Get Outside

Give Turtles a Brake

Three-toed box turtles, ornate box turtles, and common snapping turtles are on the move! These species can often be seen crossing roads in Missouri this time of year in search of food, a mate, or a warm place to bask on cool spring days. If it is safe to do so, try to avoid them ormove them to the side of the road in which they are traveling.

Who’s Coming to Dinner?

With many birds — including phoebes, Baltimore orioles, ruby-throated hummingbirds, house wrens, and chimney swifts, to name a few — making their return flights to Missouri, you could have some hungry flocks on your hands. Get your bird feeders ready!

A Southeast Earth Day

Saturday, April 20 • 1–4 p.m., Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center 2289 County Park Drive Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 No registration required. Call 573-290-5218 for more information. All ages

Come celebrate Earth Day as we focus on the amazing plants, animals, and habitats Missouri’s Southeast region has to offer. Walk the trail to answer trivia questions or to just enjoy a nice spring day. Stop by the classroom to make and take a fish-related craft. Enjoy a nature film in the auditorium, or sit and watch the birds at our birdviewing area. There’s something for everyone at the nature center.

Sounds of a Spring Night

Nature comes alive in the springtime, even at night. The eastern whip-poor-will, whose call sounds just like its name, can call hundreds of times a night. Though considered common summer residents, they are often heard but rarely seen.

St. Louis Region: Family Fishing

Saturday, April 27 • 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Three Locations: O’Fallon Park Lake, Jefferson Lake — Forest Park, and Carondelet Park — Boathouse Lake No registration required. Call 636-441-4554 for more information. All ages

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the St. Louis Urban Fishing Program, the oldest and one of the largest in the USA. This family fishing event is open to the public. Events include special stockings, fishing instruction, and much more.

Plant a Tree

In honor of Arbor Day, why not plant a tree? You have two opportunities to celebrate the day in Missouri — Missouri State Arbor Day on April 5 and National Arbor Day on April 26. To learn more about planting tree seedlings, native trees, and more, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/ZNZ.

ID What You See

Online Field Guide: A–Z

Our mobile-friendly field guide is packed with information, images, and links to help you identify more than 1,000 Missouri animals, plants, and mushrooms. Find out what to look for right now, or search species to identify your latest finds. Compare similar species, find great places to see Missouri wildlife, and even share photos. Browse with any digital device at mdc.mo.gov/field-guide.

Find more events in your area at mdc.mo.gov/events Browse with any digital device at mdc.mo.gov/field-guide.

Natural Events to See This Month

Here’s what’s going on in the natural world.

• American White pelicans are migrating through Missouri
• Spring Turkey season begins
• It’s time to hunt morel mushrooms
• Wild black cherry  begins blooming
• Crappie Are spawning