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How To Start a Nature Journal - A Beginners Guide

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Nature Journaling is fun for kids and adults too. It doesn't have to be complicated! Whether you want to improve your drawing skills in a sketchbook or write about what you are experiencing in a pocket journal, this guide will help you get started today!

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30 Things to Look fro and Add to YOUR Nature Journal

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30 Things to Look fro and Add to YOUR Nature Journal

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A star-nosed mole is surely one of the world's weirdest-looking animals. If you were to come face to face with one, you might think its head had been replaced by a tiny octopus.

And for an animal that's nearly blind, the American species is astonishingly speedy: The world's fastest eater, it can find and gobble down an insect or worm in a quarter of a second.

As the fuzzy little carnivore plows through soggy soils, it bobs its head in constant motion. In the mole's dark underground world, sight is useless-instead, it feels a world pulsing with prey. The mole hunts by bopping its star against the soil as quickly as possible; it can touch 10 or 12 different places in a single second.

It looks random, but it's not. With each touch, 100,000 nerve fibers send information to the mole's brain. That's five times more touch sensors than in the human hand, all packed into a nose smaller than a fingertip.

And it's one of two animals in the world known to smell underwater, by blowing air bubbles and sucking them back into its nose. (See " Learn to Smell Underwater with the Star-Nosed Mole.")

These are just a sampling of incredible facts about the star-nosed mole, says Ken Catania, a neuroscientist at Vanderbilt University.

"If I'm using the word 'amazing' a lot, it's because I really feel that way about them," says. In fact, he used the word 10 times in describing them.

On Thursday, Catania will present three decades' worth of research at the Experimental Biology annual meeting in Chicago, part of a symposium on the world's most extreme anatomy.

Getting in Touch

As the world's leading expert on the star-nosed mole, Catania is something of an oddity himself.

Most biologists study a relative handful of species, and some even frown upon students picking a "pet." But Catania makes a case for studying the world's weirdos, creatures whose amped-up abilities reveal something about how the rest of us work.

"Evolution has solved a lot of problems in a lot of different ways," he says. "We can learn so much from that diversity." (See " Moles Smell in Stereo to Find Food, Dodge Predators.")

For instance, studying touch in the mole's sensitive nose has revealed clues to how touch works at the molecular level.

Catania has discovered that a giant star pattern that mirrors the mole's strange nose is imprinted right into the brain's anatomy. Each time the mole presses its star to the soil, it creates essentially a star-shaped view of its surroundings, and these images come together in its brain like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

Easing Our Pain?

"Compared to the other senses, we know very little about our sense of touch," says neuroscientist Diana Bautista, who studies pain and itch at the University of California, Berkeley.

When Bautista called Catania out of the blue asking to collaborate, he insisted that she go mole-collecting with him in rural Pennsylvania. Digging for moles in their underground burrows in a wetland was hard work, she says.

The star-nosed is the only mole species-there are 39-that lives in swamps and marshes. Its exquisite snout may have evolved to help it quickly scarf down lots of tiny soft-bodied prey in its waterlogged environment.

Working with Catania, Bautista discovered molecules in the mole's star that help turn a physical force-whether it's the brush of a feather or the prick of a needle-into the electrical signals that are the currency of the nervous system.

Because many of these molecules are found in people, too, such understanding might lead to new treatments for pain.

More Mole Mysteries

Catania has many mole mysteries he'd still like to solve-can they feel detailed textures with a single touch of their rays?

What genes and molecules allow the star to develop, and how does its brain so greatly amplify the touch signals coming from its no? The mole doesn't hibernate in the winter, so how does it keep its sensitive star working when it dives into ice-cold water?

All of these questions require a scientist dedicated to the bizarre-and who isn't afraid to get wet.

"Jeez," he says, "I'd better get back to work."

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Inside the Bizarre Life of the Star-Nosed Mole, World's Fastest Eater

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A star-nosed mole is surely one of the world's weirdest-looking animals. If you were to come face to face with one, you might think its head had been replaced by a tiny octopus. And for an animal that's nearly blind, the American species is astonishingly speedy: The world's fastest eater, it can find and gobble down an insect or worm in a quarter of a second.

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Join us on a lifelong journey to enjoy, understand, and protect birds and the natural world.

Video Transcript

[upbeat music] What bird is that? How much do they eat? Why are they so colorful? What's that bird doing? Curiosity gives rise to questions. Where do migratory birds go? What do birds tell us about our changing world? How can I help? Will they be here when I grow up? We are dedicated to finding answers together. Revealing how nature works. Linking a global community. Opening doors to the natural world. Transforming science into action. We are working together...to better understand our connections...to life on earth. [LOGO] The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, join us. [music resolves]

End of Transcript

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Join us on a lifelong journey to enjoy, understand, and protect birds and the natural world. Video Transcript [upbeat music] What bird is that? How much do they eat? Why are they so colorful? What's that bird doing? Curiosity gives rise to questions. Where do migratory birds go?

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"The mountains are calling and I must go," conservationist John Muir famously wrote in 1873. Many people can relate to feeling beckoned by nature, although for various reasons we can't always heed the call as quickly as we'd like. Fortunately, it's increasingly possible to tide ourselves over by calling the mountains to us.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, for instance, now is a bad time to congregate in crowds. It may be OK to get outside by walking around your neighborhood or visiting a nearby park, but only if lots of other people aren't doing the same thing at the same time. That has been the problem lately at some U.S. national parks, which have reportedly become even more crowded during the pandemic, despite widespread calls to stay home as much as possible.

Some national parks have now closed in response, including Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Great Smoky Mountains. The midst of a pandemic probably isn't the best time for most people to visit national parks anyway, especially popular ones.

At the same time, however, national parks offer valuable health benefits that could be particularly useful right now. Spending time in forests and other natural settings, for example, can improve mental and physical health in several ways, including reduced anxiety and depression, while the dramatic scenery in many parks can also help us experience awe, which may also boost our overall well-being.

And while virtual tours are obviously no substitute for actually being there, they do offer a compromise that lets us explore national parks from afar. That can help with planning future visits, but it's also turning out to be a nice resource to have when you're hunkering down at home during a pandemic.

Hidden worlds

The Hidden Worlds tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park begins on a rainforest trail before diving into a lava tube, volcanic cliffs and the famous Halema'uma'a Crater. (Photo: Google Arts & Culture)

Virtual tours of national parks have been around for a while, but they've become deeper and more immersive over time. In one of the newest options, " The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks" by Google Arts & Culture, viewers are swept away to five different national parks, where they can explore the unique landscapes in multiple ways. The result is an "incredible lifelike journey," as Krista Karlson writes for the Sierra Club, and "an important reminder that the world is still beautiful and wonderful and weird, even in uncertain times."

Google Earth also has simpler virtual tours for 31 U.S. national parks, and while those are worth seeing, too, they aren't as immersive as the new Hidden Worlds project, which takes a deeper dive into five parks: Alaska's Kenai Fjords, Hawaii Volcanoes, New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns, Utah's Bryce Canyon and Florida's Dry Tortugas.

A night-sky scene from the Hidden Worlds virtual tour of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. (Photo: Google Arts & Culture)

At each park, the Hidden Worlds tour opens with a video that introduces us to the park and to a ranger who will serve as our guide. That's followed by a series of interactive 360-degree videos, in which we can look around the moving landscape while our ranger provides context about what we're seeing. Again, this may not compare with physically being there, but these videos still create a compelling and surprisingly realistic experience, especially if you've spent the last couple weeks cooped up indoors with few glimpses of natural splendor.

You can drop underground in a Hawaiian lava tube, climb down a glacier crevasse in Kenai Fjords or swim through a coral reef in Dry Tortugas, learning details about these otherworldly places as you gaze around. Additional videos let you explore even further, and thanks to the ongoing commentary from your guide (which can be paused if you want), that makes these tours educational as well as meditative. This is an "information-heavy" experience, as Karlson puts it, and could be useful infotainment for kids while schools are closed. Yet it's also a potentially valuable resource for almost anyone, both teaching us about these priceless places and helping lift our spirits while we're stuck at home.

Other options

Google Earth offers virtual tours of 31 U.S. national parks, including Yellowstone. (Photo: Google Earth)

As mentioned above, Google Earth already lets us explore 31 U.S. national parks with virtual tours, which are less flashy and more self-guided than the Hidden Worlds tours, but still teeming with interesting details and captivating views. They include many of the country's most iconic parks, zooming in from a satellite view to let users explore famous attractions like the Grand Canyon's Bright Angel Trail, Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic Spring, and Yosemite's El Capitan and Half Dome.

There are also a few other ways to virtually visit certain national parks. The relatively new Virtual Yosemite, for one, launched in 2019 with high-resolution, 360-degree panoramic views from more than 200 locations throughout the park.

You can also take online tours from the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) itself, typically on the official websites of certain parks. These tend to be much simpler than many virtual tours, often featuring a collection of photos, videos, maps and educational materials rather than slick interactive experiences, but some also cover lesser-known aspects of the parks, with unique images and information. On the Yellowstone National Park website, for example, you can find virtual tours of attractions like Fort Yellowstone, Fountain Paint Pot, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs, among others, as well as a scrolling " story map" about the park's Upper Geyser Basin.

The NPS offers webcams for many parks, too, letting people all over the world check in for nearly real-time views of specific sites and vistas.

None of this may quench our thirst for freedom and wilderness, but as long as we're stuck at home, it's at least nice to briefly lose ourselves in these virtual replicas. They can help calm and entertain us during anxious times, but they also serve as valuable reminders that natural wonders are still out there waiting for us - and eventually, one day, we'll be able to answer their call.

How to explore national parks with virtual tours

Virtual tours of national parks are providing a valuable service as people shelter at home from the coronavirus pandemic.

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How to explore national parks with virtual tours

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"The mountains are calling and I must go," conservationist John Muir famously wrote in 1873. Many people can relate to feeling beckoned by nature, although for various reasons we can't always heed the call as quickly as we'd like. Fortunately, it's increasingly possible to tide ourselves over by calling the mountains to us.

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Common Birds of New England - By Habitat

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Suburbs and Parks Many birds that are not quite adaptable enough for city life still carve out a niche for themselves alongside humans. Commonly known as the "backyard birds," these recognizable feathered friends are common sights at backyard feeders and in municipal parks.

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Donate

Despite its small size, Massachusetts regularly records over 300 different species of birds every year. Mass Audubon's wildlife sanctuaries offer excellent opportunities to see and learn more about the birds of Massachusetts, whether you're on a naturalist-guided walk or on your own with one of our bird checklists.

Updated weekly, our recent bird sightings will introduce you to the wide variety of species Massachusetts has to offer year-round.

Download and print a bird checklist before your visit to a wildlife sanctuary and bring it with you for a convenient way to keep track of birds you see.

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March 8, 2020

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During Bird-a-thon, Mass Audubon's largest fundraiser, teams of birders spend 24 hours trying to spot the most species in Massachusetts.

Want to learn how to attract birds to your yard? Discover why birds behave in certain ways? How to ID species that look similar? We've got the answers and more! Get to know birds >

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Your reports from backyards, feeders, highways, and conservation areas across Massachusetts are important to Mass Audubon's efforts to learn more about the populations, distributions, and breeding activities of our birds. Join a project >

Mass Audubon is at the forefront of understanding the ever-changing patterns of bird and other wildlife populations in Massachusetts, and publishing reports, like State of the Birds, about what those changes may mean for the future. View research >

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Donate Despite its small size, Massachusetts regularly records over 300 different species of birds every year. Mass Audubon's wildlife sanctuaries offer excellent opportunities to see and learn more about the birds of Massachusetts, whether you're on a naturalist-guided walk or on your own with one of our bird checklists.

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Protect Pollinators

Many species of pollinators are experiencing dramatic declines. Fortunately, there are ways you can help. And small changes can make a big difference!
You can help pollinators thrive >
Insect & Arachnid Species

Find information about a variety of insects and arachnids-including ticks-found in Massachusetts.

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Many species of pollinators are experiencing dramatic declines. Fortunately, there are ways you can help. And small changes can make a big difference! You can help pollinators thrive > Find information about a variety of insects and arachnids-including ticks-found in Massachusetts.

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds.

How to Build a Backyard Bird Sanctuary and Wildlife Habitat

1. Create a Bird Habitat in Your Backyard. Establishing a sanctuary for wild birds in your backyard has many benefits. ...

2. Put Up a Bird Feeder. Putting up a simple bird feeder is the first step and an easy way to bring more birds to your yard. ...

3. Choose the Right Birdseed and Food. ...

4. Add Bird Baths and Water Sources.

How do you get birds in your backyard?

Can you just throw bird seed on the ground?

Dec 23, 2015 · One of the best ways to attract wild birds is to make sure that your yard is inviting to them ...Duration: 2:30 Posted: Dec 23, 2015

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how to build a bird sanctuary in your backyard - Google Search

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. How to Build a Backyard Bird Sanctuary and Wildlife Habitat Create a Bird Habitat in Your Backyard. Establishing a sanctuary for wild birds in your backyard has many benefits. ... Put Up a Bird Feeder.

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Over 400 species of birds either breed, are resident, migrate through, or winter in New England. This includes both land birds and seabirds. Some of these birds have a fairly small New England range (for example, the Spruce Grouse) and other birds are found throughout the region.

The above list does not include all 400+ birds. Over time, we will continue adding species to our list of New England birds, which includes birds in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island.

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Over 400 species of birds either breed, are resident, migrate through, or winter in New England. This includes both land birds and seabirds. Some of these birds have a fairly small New England range (for example, the Spruce Grouse) and other birds are found throughout the region.

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If you could quit your job and move to a secluded spot in nature and just watch the world all day, would you? Let's be honest, no matter how much we love our computers and phones and television, nothing compares to the experience of being wow-ed by nature.

There are so many subtle details and little incredible moments that most of us miss because we're too caught up in life elsewhere. We've seen artists who have tried to integrate the natural world into urban environments, and even seen nature fight back against "civilization," but when was the last time you just sat back and enjoyed nature in all its glory?

The sad reality is that most of us are not going to up and trade our cozy homes for a tent and portable stove anytime soon, but when we finally do catch the wanderlust bug, many of the world's most amazing natural places might be gone. Our planet is being polluted, poisoned, and paved every single day by human activity. Climate change is altering our natural systems and causing habitats to melt or succumb to flooding, taking the plants and animals that call these places home with them.

We could all stand to take a little break from our busy lives to sit back and just watch the incredible beauty and wonder that occurs in the After watching these 10 astounding time lapse videos you'll be inspired to stand up for the natural world. natural world . Trust us, nature is so worth fighting for!

1. Adventure is Calling by Shane Black

Ever wonder what it would be like to traverse across 32 states in the U.S. and visit 13 national parks? Shane Black can show you in this incredible time lapse. We'll wait while you pick your jaws off the floor.

2. The Mountain by TSO Photography

This astounding short was filmed on El Teide over the span of eight days. El Teide is the highest mountain in Spain and one of the best places on Earth to star gaze. We recommend putting this one of full screen and maybe roasting a few s'mores.

3. Nature in the Spring

This video is a clip from Rhythm in Nature in the Barycz Valley. While most people would never imagine taking the time to watch a flower sprout from the ground and bloom, this video allows you to do so in the span of about three-minutes. Yes, it's as outstanding as you can imagine.

4. Flowers Blooming

Ever notice how flower buds seem to bloom when no one's looking? You leave your house in the morning and they're tight buds and by the time you're home at night time there's a fully bloomed beauty waiting for you! This video took over 50,000 shots of flowers over a nine-month period to catch these beautiful flowers in action.

5. Slow Life by Daniel Stoupin

When you look at a coral reef from a distance it appears to be a still formation in the ocean. If you look a little bit closer, however, you'll see that it is alive and bursting with life! If you've ever thought the ocean is nothing but water and sand, this video will sure change that perspective!

6. Hawaii's Volcanoes by QT Luong

Nature can be beautiful and peaceful, but it also can be a destructive force. This time lapse video captures the wonder of Hawaii's volcanoes. These lava flows are incredibly hot and capable of destroying anything it their path - but, as you'll see, they also create new land and the potential for new life.

7. Yosemite Range of Light by Shawn Reeder

This incredible gem is the product of two years filming in Yosemite National Park. The dynamic relationship between the light and the many mountains and stream s of the park is a wonder that everyone needs to see during their lifetime.

8. The Aurora by TSO Photography

To catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis lights you have to travel to the geomagnetic poles of the earth. This particular video captures this natural phenomenon from Kirkenes and Pas National Park at the Northern tip of Norway, bordering Russia. The amazing green color results from the collision of atomic oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere - in non-scientific terms: it's crazy cool to watch.

9. Stars of the Sea by Karin Brussaard

Turn our gaze away from the stars in the sky, down to the stars that live in the depths of the ocean, this video gives us a glimpse in to the lives of sea stars. It's impossible to watch this time lapse and not smile at these sea stars shuffling across the ocean floor. Who knew something as mundane sea stars walking could be so fascinating!

10. Adrift by Simon Christen

Our collection of phenomenal nature videos would hardly be complete with a cloud time lapse. While we might look at clouds everyday in one way or another, we bet you've never seen clouds like this before! This video captures the fog in the San Francisco Bay Area over the span of two years. Not only are the images incredibly ethereal but they remind us that no matter how far we are from nature living in the city, it's always around us, just waiting to be noticed.

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10 Breathtaking Time Lapse Videos of Nature That Will Make Your Jaw Drop

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We could all stand to take a little break from our busy lives to sit back and just watch the incredible beauty and wonder that occurs in the natural world. Trust us, after you see these amazing scenes you'll understand why it's so worth fighting for!

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Through the effective management of wildlife and habitat, MassWildlife ensures quality outdoor recreational opportunities for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the impressive variety of plants, fish, and wildlife found in Massachusetts. Outdoor skills clinics, wildlife education workshops, presentations, and online resources provide all residents with a greater understanding and appreciation for wildlife conservation. Keep in touch with us - sign up to receive monthly e-newsletters.

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MassWildlife offices and hatcheries are closed to the public until further notice. Fishing is open. Wildlife Management Areas are open. MassWildlife's COVID-19 response More Fewer featured items Through the effective management of wildlife and habitat, MassWildlife ensures quality outdoor recreational opportunities for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the impressive variety of plants, fish, and wildlife found in Massachusetts.

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Sustainability Project Ideas and Resources

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Sustainability Project Ideas and Resources

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Sustainability for Schools | One Tree Planted

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Discover our school environmental education programs designed with students in mind! We've made it fun and engaging to learn about our changing climate and environment through our free lesson plans, resources, activities and posters accessible through our online platform!