Harriet Alexander Nature Center

05/29/2026

Fun Fact Friday! 🦆🐣

Did you know ducklings and goslings can swim almost as soon as they hatch? Unlike many baby birds that stay safely in a nest for weeks, ducks and geese are ready to move right away. Within about 24 hours of hatching, they can walk, paddle through water, and follow their parents across wetlands, ponds, and shorelines.

These fuzzy little birds are called precocial, which means they hatch with their eyes open, covered in down feathers, and already capable of moving, feeding, and responding to their environment shortly after birth.

Their parents do not actually teach them how to swim they naturally already know how. Instead, the parents focus on protection, guiding them to food, and keeping the whole family safe from predators.

Check out this family of Canada geese we saw during a field trip this week at the nature center!

05/27/2026

They may be small now, but soon they will be mighty 🌱

Native plants play an important role in supporting pollinators like bees, butterflies, birds, and many other wildlife species by providing food, shelter, and habitat. Their deep root systems also help improve soil health, reduce erosion, and support a more resilient local ecosystem. Even small native gardens can make a big impact!

When you visit the nature center be sure to stop by our new native plant garden along the front entrance path. These plants were planted during our Earth Day event, and we are excited to watch them grow, bloom, and thrive in the years ahead!

Interested in planting native species at home? Check out these great resources to get started:
• https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rys/pg/encyclopedia.html
• https://extension.umn.edu/find-plants/native-plants
• https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/

05/20/2026

These cloudy, rainy days in the forecast have us thinking about warm, bright sunny camp days that are less than a month away!

You or a friend still looking for summer plans for your campers?? While many of our full-day camps have filled, we still have openings for half-day and preschool/junior camps. From creating nature-inspired art to exploring different habitats and finding creatures within them to using our senses to become better nature detectives, we have so many fun adventures planned for this summer.

Some camps with openings include:
• Art in Nature
• Guardians of the Mythical Marsh
• Trash to Treasure
• Nature Play
…and more!

Summer camp season is one of our favorite times of year at HANC, and we cannot wait to learn, explore, create, and get outside with your campers. Check out which option would be the best fit here: https://www.cityofroseville.com/2513/HANC-Youth-Camps

05/15/2026

Fun Fact Friday 🐦

Many songbirds travel at night during migration, taking advantage of cooler temperatures, calmer air, and fewer predators. Even more amazingly, some migrating birds navigate using the stars, recognizing star patterns in the night sky like a natural GPS system to help guide them thousands of miles.

Scientists also believe certain birds can sense Earth’s magnetic field, giving them a built in biological compass during their journey.

And perhaps one of the most unbelievable migrants of all? The tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbird, weighing less than a nickel, can fly over 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico during migration.

What bird species have you noticed returning from migration recently?

📸 Photo credit: Harris Mallory

05/13/2026

Minnesota skies are busy tonight!
Hundreds of millions of birds are migrating overhead, making their incredible spring journey north. Keep your outdoor lights off overnight when possible and see what feathered friends you can spot during the day!

Spring migration season is in full swing🐦

Minnesota is for the birds 🐦✨

Tonight, 364 million birds are predicted to take flight, with a high concentration of birds flying over Minnesota, according to the bird migration forecast powered by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Look to the skies for species such as the rose-breasted grosbeak, least flycatcher or common yellowthroat during daylight hours, and make sure to turn off non-essential lights at night (11 pm-6 am)!

Have you been enjoying spring migration season? Let us know which birds you've observed in the comments below!

05/08/2026

Fun Fact Friday 🌧️➡️🌸

The saying “April showers bring May flowers” is not just fun to say, it is rooted in science and perfect seasonal timing. In places like Minnesota, spring rain helps recharge soil moisture just as temperatures begin to warm and daylight increases. Plants respond to these seasonal cues, including accumulated warmth called degree days, which triggers a burst of spring growth and flowering.
One amazing group of flowers that takes full advantage of this moment is spring ephemerals, early blooming woodland wildflowers that complete nearly their entire above ground life cycle in just a few short weeks.
These plants are specially adapted to soak up early spring sunlight before deciduous trees leaf out and shade the forest floor. They emerge quickly from underground storage structures like bulbs, corms, and rhizomes- they bloom fast, set seed, and then disappear back underground until next spring, all within about 6 to 8 weeks.

In forests, spring ephemerals create a brief but spectacular display, transforming the forest floor into a masterpiece. Check out these that are blooming right now here at HANC.
What is your favorite spring ephemeral?

*Plant names are included in the picture captions

05/04/2026

We’re excited to be part of Sticker Quest 2026! 🐸🔍🌿

Visit us this week, May 5–9, during National Travel and Tourism Week to pick up our sticker from one of our friendly volunteers at the front desk at HANC.
While you’re here, take some time to explore the trails and enjoy the beauty of spring unfolding around the nature center.

Our building is open:
Tuesday–Saturday | 10 AM–4 PM
Sunday | 1–4 PM

Learn more here: https://visitroseville.com/blog/sticker-quest-2026/

05/01/2026

Fun Fact Friday! 🐛☀️

Happy May Day! As spring sunshine warms the earth, keep your eyes open for one of nature’s toughest little survivors, the Woolly Bear Caterpillar.

When temperatures drop for winter, woolly bears produce a natural cryoprotectant, a kind of insect antifreeze with glycerol that helps protect their cells even when ice forms inside their bodies. Their heart slows, their body enters a dormant state, and they spend winter tucked safely beneath leaves, logs, and forest litter.

Even more amazing, they can survive freezing and thawing multiple times throughout a single winter.

When spring warmth returns, they thaw and begin crawling again. After a short time feeding to build energy, they spin a cocoon made of silk and their own bristles and transform into the beautiful Isabella tiger moth, an important nighttime pollinator and part of the food web for birds and other wildlife.

Have you spotted a woolly bear on the trail this spring?

04/30/2026

Thank You for Celebrating Earth Day with Us! 🌎🌱
What a wonderful day of community, connection, and caring for our planet. We loved seeing so many people come together here at the nature center to celebrate and take part in meaningful actions for the environment. A special shout-out to our volunteers, partners, and everyone who made the day such a success.

04/29/2026

We are thankful for the incredible community partners who help bring new projects to life! A huge thank you to Dayton Zielinski for completing his Eagle Scout Project by building and installing this beautiful Purple Martin birdhouse here at the nature center.

As Purple Martins begin returning north in mid to late April, we’re excited to offer a welcoming space for them to settle in. The first arrivals, often called “scouts,” come ahead of the rest, with younger birds following weeks later.

Fun fact: Purple Martins are the largest swallows in North America, and, in the eastern U.S., they rely almost entirely on human-provided housing like this to nest. That means projects like this one make a real difference for their survival!

We can’t wait to see if any martins choose to call this new home their own this season