Tiny talons. Fluffy attitudes. Absolutely no idea what’s going on. 😆
MDC Urban Wildlife Biologist Chris Cain had his hands full earlier this week helping band peregrine falcon chicks in the Kansas City Area - including these three cotton balls with beaks from a nest box at a Central Plains Cement Company Structure.
MDC partners with companies in Kansas City and St. Louis to place peregrine nest boxes on tall buildings and structures, helping these once-endangered birds continue making an incredible comeback in Missouri.
Each chick receives a leg band that helps biologists track peregrine populations and monitor the species over time.
📸 Kathleen Savaiano, MDC
#PeregrineFalcon #MDCDiscoverNature
Bird migration is still going strong! 373 million birds are predicted to fly over the U.S. tonight - and it’s a dangerous journey.
Up to 1 billion birds die from window strikes in the U.S. every year. Collisions spike during migration, when exhausted birds descend near buildings after being pulled off course by artificial light. When windows reflect sky or foliage, birds fly into them.
But you can help! Find out how by clicking on the link in our bio.
Birdcast Credit: Van Doren, B. M., and Horton, K. G. 2026. BirdCast, migration forecast map; May 12, 2026, 06:00 ET. University of Illinois, Purdue University, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. birdcast.org. access: May 12, 2026.
#FeatherWeatherForecast #Bird #SpringMigration #Birding #MDCDiscoverNature
The Feather Weather Forecast is in — and the numbers are staggering.
373 million birds are predicted to fly over the U.S. tonight. Last night alone, over 75 million crossed Missouri. This spring, 386 million birds have already made that journey over our state.
But here’s what most people don’t know: artificial light doesn’t just risk bird collisions — it exhausts them. Light pollution disrupts their navigation, pulling them off course and into dangerous urban areas, costing them precious energy on a trip that spans thousands of miles.
The good news? We can help.
Turn off your lights at night
Advocate for large buildings to go dark during migration
Log your sightings on eBird and be part of the data
The Gateway Arch already turns off its lights for all of May to protect migrating birds — proof that when communities act, it makes a real difference. Check out darkskymissouri.org to learn more about turning lights out for birds.
Want to know what’s flying over your region? Visit the link 🔗 in our bio!
#SpringMigration #BirdWatching #MissouriBirding #Birb
Give turtles a brake this spring! Spring rains and warmer weather prompts turtles to emerge from their wintering burrows to search for food and mates. This leads many turtles to the dangers of crossing highways and gravel roads. You can help keep them safe by safely steering clear of them when possible.
📷Kevin Muenks
#mdcdiscovernature #turtles #spring
268,000,000 birds have crossed Missouri so far this spring — with nearly 13 million passing through in just one night.
Missouri sits along one of North America’s most important migration corridors, the Mississippi Flyway, and the next two weeks will bring peak numbers. Watch for Great-crested Flycatchers, Swainson’s Thrushes, Tennessee Warblers and many more stopping through on their journey north.
Birds migrate overnight and often seek out green spaces at dawn to rest and eat. Your backyard or nearest park could be a rest stop right now.
Download the free eBird app to track and report what you see — every sighting contributes to real scientific research. And don’t forget to register for the Missouri Birding Challenge, starting May 1! Registration ends April 30.
Birdcast Credit: Van Doren, B. M., and Horton, K. G. 2026. BirdCast, migration forecast map; April 27-29, 2026, 12:00 ET. University of Illinois, Purdue University, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. birdcast.org. access: April 27, 2026.
#mdcdiscovernature #birding #springmigration #mobirdingchallenge #featherweatherforecast
Good evening, Missouri. Your Feather Weather Forecast is in, and across the U.S. we have millions of birds in the sky tonight and tomorrow!
If you’re keeping score at home, check the live radar at birdcast.org — updated every 10 minutes.
Now here’s where YOU come in. These birds navigate by the moon and stars, and your porch light? That’s a problem. Light pollution disorients migrants and sends them straight into windows and buildings. Please turn off nonessential outdoor and indoor lights facing windows from 11 PM to 6 AM. Migration is really ramping up, so millions of birds are still on the way.
Learn more at DarkSky Missouri at our link in bio. Stay dark out there, Missouri.
Birdcast Credit: Van Doren, B. M., and Horton, K. G. 2026. BirdCast, migration forecast map; April 21-23, 2026, 06:00 ET. University of Illinois, Purdue University, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. birdcast.org. access: April 21, 2026.
Northern parula 📸 Ryan Schain/Macaulay Library
#FeatherWeatherForecast #SpringMigration #Birdwatching #Birding #BirdMigration
🐸Tuesday Tweet 🎶
A mashup of the spring soundtrack. Listen to the evening sounds of frogs and toads as they gather in the water to call for a mate. From late winter to early summer, you may hear the bassy croak of a bullfrog or the high end trill of spring peepers, and a whole chorus as more join in. Discover more about MO toads and frogs in the field guide on our website. #tuesdaytweet #mdcdiscovernature
Somewhere south of Iowa and north of Arkansas. 🍯🍄🟫
Is your morel season this successful? Probably not. 🥲
🎥 Brent Vandeloecht, MDC
#MorelMushrooms #MorelSeason #Missouri
Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium) is a shrub or small tree found statewide that flowers in April through May. It makes a great shrub for native landscaping and the berries produced in the fall are eaten by many species of birds and mammals.
📷 Kevin Muenks
#mdcdiscovernature #native #flowers
Flame on! 🔥 MDC crews completed prescribed burns on 238 acres in Christian County at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area. Prescribed burns can help clear overgrown areas and increase plant diversity.
📽️ Sara Karnes, MDC
#PrescribedFire #NativePlants #Conservation #WildlifeHabitat
🐦Tuesday Tweet 🎶
You can hear them crow up to a mile away. Ring-necked Pheasants can flush in a near vertical due to strong breast muscles. They can’t fly for long distances as well. Males have the vivid colors while females blend in with browns. Look for them around fields and roadsides and in brushy cover. 🎥Mike Blair #tuesdaytweet #mdcdiscovernature
The stage is set for the MoNASP State Archery Tournament in Branson, Missouri. Nearly 4000 student archers from across the state will be competing today through Saturday for a chance to win at state and possibly advance to the national competition. 🎥Kevin Muenks
#mdcdiscovernature #monasp
