Scavenger Hunt – Crow Wing – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Bird - GREAT BLUE HERON

Looking like a cousin to the prehistoric Pterodactyl, this common bird wades along shorelines. Males and females look alike.

Woohoo–you found it, nice job!

Male mallard with green head standing next to brown female mallard

#2. Bird - MALLARD

Common ducks of MN. Male has green head, Female is splotchy brown.

Nice job!

#3. Birds - YELLOW WARBLER

This yellow bird is found in shrubby areas near water. Males make a sweet whistle song from perches.

Excellent job!

#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 - RED SQUIRREL

A cute little critter with a loud bark/chatter. The white ring around its eye only adds to the cuteness.

Fabulous! Was it making noises when you saw it?

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.

Muskrat swimming in lake plus inset of its home, a mound of cattails

#7. Mammal - MUSKRAT (or signs of)

Not actually a rat, this creature is a close cousin to beavers, except muskrats' tails are a bit rat-like. Found throughout MN in ponds, marshes and streams. Some muskrats build mound-like lodges that look similar to those built by beavers, except muskrats' lodges are smaller and made from mud and vegetation such as cattails and other plants woody materials, rather than the woody material beavers use.

Great job! Muskrats often carry aquatic vegetation as it swims.

#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.

#9. Wildflower - COLUMBINE

Blooms May-Jul | Grows on cliffs and forest edges. A dainty flower with an interesting shape. Hummingbirds drink nectar from this flower.

Great! Look closely to see the fine details on this flower.

flower with big green leaves and pink petals

#10. 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.

#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 - PURPLE CONEFLOWER

Blooms Jun-Oct | Grows in sunny fields. A tall flower with 15-20 pinkish-purple petals swirling around a reddish-brown center.

Spectacular job finding this pretty flower!

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - JACK PINE

Needles are pretty short, about 1-2" long and grow in clusters of two. They have serotinous cones, meaning the cone needs fire (or extreme heat) in order to release the seeds to grow new trees.

Nice job finding the Jack Pine!

#14. Tree - QUAKING ASPEN

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

Great job!

#15. 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?

#16. Tree - WHITE PINE

Needles are 3-5" and bound into clusters of five needles that are wispy. (memory device: 5 needles for the 5 letters in WHITE). A favorite for bald eagles to nest.

Great! Did you count the needles in the bundle?

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

#17. Humans - BICYCLIST

Someone riding a bicycle

Pedal on!

#18. Humans - DOG WALKING

Someone walking their dog

Woof!

#19. Humans - PHOTOGRAPHER

Someone with a camera

Oh snap!

Scavenger Hunt – Crow Wing