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Junior Wildlife Conservationist Quiz

When barred owls call, and somehow this one caught a fish, they often cause turkeys to gobble. Turkey hunters use barred owl calls to help find where turkeys are located in order to hunt them. (photo by Roger Hill)

1. What American hawk is the only one that hunts in groups?
The Harris hawk of the southwest United States is the only raptor that hunts in groups. One photographer filmed a group of five chasing a rabbit in relays to tire it. At one point, the rabbit hid under some brush. Then, one hawk walked in after it like a bird dog. When the rabbit flushed, several other hawks pounced, killed and then ate it! Now, that’s team work!

2. How long does it take for birds to lay eggs?
The cowbird can lay an egg in seconds. It is in such a hurry because it lays its eggs in other birds’ nests, a phenomenon called nest parasitism. A bobwhite quail needs 3-10 minutes to lay an egg; an hour or so for geese and turkeys. The common murre, a sea bird, can breed and still lay fertile eggs after several months! Why? Murres need to be at sea for long periods to gather enough food to survive, and thus are not together very much with their mates. more…

By Mike Parker, PF Regional Wildlife Biologist

Growing up in the northern United States, each autumn I found myself observing huge flocks of ducks, geese and other migratory waterfowl flying south to spend the winter months in some distant warm place.

I was never quite as fortunate as those birds that would spend the winter relaxing on distant beaches in paradise, or at least that’s what my young mind thought. But at least I had an insulated house, a working furnace and plenty of layers of warm clothes to protect me and allow me to weather the snow and ice of another tough Michigan winter.

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An ancient team that still works today
Story by Glenn Savage Illustration by Dan Burr

Let me tell you a story about how dogs and humans became such good friends. The story is fictional, but based on actual evidence found by anthropologists and their educated guesses. Anthropology is the science of human beings, especially the study of our ancestors in relation to our environment and societies:

It was the worst drought any human or wild dog could remember. There was no grass or wildlife anywhere. The ancient dog pack was desperate for food as they roamed the night far beyond their usual range looking for anything edible. more…