Is your house radioactive?

The definition of nature is elusive. We often think of nature as those naturally occurring things outside like trees and lakes and birds but there is so much more. There are rocks, enzymes, stars and gravity. All of these things are more are part of nature.  The natural world encompasses more than we can see with our eyes or touch with our hands. The parts of nature that we can't see are particularly fascinating. This...

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Nature Videos from Twin Cities Naturalist

Hello Twin Cities Naturalist readers, I haven't written here in a while as I've been focusing my efforts on my new project, Secret Nature. Secret Nature is a video based format that allows me to show as well as tell. I haven't been good about sharing those videos here with you so I'll be presenting some of those videos here over the next week. I hope you enjoy them! Up first is a playlist of the Secret Nature Vlog. These short impromptu...

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Facebook doesn't want you to see my videos...

It has been a while since I have posted to the website. I've been focusing more on Social Media as of late. It seems easier to reach people where they already are and while there are lots of things I really dislike about Facebook there certainly are a lot of people that follow Twin Cities Naturalist there rather than coming here to the website. Of course, there are those who get these posts via email as well. I've been experimenting with YouTube more lately as I think it is a fantastic platform. I have always loved video as...

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A Summer of Secrets

Summer is here and it is time to launch the Secrets of Summer video series. If you are reading via email. Check out this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwKJ5GfyvXA I'll be bringing you a series of videos all summer long debunking the top nature myths I encounter in my job as a professional naturalist. Be sure to subscribe on YouTube to see them all. ~Ki...

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Watch out for White-crowned Sparrows

As the white-throated sparrows move through in the spring keep your eyes open. All may not be as it seems. Here in the Twin Cities and in countless other areas, we get thousands upon thousands of white-throated sparrows migrating through in the spring as they head north. They don't stick around long but their distinctive white throat and "Oh Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada" call are a much welcome sign of spring.  Seeing the...

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Warm Weather is a Disaster for Maple Syrup Season

There's no denying this unseasonably warm weather feels great but not all is sunshine and gumdrops. The rapid switch to all warm all the time means it is not dipping below freezing at night. This spells disaster for the maple sap run. Maple trees will not run if the temperature does not dip below freezing at night. Last year at work we collected 700 gallons of sap by the end of the season. Right now we have maybe 30 and unless it rest cold again fast the season may be over. WCCO news came out the the nature center to do a...

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Official 2015 Twin Cities Groundhog's Day Report

The 2015 Report:What a difference a year makes! On Groundhog's Day 2014 we'd just pulled though yet another "Polar Vortex" and there were high snowdrifts everywhere. Here we are today and solid snow cover is hard to find anywhere in the Twin Cities. Last year I took a new job at Lowry Nature Center in the west metro after a 12 year stint at Warner Nature Center in the east metro. This means that last year I missed out on seeing my old pal "Stuff Stanley" the groundhog of record for many of the Official Twin Cities Groundhog...

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