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

BIRDS – Minnesota parks offer excellent birding opportunities.

#1. Bird - AMERICAN ROBIN

Larger than most songbirds. Males slightly darker in color than females. Pulls up earthworms from ground. Adapted to both wilderness and city living.

Nice job finding a Robin!

#2. Bird - BALD EAGLE

The head turns white by age 4-5. Male and female look alike. A conservation success story--nearing extinction by the 1970s, it rebounded after a ban on DDT pesticides.

Woohoo, you found a bald eagle!

#3. Bird - DOWNY or HAIRY WOODPECKER

These two woodpeckers are nearly identical with the Downy a little smaller at ~6" and Hairy ~9". The female doesn't have the red mark on head.

Great job finding this one!

#4. Bird - EASTERN BLUEBIRD

Male is blue with reddish chest and white belly. Female similar but less bold colors. Fly fast over prairies. Once nearly eliminated from MN, now rebounded as people built nest boxes.

Nice job finding a bluebird!

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 - COTTONTAIL

One of the most common small mammals in MN. Often seen running along trails within thick brush. They live within about the same 5 acres all year long.

Fabulous job spotting the cottontail. Did you notice its white tail?

#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 - 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 - BLACK-EYED SUSAN

Blooms: Jun-Oct | Found in sunny fields, along roads or lakeshores. Cheery yellow petals swirl around a black center.

Nice job! Aren’t they pretty

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 - NEW ENGLAND ASTER

Blooms Aug-Oct | Grows in fields and wood edges. They are important late-blooming food source for bees and butterflies.

How great! Do you see bees enjoying the nectar?

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 - BUR OAK

Leaf has 7-9 rounded lobes that can be notched deeply or shallow. The leaf tip is large and wavy. Produces acorns that feed many wildlife.

Fantastic job finding the bur oak!

#15. Tree - QUAKING ASPEN

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

Great job!

#16. 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!

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 - BICYCLIST

Someone riding a bicycle

Pedal on!

#19. Humans - BIRDWATCHER

Someone with binoculars

Wonder what they see?

Scavenger Hunt – Red River