W.O.L.F. Den

Scarlet Tananger Next time you are outside, think about birds for a minute.  Here are some suggestion from a bird expert, David Sibley.  Look for birds.  Watch for movement first.  Scan edges along yards, shrubs and high up in the tree tops.  Where are they going? Look at the bill.  The shape can tell you what they eat.  (Remember pick a beak with pliers and tweezers?) Listen to their songs.  This will help you spot them and soon you may be able to identify one by its song. Think about what it is doing.  Flying back and forth with something in its mouth usually means nest building.  Flying repeatedly to a bush or patch of ground may mean it is collecting insects for their young. Draw, write notes and take pictures.  Now try to identify a bird.  You don't have to have binoculars although they help.  If you have them, continue to stare at the bird as you bring the binoculars up to your eyes. This fall, put up a b...

Can you name these three species of butterflies? - Click on picture to enlarge I was out on the ATV in the forest when I saw these butterflies "puddling" along the trail.  They were gathered on a pile of raccoon dung, (poop to your non-WOLF friends). WOLF Spider Dream Catcher - Click to enlarge Puddling or mud-puddling behavior is seen in butterflies and some moths.  It is a way for them to collect minerals such as salt similar to what sweat bees do landing on our skin in summer.  Some species will do this on animal dung, presumably collecting ammonium. These gatherings are predominately male as they collect sodium and amino acids which they then transfer to the female during mating which provides nutrition to her eggs.  Now here is the Butterfly Contest: See if you can identify the three species of butterflies in the picture above.  You can start by clicking on this MDC Field Guide link .   Hint:  Be sure to look at the undersid...

Millipede in our basement Looking for wildlife?  Look no farther than your house.  Details are in this National Geographic article sent to me by a friendly Springfield police officer and Master Naturalist.  You may want to take a flashlight, a magnifier and even a camera to "shoot" with.  Basements and garages are good hunting grounds.  This harmless long-bodied Cellar Spider is one of my favorites.  They live in the dark corners of out bathroom closet.  When touched they swing wildly on thin silk threads to avoid predators including you!  See ours in action in this Youtube video as Barb touches it.   The spider's body is less than 1/2 inch so you will have to look carefully to find them.  They catch other insects and small spiders so we tolerate each other.  More details in this blog . Asian Lady Beetle larva on my finger Asian Lady Beetle We have seen both of these this last week.  These are the Asian...