Scavenger Hunt – Myre-Big Island – 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. Birds - GREAT EGRET

Tall graceful bird that walks slowly in shallow water looking for small fish to spear. Once hunted to near extinction for their feathers, now fairly common. Males and females look alike.

Wonderful that you found the egret!

#3. Bird - COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

The male looks like the masked bandit of the bird world with its black mask on yellow body. Female doesn't have a mask. Cheerful song of "witchity-witchity-witchity-witchity"

Super! You found it!

#4. Bird - DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

Large black bird with snake-like neck. Male and female look alike. Roost in large groups in trees near water and make sounds like an oinking pig.

Fun find! Hopefully you also got to hear it making it’s loud calls.

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 - 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.

#8. Mammal - MINK

Blackish to light-brown with white chin. Long tube-like body with short legs and bushy tail. Lives near water and is a great swimmer.

Good eye! Such a fun find.

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

#9. 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.

#10. Wildflower - GRAY-HEADED CONEFLOWER

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

How great!

#11. 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

Flowers in field with pink frilly petals

#12. Wildflower - PURPLE PRAIRIE CLOVER

Blooms Jun-Aug | Grows in sunny fields and rocky areas. Plant is 1-3 feet tall. Attracts many pollinators.

Super job finding this clover!

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 - 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!

#15. Tree - RED OAK

Leaf has 7-11 lobes that are notched about half-way to the center of the leaf and each lobe ends in pointed tips. Produces acorns that feed wildlife.

Super!

#16. Tree - SUGAR MAPLE

Maple syrup is made from this tree by collecting sap in the spring. Leaf has 3 pointed lobes with 2 smaller points near the stem (symbol on Canada flag).

Wonderful, you found a sugar maple!

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 - BIRDWATCHER

Someone with binoculars

Wonder what they see?

#19. Humans - CANOEIST or KAYAKER

Someone canoeing or kayaking

Great! What a fun way to explore the park!

ADDITIONAL PRIZE
In addition to the weekly drawing for $20 gift card from all parks’ entries, the following prize will be drawn from all entries to this park’s hunt on Sept. 13

Scavenger Hunt – Myre-Big Island

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Bird - BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

#2. Birds - GREAT EGRET

#3. Bird - COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

#4. Bird - DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

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

#5. Mammal - GRAY SQUIRREL

#6. Mammal - WHITETAIL DEER

#7. Mammal - BEAVER (or signs of)

#8. Mammal - MINK

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

#9. Wildflower - GOLDENROD

#10. Wildflower - GRAY-HEADED CONEFLOWER

#11. Wildflower - LEAD PLANT

#12. Wildflower - PURPLE PRAIRIE CLOVER

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - BASSWOOD

#14. Tree - GREEN ASH

#15. Tree - RED OAK

#16. Tree - SUGAR MAPLE

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

#17. Humans - BICYCLIST

#18. Humans - BIRDWATCHER

#19. Humans - CANOEIST or KAYAKER

ADDITIONAL PRIZE
In addition to the weekly drawing for $20 gift card from all parks’ entries, the following prize will be drawn from all entries to this park’s hunt on Sept. 13

$25 STATE PARKS GIFT CARD
sponsored by Freeborn County Trail Association

Results

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Scavenger Hunt – Myre-Big Island

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Bird - BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

#2. Birds - GREAT EGRET

#3. Bird - COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

#4. Bird - DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

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

#5. Mammal - GRAY SQUIRREL

#6. Mammal - WHITETAIL DEER

#7. Mammal - BEAVER (or signs of)

#8. Mammal - MINK

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

#9. Wildflower - GOLDENROD

#10. Wildflower - GRAY-HEADED CONEFLOWER

#11. Wildflower - LEAD PLANT

#12. Wildflower - PURPLE PRAIRIE CLOVER

TREES – The lungs of our world

#13. Tree - BASSWOOD

#14. Tree - GREEN ASH

#15. Tree - RED OAK

#16. Tree - SUGAR MAPLE

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

#17. Humans - BICYCLIST

#18. Humans - BIRDWATCHER

#19. Humans - CANOEIST or KAYAKER

ADDITIONAL PRIZE In addition to the weekly drawing for $20 gift card from all parks’ entries, the following prize will be drawn from all entries to this park’s hunt on Sept. 13

$25 STATE PARKS GIFT CARDsponsored by Freeborn County Trail Association

Results

Search

ADDITIONAL PRIZE
In addition to the weekly drawing for $20 gift card from all parks’ entries, the following prize will be drawn from all entries to this park’s hunt on Sept. 13

$25 STATE PARKS GIFT CARD
sponsored by Freeborn County Trail Association