One of these eggs is not like the other - May 8, 2008

This nest is located in the shrubs outside my house. I wonder if the large egg is from a cowbird??

3 Canadian Goslings - May 4, 2008

These 3 goslings are by the roadway at camp. Their parents leave as I approach in my car and then realize the goslings aren’t with them and they come back honking and hissing the whole away.

Woodcock in Flight April 1 2008

This faint line in the two pictures below is the return flight of the woodcock from its noisy circular areal mating trip. On hearing the woodcock “meep” I return the call and this sends the male woodcock into its courtship journey. This calling to a male woodcock is timberdoodling. I am able to get the bird to take 4 flights. It’s difficult to get good photos.  Here you can hear the woodcock’s call.

Bluebird at base of Turtle Hill - March 28, 2008

Bluebird at base of Turtle Hill, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Bluebird at the base of Turtle Hill in the sassafras trees.

Why did the Turkey Vulture Cross the Road? - March 25, 2008

On our way back from helping teach the homeschool program at Camp Amigo , my assistant finds a turkey vulture and a bird of prey(immature redtail hawk?) feasting on this road kill rabbit. We turn around to see if we can get a picture and the hawk takes off. But we get a few pictures of the turkey vulture.

Bird nest being used by a squirrel - October 28, 2007

IMG_1914, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Here on Turtle Hill I see this bird’s nest being used by a squirrel I presume(or maybe a mouse??)

Herbivory(Animals eating plants) - Oct 12, 2007

Swans in fen Eating Duckweed, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Here’s a good example of herbivory(animals eating plants). Swans eating duckweed.

Here’s an ash leaf that is being eating by two types of animals.

One is eating chunks of leafs, and a leaf-miner is living inside the leaf and eating a trail on the inside.

Here’s a wild edible plant that some humans like to eat: Sweet Cicely.

It’s also called anise-root because if tastes like licorice.

Nature Adventure Camp 2007

Presentation 1, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

What a blast! The campers learned so much!

Here’s the audio(mp3) of what the kids liked best about nature camp 2007(the survival game was obviously a big hit). Kid’s Nature Camp 2007 Audio Evaluation (mp3)
Here’s a list of some of the many things that we did:

Get to know you games
Camping out
Fishing
Canoeing
Fire Kites
Bug Suckers
Bird Calls
Bird Adaptations
Water Slide
Archery
Swimming
Swamp Hike
Campfire Songs
Gift of Nature, God, Ourselves, & History

 

Ruby Throated Humming Bird - June 21, 2007

IMG_0297_crop, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Our camp nurse brings this bird to me because it’s not flying. The bird was found in chapel. Our nurse says that it looks like it’s not using it’s right wind. But after sitting on my hat for a few minutes, it flies straight up and then goes out of sight.

Phoebe Chicks in Nest- May 16 2007

Phoebe Chicks in Nest, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

As I’m down in mosquito hollow preparing for a popcorn campfire this bird nest catches my eye. These chicks are eastern phoebes. I really like the nest that’s made out of moss.