Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts
October at Deer Flat Nature Refuge
In October we attended an event at the Deet Flat Nature Refuge in Nampa. There were lots of fun animals available to view up close, like the owls below.
Great Horned Owl
Spotted Owl
November Nature Walk
Our little Homeschool Nature Walk group went to the Star, ID River Walk just before it got too cold out. It was a great day, as we walked and warmed up the kids took off their jackets. The trees were in full blown Autumn mode. Maple, Birch, and Oak leaves covered the path crunching under our footsteps and falling on us as we strolled along.
Beautiful Fall Colors
One of the girls found a nice fat slug hanging on to the last few days of warmth. What to know more about slugs? Check out Snails and Slugs at the Backyard Nature website.
PHYLUM: mollusk
CLASS:gastropods
Growing on a lovely sitting log along the trail, we spied this mushroom. The mushroom looked like it had already been a snack to some incests.
KINGDOM: Fungi
PHYLUM: Basidiomycota
CLASS: Agaricomycetes
ORDER: Lycoperdales
PHYLUM: Basidiomycota
CLASS: Agaricomycetes
ORDER: Lycoperdales
King or Queen of the Hill.
October Nature Walk
This last Friday, we went out to Eagle Island State Park with some friends for a Fall nature walk. We had no lessons in mind, just to see what there was to see and observe nature. We found some great examples of trees with fall foliage to identify. We gathered some cattails near a stream to play swords with. I showed the kids a few of the local plants that were edible and we taste tested them and I also pointed out some red berries that were NOT edible. The kids found some leaf cutter ants to watch as they walked up and down some leaves. They crossed a creek via a tree that had been downed by beavers. We spied a few butterflies and grasshoppers along the way. All in all it was a great outing! I'm not sure about the kids, but for me it was so centering to get out in nature for a bit and find the wonder in it.
Nature Journal: Insect, Katydid
We found this big guy doing his best to blend in on my mums this morning. The boys and I enjoyed watching him walk about. He was very large- about 2 inches long.
COMMON NAME:
"Greater Angle-wing Katydid"
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
(Microcentrum rhombifolium)
"Greater Angle-wing Katydid"
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
(Microcentrum rhombifolium)
TAXONOMY:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Family: Tettigoniidae
Genus: Microcentrum
Species: rhombifolium
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class:Insecta Order: Orthoptera Family: Tettigoniidae Genus: Microcentrum Species: rhombifoliumOTHER NAME(S):
Greater Wing Katydid
Greater Wing Katydid
Here are some more Katydid facts and links:
Cute Condor Couple Moves In
One of the perks of living in Idaho is the amazing bird watching opportunities and the fact that we are the home to a large population of birds of prey. If you have never seen a hawk soar and scream or seen a peregrine falcon perched along the road, you are truly missing out. Idaho is home to the World Center for Birds of Prey (it is on the south end of Cole Rd in Boise and well worth the drive).
This past weekend they hosted a Grand opening for the new Condor Habitat. I am a Condor fan, I think they get a bad rap because of their humble looks. Condors are very interesting birds. They are extremely helpful in eliminating waste from carrion ( think about how you love to see road kill on the side of the road..eww.Thanks for taking care of it Condors!!). They are also huge! They have the largest wingspan of any bird of prey-at 9 feet. They are larger that the bald eagle and way smarter! The most important fact is they are a endangered species so the work at the Center is very important.
The two birds now housed at the center will be used to bred new Condors to release into the wild. It is all very exciting!
If you'd like to learn more about Condors or other birds of prey check out the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, ID. Admission is only $7 General and $5 for kids. It is a great family outing or homeschool fieldtrip. They also have some great educational programs you can schedule for school, homeschool, or scout trips.
Also check out the educational resources provided on their website.
Below is our FAVORITE Condor book, the illustrations are incredible.
This past weekend they hosted a Grand opening for the new Condor Habitat. I am a Condor fan, I think they get a bad rap because of their humble looks. Condors are very interesting birds. They are extremely helpful in eliminating waste from carrion ( think about how you love to see road kill on the side of the road..eww.Thanks for taking care of it Condors!!). They are also huge! They have the largest wingspan of any bird of prey-at 9 feet. They are larger that the bald eagle and way smarter! The most important fact is they are a endangered species so the work at the Center is very important.
The two birds now housed at the center will be used to bred new Condors to release into the wild. It is all very exciting!
If you'd like to learn more about Condors or other birds of prey check out the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, ID. Admission is only $7 General and $5 for kids. It is a great family outing or homeschool fieldtrip. They also have some great educational programs you can schedule for school, homeschool, or scout trips.
Also check out the educational resources provided on their website.
Below is our FAVORITE Condor book, the illustrations are incredible.
Cute Condor Couple Moves In
One of the perks of living in Idaho is the amazing bird watching opportunities and the fact that we are the home to a large population of birds of prey. If you have never seen a hawk soar and scream or seen a peregrine falcon perched along the road, you are truly missing out. Idaho is home to the World Center for Birds of Prey (it is on the south end of Cole Rd in Boise and well worth the drive).
This past weekend they hosted a Grand opening for the new Condor Habitat. I am a Condor fan, I think they get a bad rap because of their humble looks. Condors are very interesting birds. They are extremely helpful in eliminating waste from carrion ( think about how you love to see road kill on the side of the road..eww.Thanks for taking care of it Condors!!). They are also huge! They have the largest wingspan of any bird of prey-at 9 feet. They are larger that the bald eagle and way smarter! The most important fact is they are a endangered species so the work at the Center is very important.
The two birds now housed at the center will be used to bred new Condors to release into the wild. It is all very exciting!
If you'd like to learn more about Condors or other birds of prey check out the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, ID. Admission is only $7 General and $5 for kids. It is a great family outing or homeschool fieldtrip. They also have some great educational programs you can schedule for school, homeschool, or scout trips.
Also check out the educational resources provided on their website.
Below is our FAVORITE Condor book, the illustrations are incredible.
This past weekend they hosted a Grand opening for the new Condor Habitat. I am a Condor fan, I think they get a bad rap because of their humble looks. Condors are very interesting birds. They are extremely helpful in eliminating waste from carrion ( think about how you love to see road kill on the side of the road..eww.Thanks for taking care of it Condors!!). They are also huge! They have the largest wingspan of any bird of prey-at 9 feet. They are larger that the bald eagle and way smarter! The most important fact is they are a endangered species so the work at the Center is very important.
The two birds now housed at the center will be used to bred new Condors to release into the wild. It is all very exciting!
If you'd like to learn more about Condors or other birds of prey check out the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, ID. Admission is only $7 General and $5 for kids. It is a great family outing or homeschool fieldtrip. They also have some great educational programs you can schedule for school, homeschool, or scout trips.
Also check out the educational resources provided on their website.
Below is our FAVORITE Condor book, the illustrations are incredible.
