This year’s nature walks began Friday with a full house at Foster Park. Thanks to the light drizzle, we moseyed on into the large pillared “temple” to begin a year-long project: A bird log. At the end of the year, parents will judge the logs on quality, number of entries, neatness of writing, and so forth and award first, second, and third prizes for best bird log.
Here are two students working with Mr. Pullmann on sketches we did afterwards from John Audubon paintings.
You may have noticed due to congregations in your yard or local parks, but it’s Monarch butterfly migration season. The little critters are on their annual flight 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico for the winter.
Next week, on September 21, we will meet at Eagle Marsh at 1 p.m. (not this year’s usual 1:30 p.m. nature walk time) to study Monarch butterfly migration with local scientists at one of our many local wetlands (that are not inside your basement). If you want to read up on Monarch migration, check out this National Geographic article.
Fox Island Park, near Eagle Marsh, is host to a Monarch hatching, feeding, and way-station. Scientists there help track the butterflies on their trek. You can stop by to see it and ask questions.
Eagle Marsh Field Trip Details
Eagle Marsh is located at 6801 Engle Rd. Putting the address into Google Maps takes you to the “mailbox” on the side of the road near the entrance. Once you get there, find two orange flags marking the driveway leading to the education barn. You should be able to spot this barn from the road.
Once you arrive at the barn, park and group on foot to greet the trail guides for introductions, welcoming, and the expectations for the day.
If you have rain boots, wear them. If not, the marsh has more than 150 pairs of boots for participants to wear. If you don’t have rain boots, please come in closed-toed shoes with a pair of socks to avoid blisters. More:
- Bring bug spray,
- Wear close-toed shoes with socks and long pants (preferably).
- Use sunscreen.
- Tuck shirts into pants and pants into boots.
- Wear a hat and/or put long hair into a pony tail.
- Bring bottled water, because there is no drinking water available.
Nothing completely stops ticks, so combining all of these methods increases your chances of being protected. It is not a bad idea to also check everyone carefully when you’re done hiking.
Redeemer Classical School 