Birds



Tuesday Tweet: Behind the Scenes

In an August blog post here on Exploring Minnesota’s Natural History we shared the images of a group of young Chickadees perched on top of a stump. These obviously posed images were taken at Brook Lodge near Lake City, Minnesota…


Tuesday Tweet: Small Talk

Talk amongst yourselves. I’ll give you a topic… Grape-nuts – it contains neither grapes nor nuts. Discuss. – Sandhill Crane, adult, with Robert Scheick, warden, October 25, 1940…


Tuesday Tweet: University Bird Class

Associate Curator and Director were not the only titles that Thomas Sadler Roberts held during his tenure at the University of Minnesota. Beginning in 1916, just one year after he started at the U, Roberts also added the title of…


Gift Giving: “To the Zoo at the U”

In spirit with the season of gift giving, I thought I would share a unique type of gift commonly received by the Bell Museum of Natural History when it was known as the Zoological Museum from 1915-1928. Sure the museum…


Geese a laying!

On the Friday before Christmas Exploring Minnesota’s Natural History gave to thee: Geese a laying! – Snow Goose, goose sitting, gander standing, H.J. Jaeger flock, May 1, 1925, Owatonna – Snow Goose, goose sitting on nest, gander standing guard, H.J….


Bad Hair Day

Having a bad hair day? – American Bittern, one young, June 2, 1927, Long Meadow Gun Club Don’t worry, you have company! – American Bitterns, four young, June 2, 1927, Long Meadow Gun Club (from the glass plate negatives in…


Tuesday Tweet: A Crest fit for a King

When I first saw the image from this glass plate negative I couldn’t help but notice the tufts of feathers that spike out from the heads of these birds. This part of a bird’s plumage is known as the crest….


Monday Mailbag: More Season’s Greetings

It is Monday again, and as we introduced last week, a December Monday means it is time to open the mailbag to share some of the season’s greetings that Dr. Thomas Sadler Roberts received during his tenure as the curator…