Outdoors Campaign Program

Featured Monthly Radio Episodes
  Hosted by David Winkelman & Bog Frog®.

Question:  A quality pair of binoculars can greatly enhance your outdoor enjoyment. This is David Winkelman with Outdoor Trivia. What optical term describes the total amount of area visible in one glance as you look through binoculars? Is it depth of field, resolution or field of view? That's the total amount of visible area in one glance. Is it field of view, resolution or depth of field? And let's focus on the answer right after this.

Answer:  Welcome back to Outdoor Trivia. What's the term for the total visible area in one glance when looking through binoculars? It's the field of view. The field of view is commonly expressed in terms of feet at a thousands yards. Standard glasses have a field of view of about 350 feet at a thousand yards, but some wide-angle models go beyond 500 feet. Binoculars help you see things in nature that you normally would miss. Keep an eye out for Bog Frog. He's 60 seconds away with a Frog Friendly Tip.

Question:  Who started the use of duck decoys? This is David Winkelman with Outdoor Trivia. Which group of people introduced the use of duck decoys in North America? They were probably the most conscientious hunters of all. So do you know how decoys got started? Well, stick around and you might catch one right after this.

Answer:  Welcome back to Outdoor Trivia. Who were the first to use duck decoys in North America? It was the Native Americans. According to Field & Stream magazine, they made them from the skins of real birds stuffed with grass. But, if the natives didn't have a skin, they would also make a decoy out of wood or gourds. Now, to get close enough for a shot with his bow, these hardy hunters would often have to stay in the cold, weedy water for hours, waiting for ducks to land. I'll bet that gave them a great appreciation for the person who could make a good mock duck. Nowadays, we need a great appreciation for nature, so standby for a tip on ecology from Bog Frog.

Question:  Some movie stars and recording artists think they're pretty hot. And some are pretty hot when it comes to entertainment. But I want to tell you something really hot in nature. Hotter than the sun. This is David Winkelman with Outdoor Trivia. Now what on earth is hotter than the sun? Well, that's my question. What natural phenomenon on earth is actually hotter than the surface of the sun? I'll be back right after this.

Answer:  Welcome back to Outdoor Trivia. What on earth is hotter than the sun? It's lightning. Get a load of this. The speed of lightning varies from 100 to 1,000 miles per second for the downward stroke and reaches up to 87,000 miles per second for the powerful return stroke. But, occasionally, lightning produces a gigantic discharge that's been recorded to reach temperatures around 30,000 degrees Celsius, more than five times hotter than the surface of the sun. Now, stay tuned for Bog Frog, who has some pretty cool ways to for us to help nature.

Question:  A good rain is almost always a welcomed event. But sometimes it can be a bit too much of a good thing. This is David Winkelman with Outdoor Trivia. Heavy rains can pose dangers and sometimes can even be life-threatening. The world's rainiest day ever occurred on the Philippine island of Luzon, near the city of Baguio in July, 1911. But just how much rain fell on that record day?  Well, I'll tell you this, they needed a really big rain gauge to measure it. Now, I'll give you a little time to gauge your answer and come back to see if you measure up right after this.

Answer:  Welcome back to Outdoor Trivia. What's the world's record rainfall for one day? Well, back in 1911, the Philippine town of Baguio was drenched by 46 inches of rain in 24 hours. Now, remember that the next time a downpour floods out your camping trip and makes everybody a little boggy. Now, stay tuned because Bog Frog will return with a Frog Friendly Tip on keeping our precious rainwater pure

Question:  Most of the National Parks in this country are named after a dominant physical feature, like a mountain or a canyon, for example. This is David Winkelman with Outdoor Trivia. There's a National Park in northern Minnesota that was named after some people who used to live there. Well, actually, they didn't really live there, they just paddled their canoes across the area as they moved tons of furs and trade goods along the beautiful waterways. What were these travelers called? And I'll be back right after this.

Answer:  Welcome back to Outdoor Trivia. What were the canoeists who used to travel northern Minnesota's waterways called? They were called voyageurs, which is French for travelers, because they were mainly French-Canadians. Part of the area they traveled in is now preserved as Voyageurs National Park. Canoeing is still one of the main pursuits in the area, only now it's done mainly for fun and to enjoy the natural beauty of the area... and also some fantastic fishing.

Question:  Why do mosquito bites itch? This is David Winkleman with Outdoor Trivia. Of all the insects in the world, the one that bugs people the most is that pesky little nuisance, the mosquito. And the worst thing about mosquitoes, of course, is that their bites itch. But why do their bites itch? I'll give you some time to scratch around for the answer and be back right after this.

Answer:  Welcome back to Outdoor Trivia. Why do mosquito bites itch? Well, they don't make everybody itch, only those allergic to their saliva. Unfortunately, most people are allergic to it. You see, mosquitoes don't actually bite, they stab you with a needlelike thing called a stylet. Then their saliva flows into the wound to keep the blood from clotting, making it easier for them to drink. Now, as much as we hate mosquitoes, they're an important part of ecology and they provide food for many critters.

Question:  Have you ever heard of a freshwater fish that weighed over 1,500 pounds? This is David Winkelman with OUTDOOR TRIVIA. What's the largest freshwater fish in North America? Here's a clue; it's now an endangered specie. I'll catch you right after this.

Answer:  Welcome back to OUTDOOR TRIVIA. What's the largest freshwater fish in North America? Of the seven varieties of this fish, the largest spawn in the clear waters of the Pacific coastal rivers from Alaska to California. They're prized for excellent flesh and delicious caviar. But the once abundant white sturgeon has fallen victim to our society. Fishing pressure in the late 1800's and early 1900's decimated the thriving white sturgeon population. This, coupled with pollution and damming of rivers along its natural migration route has placed the white sturgeon high atop the list of endangered species. So, stay tuned for a tip on ecology from Bog Frog . . .

Question:  Which bird hatches eggs in prison? This is David Winkelman with OUTDOOR TRIVIA. Birds have been known to lay their eggs in many different places. But which bird lays its eggs in its own prison? That's what I said. Although the bird's done nothing wrong, this weird behavior is very important to their survival. Standby and I'll be back to unlock the answer right after this.

Answer:  Welcome back to OUTDOOR TRIVIA. Which bird lays eggs in prison? The hornbill, a large bird from Southeast Asia, has a remarkable nesting habit. When hornbills have the urge to mate, the female goes into a hollow opening in a tree. The male, using mud and sticks, cements her in, leaving only a small opening for food. The male then runs himself ragged keeping the female fed while she raises the young alone. This way the young are safe from predators. Now standby and Bog Frog will hatch another tip on ecology . . .

Question:  The fastest land animal in North America can run up to 60 miles per hour.  What's it doing?  Is it trying to get away from a predator, or is it chasing down prey?  This is Outdoor Trivia and I'm David Winkelman.  Is the fastest land animal a carnivore or a herbivore?  I'll give you a clue. It's a game animal.  But what does it eat, meat or vegetables? Well, let's see if you can catch one right after this.

Answer:  Welcome back to Outdoor Trivia.  Is the fastest land animal in North America a carnivore or a herbivore?  It's the pronghorn, which is often called an antelope.  And according to Outdoor Life magazine, it's a vegetarian.  Running about a mile a minute, the pronghorn's speeds, combined with tremendous eyesight give it excellent fleeing capability.  Increasing antelope populations are a good tribute to modern day hunters who are doing more for conservation than any other group.  All of us need to work together to help nature survive.

Question:  This is David Winkelman with Outdoor Trivia.  Many folks have heard of click beetles and dung beetles that are named for their strange behavior.  But have you ever heard of a beetle that actually shoots at its enemies?  Fortunately, it doesn't handle the offering of the dung beetle.  Can you name this beetle or will I bug you right after this?

Answer:  Welcome back to Outdoor Trivia.  What is the beetle that shoots at its enemies?  There are some beetles in the U.S. and around the world that have reddish heads and legs and bluish bodies.  If you try to catch one of these beetles, it will actually shoot at you.  This habit has earned it the name bombardier beetle.  When disturbed, it discharges a liquid that suddenly changes to a gas as it comes out in the air. The resulting pop can be heard for several feet and the gas forms a smoke screen.  The resulting noise and gas may confuse the attacker and the bombardier beetle can escape.

Question:  Exploring nature is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences, but sometimes, however, it's possible to get a little too caught up in all the OUTDOOR TRIVIA and find yourself, well, lost.  This is OUTDOOR TRIVIA and I'm David Winkelman.  Can you think of at least two ways to tell directions in the woods?  Now, don't get too carried away, you'll want to find your way back right after this.

Answer:  Welcome back to OUTDOOR TRIVIA.  How can you tell directions in the woods?  Still lost? One way is to look at a big tree.  The bark will be harder, lighter color and drier on the south side from the sun.  Also, if you find a tree stump, the rings will be thicker on the south.  Stones will also have moss growing on the north side.  And if you look real close, you'll see more nests of insects in the crevices on the warm south side of trees.  Now, if you're a bit lost for ways to help our planet, then stay tuned for Bog Frog with a Frog Friendly Tip.
(Frog Friendly Conservation Tip Here)

Question:  Yellowstone National Park has many unique attractions. This is David Winkelman with OUTDOOR TRIVIA. The park has more than 300 geysers.  One of these geysers shoots water higher than any other geyser in the world.  Which one is it; Steamboat Geyser, Old Faithful or Big Bertha? I'll spout off right after this.

Answer:  Welcome back to OUTDOOR TRIVIA. Which geyser in Yellowstone National Park shoots water higher than any geyser in the world?  The answer is Steamboat Geyser.  Steamboat sends its columns of water to 400 feet high, dwarfing Old Faithful, which rises to 130 feet.  The reason Old Faithful is the most well-known geyser is because its eruptions are the most regular and predictable. Geysers are the result of cold water trickling down through the rocks until it hits super hot volcanic rock, then boiling up to the surface and erupting.  Bog Frog, who loves to spout off about ecology, will return with a Frog Friendly Tip.
(Frog Friendly Conservation Tip Here)

[top]

Outdoors Campaign Program