or shallow.

Fabulous! Do you see any acorns?

HUMANS – Yes, we are mammals, but we do very unique activities, don’t we?

#17. Humans - BIRDWATCHER

Someone with binoculars

Wonder what they see?

#18. Humans - FLY FISHERS

Someone fly fishing

Isn’t it mesmerizing watching them cast?

#19. Humans - HIKER

Someone hiking

Great, you saw a hiker!

Scavenger Hunt – Beaver Creek Valley

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Birds - RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

#2. Bird - BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

#3. Birds - NORTHERN CARDINAL

#4. Birds - INDIGO BUNTING

MAMMALS – Many mammals are hiding out there–can you find them?

#5. Mammal - CHIPMUNK

#6. Mammal - BEAVER (or signs of)

#7. Mammal - RACCOON

#8. Butterfly - GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY

WILDFLOWERS — nature’s artwork, these flowers are important part of the ecosystem.

#9. Wildflower - HAREBELL

#10. Wildflower - JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT

#11. Wildflower - JEWELWEED

#12. Wildflower - JOE-PYE WEED

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - BASSWOOD

#14. Tree - EASTERN COTTONWOOD

#15. Tree - SILVER MAPLE

#16. Tree - WHITE OAK

HUMANS – Yes, we are mammals, but we do very unique activities, don’t we?

#17. Humans - BIRDWATCHER

#18. Humans - FLY FISHERS

#19. Humans - HIKER

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