The days are getting brighter and the ground is starting to thaw. Do you see the signs? The forest is coming to life. Listen for the chirping frogs, pounding woodpeckers, and racing squirrels. Sprigs of green are peeking through the thick mat of decaying leaves. First, the skunk cabbage in the swampy ....
Archive for category: Blog
Salamanders
Like lizards, they have a long tail and a narrow body but that is where the similarities end. Lizards are reptiles, with dry scaly skin. Salamanders have moist skin which some actually use to breathe. They are called amphibians because they live part of their lifecycle in the water and part on land....
Winter Hobbies
No matter what your age, the key to a healthy brain and body is staying active, curious and creative. Whether you learn new skills or find new ways to use existing skills you will keep your brain sharp. Step outdoors and let your inner child wonder. What type of animal made that track? What tree has that....
The Life of Winter
As the colors of fall fade onto the ground and the trees become skeletons, the busyness of the forest seems to be only a memory of its summer bustle. The transition into the harshness of winter is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful...
I Brake for Turtles
Indiana has 18 native species and subspecies of turtles. Most spend their time in the shallow waters along rivers and ponds. One stands out among them, the Eastern Box Turtle. It is terrestrial, one of the few that lives mainly on land. Found from southern Maine to Georgia, its numbers are in decline in the Midwest....
A Red-tail Summer – A reflection video by Kaija Aikman
I’m Kaija Aikman, a Senior at Kentucky State University studying Environmental Science. I love all things outdoors, especially hiking and landscape photography. I’ve travelled all...
2017 Annual Report
Since our inception in 1999, Red-tail has been working to preserve and protect places that people in east-central Indiana need and love. Started by a group of concerned community members, the Red-tail family has grown exponentially over the years. The number of permanently protected natural areas and farm-land has also grown.
The Belted Kingfisher
From northern Canada to the Caribbean and from coast to coast, belted kingfishers inhabit both fresh water and salt water habitats. Although there are over 100 species of kingfishers around the world, the belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is the only species found in Indiana. Kingfishers perch on limbs or telephone wires overhanging rivers, streams and....
Endangered cerulean warblers an amazing find in local forest
Cerulean Warblers are endangered in Indiana, and a species of conservation concern range-wide. They have been declining at ~3% per year since 1960 across their range. In Indiana, Cerulean Warblers are typically on breeding sites by the first week of May and stay till the end of July.....
Salamanders, snakes, frogs, and toads OH MY! – Red-tail’s Munsee Woods
BSU biology students Andrew Jamison, Kat Nelson, and Hannah Jones share their love of herpetology in this video. They have been studying the herpetofauna at...