Scavenger Hunt – Buffalo River – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. 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!

#2. Bird - BLUE JAY

Unmistakable bold blue and white feathers with crest on its head. Male and female look alike. Often heard making loud shrieks.

Woohoo! You found a blue jay!

#3. Bird - AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

Common at feeders. Males are brilliant yellow while females are more dull.

Nice job finding a goldfinch! While fairly common, they are a treat anytime you see them.

#4. Birds - MEADOWLARK

A proud bird often seen perched on posts singing loudly. Yellow underside with a bold black necklace. Males and females look alike.

Yippee! Aren’t these birds fun to see?

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

#5. Mammal - GRAY SQUIRREL

Found across Minnesota from woods to urban yards. Build leaf nests in summer.

Nice job! Did you know squirrels sometimes pretend to bury a nut to throw off potential thieves.

Male deer with antlers and females deer with fawn

#6. Mammal - WHITETAIL DEER

One of the largest mammals in MN yet camoflagued and stealthy. Sleeps in different spot each night. Only males grow antlers.

Nice job! Isn’t it amazing how quiet they can be.

#7. Mammal - RACCOON

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

Great job!

#8. Mammal - RED FOX

Usually red-orange in color, some yellow or black. Tend to hide from humans, so only the lucky will spot one.

Amazing that you found such an elusive creature!

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

flower with big green leaves and pink petals

#9. Wildflower - COMMON MILKWEED

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows along shores and wood edges. Pink or white flowers. Monarch butterflies rely on milkweek to lay their tiny eggs, then the caterpillar eat the leaves.

Wonderful! Now, look closely for the green and yellow caterpillars of the monarch.

#10. Wildflower - GIANT SUNFLOWER

Blooms Jul-Sep | Grows in sunny wet woods and marshes. Truly a giant flower that can reach 10 feet tall. MN has 9 types of native sunflowers.

Wonderful job finding this sunflower!

#11. Wildflower - GOLDENROD

Blooms Jul-Sep l Grows in the sunny areas. Plant grows 1-6 feet tall. MN has 17 types of goldenrod that look similar with small yellow flowers.

Yes! This is a very common flower that’s important for pollinators.

#12. Wildflower - GRAY-HEADED CONEFLOWER

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows in sunny fields. Droopy yellow petals surround a brownish center.

How great!

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 - GREEN ASH

Between 7-9 leaflets are attached to each stem. An invasive insect known as the emerald ash borer is spreading across the state and killing off many ash trees.

Nice job! Look for evidence of the Emerald Ash Borer, which leaves “S” shaped etchings in the bark. Let’s hope you don’t see any!

#16. Tree - QUAKING ASPEN

Leaf is rounded with saw-tooth edge and flattened leafstalk that helps with tremble in breeze.

Great job!

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

#17. Humans - ANGLER

Someone fishing

Does it look like their catching anything?

#18. Humans - DOG WALKING

Someone walking their dog

Woof!

#19. Humans - SWIMMER

Someone swimming

Scavenger Hunt – Buffalo River

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Bird - BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

#2. Bird - BLUE JAY

#3. Bird - AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

#4. Birds - MEADOWLARK

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

#5. Mammal - GRAY SQUIRREL

#6. Mammal - WHITETAIL DEER

#7. Mammal - RACCOON

#8. Mammal - RED FOX

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

#9. Wildflower - COMMON MILKWEED

#10. Wildflower - GIANT SUNFLOWER

#11. Wildflower - GOLDENROD

#12. Wildflower - GRAY-HEADED CONEFLOWER

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - BASSWOOD

#14. Tree - EASTERN COTTONWOOD

#15. Tree - GREEN ASH

#16. Tree - QUAKING ASPEN

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

#17. Humans - ANGLER

#18. Humans - DOG WALKING

#19. Humans - SWIMMER

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