Missouri Master Naturalist, Boone's Lick Chapter

04/26/2026

04/10/2026

03/17/2026

This winter's overwintering numbers from Mexico are in!

This winter, monarchs occupied 2.93 hectares in the oyamel fir forests of central Mexico, compared to 1.79 hectares at the same time in 2024. This area is slightly higher than the average of 2.81 hectares over the past decade and represents a 64% increase over last year’s area.

While the number of monarchs clustering in a hectare varies from year to year and is difficult to estimate, our best estimate is that it is about 21 million.

This count was announced today by the World Wildlife Fund-Telmex Telcel Foundation Alliance (WWF) and the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas in Mexico (CONANP).

Read more by clicking the link in the comments.

02/19/2026

🐝❄️ Where do native bees go in the winter?

Our native grasslands are more than what you see above ground—they’re a living system supporting life both above and below the soil. Even in winter, that life doesn’t disappear… it just changes.

Here’s what’s happening beneath your feet:

🌱 Bumble bee queens hibernate underground during the winter after their colony dies off. They’ll emerge in spring to start a brand-new colony.

🏡 Cavity-nesting and ground-nesting bees often survive the winter as larvae, safely tucked away and waiting for the right temperatures to emerge in spring and summer.

So when we protect native grasslands, we’re not just protecting plants—we’re protecting the next generation of pollinators. 💛

Think differently. Think sustainably. 🌾🐝

02/08/2026

12/23/2025

09/06/2025

08/20/2024

It's that time of year again!

Tonight, 169 million birds are expected to be on the move, according to BirdCast. This follows last night's 200+ million migrating birds.

You can help migrating birds by keeping feeders and bird baths clean, turning off your lights at night and keeping cats indoors. For more about how to help migrating birds, visit the American Bird Conservancy's website: https://abcbirds.org/thirteen-tips-spring-migration/

Check out more fascinating maps and forecasts from BirdCast, powered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Colorado State University and UMass Amherst: https://birdcast.info/

06/09/2024

I like bee butts and I cannot lie.

We spotted this orange-belted bumblebee visiting dandelions to gather pollen. These bees can be found across parts of southern Canada and northern states from Montana through Maine and as far south as central Indiana.

📷 Courtney Celley/USFWS