Scavenger Hunt – Fort Ridgely – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. 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!

#2. Birds - WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH

Hops headfirst down tree trunks. Small gray bird with white belly. Males have black cap/neck, females have gray cap/neck.

Great! Hopefully you got to see it hopping down a tree!

#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 - 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.

#6. Mammal - THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL

Long body with 13 stripes on back. Found scurrying along ground or darting into its undergound home.

Wonderful job spotting this small creature!

Male deer with antlers and females deer with fawn

#7. 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.

#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 - BLAZING STAR

Blooms: Jul-Sep | Found in prairies, open woods, along roads. Feathery pink flowers with grasslike leaves grow in clumps in prairies.

Wonderful! Lovely flowers

#10. Wildflower - BUTTERFLY WEED

Blooms June-Sep l Grows in the sun, dry fields, and prairies. Flat-topped clusters with up to 25 orange flowers. Important for butterflies.

Excellent eye!

#11. 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.

#12. Wildflower - LEAD PLANT

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows in sunny, sandy fields. Plant is 1-3 feet tall. Technically a shrub with woody stems to last through winter.

Wonderful! Aren’t those leaves interesting

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 - HACKBERRY

Leaf is skinny and pointed with jagged teeth. The tree has corky bark and berry-like fruit that birds love.

Lovely! You found a hackberry!

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 - DOG WALKING

Someone walking their dog

Woof!

#19. Humans - HORSEBACK RIDER

Someone riding a horse