Natural North Dakota

I recently saw a falcon-like bird.  The sky was overcast, with poor lighting, so I was unable to get any good markings, but I suspect it may have been a merlin.

A few years ago, I was involved with an ecology exercise for elementary students.  We waded out into a lake, scooped up some of the substrate with pie plates, and observed all the little critters that were hidden among the substrate and overlying detritus.  

We have a fox living in our neighborhood.  I haven’t seen it now for several weeks. But I assume it is still in the area, because I have occasionally seen its tracks in the snow.  

The landscapes in most areas look quite bare this time of year with all the leaves off the trees.  

I drive by a few beaver lodges each day on my way to and from work.  When I pass by the lodges, especially now after ice-up, I often wonder what they are doing.