Stuck at home in the pandemic? The natural world is still open Some restaurants and stores may be closed but the natural world is wide open to enjoy.
By VAL CUNNINGHAM Special to the Star Tribune December 15, 2020 9:57am Text size Copy shortlink:
A bright male cardinal lands in a feeder and carefully selects a seed with its brilliant red beak. Below him a crowd of charcoal-colored juncos forages for seed bits and noisy blue jays fly by many times a day to check for a new supply of peanuts.
We ve heard dire predictions about a dark winter ahead, with human activity constrained by safety precautions to stave off the pandemic. With winter s cold coming on, it can seem as if we ll be confined to o
When eagles face ducks, the raptor wins In late fall and winter, bald eagles are on the lookout for stranded ducks to make an easy meal.
By Val Cunningham Special to the Star Tribune February 23, 2021 8:21am Text size Copy shortlink:
Q: I m sending you a video of two eagles walking toward two ducks in a small circle of open water on a lake in my suburb. I m guessing that these were young ducks that didn t know enough to leave when the lake started freezing?
A: The ducks in your video, swimming in a small circle of open water, are probably ill or injured and unable to fly, thus easy prey for the approaching eagles. In fall and winter, eagles keep a sharp eye on groups of ducks to determine if a
A closer look at the DNR's license plate Critical Habitat program reveals the agency in recent years has only minimally deployed license plate funds to preserve habitat.
Evening grosbeaks and other outliers visit northern Minnesota Beautiful northern visitors may show up at feeders this winter.
By Val Cunningham Special to the Star Tribune January 26, 2021 10:46am Text size Copy shortlink:
Q: We observed some beautiful birds at the feeders at our cabin Up North some weeks ago. We d never seen them before and wonder where they came from.
A: The photo you sent shows evening grosbeaks, which are large, handsome birds with dramatic gold, white and black markings and big beaks. There are many reports of this species being seen at feeders and fruit trees this winter they ve apparently flown down from Quebec to take advantage of tree seeds and fruit in our region.