Top Photo: Mystery bird (See bottom of page for identification).

We’re approaching the end of March and spring is moving along quickly.

Here’s a few sights you might see on your walk around the outdoor loop here at the museum.

Redbud is in bloom.

Elm is another early bloomer. Its winged fruit is developing now.

Buckeye’s palmate leaves are opening and its red-flowered racemes are ready to pop.

Birds like this eastern phoebe are nesting. They nest each year under the boardwalk that takes you in to and out of Explore the Wild.

Turtles are basking.

Heavy sleepers are awakening.

Finally, the answer to the mystery bird’s identification (Top Photo).

Note the bird’s long sharp bill and the color of its belly feathers, most notably the feathers (reddish) behind where its left foot grasps the branch its perched on. Also, you can see what looks like white spots and barring on its wing and tail feathers, a good indication that you’re looking at a woodpecker.

That’s right, it’s a red-bellied woodpecker.

Have a good one!

Ranger Greg