Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat

Identify!Northern Red Oak Leaf

One of the largest challenges when taking learning outdoors is not knowing what you might find.  Determining what you’ve encountered with the help of your students is a rewarding activity that can build trust and confidence.  The following resources can help you with identification.

Plant Identification Resources

Pollination Station by Kerry WixtedInvertebrate Identification Resources

Bird Identification Resources


Hummingbird photo by Steven Kersting, Flickr Creative Commons
Photo by: Steven Kersting, Flickr Creative Commons

Mammal Identification Resources

Reptile and Amphibian Identification Resources

Other Resources

  • iNaturalist
    Users participate in a community of naturalists sharing observations, photos, etc.
  • Maryland Biodiversity Project
    Participants submit records of species in their area to assist with an online, searchable catalogue of  all living species found in Maryland