Critter Corner – Kids Discover Nature

Fall migration is upon us!

by MCC

Watching birds migrate is a great way to teach your kids about Fall and the changing seasons

There is a chill in the air, the shadows are long and the daytime sky is the color of the deep blue feathers on a peacock. It is Fall and a favorite season for many. All of the changes that are occurring outside are exciting, beautiful and so visible!

A regular topic of discussion in our home this time of year is fall migration. It’s one of the wonders of nature that always fascinates. It is an easy topic for you to explain the “why” and “how” of it all to kids. It is a simple way for you teach them about seasonal changes and the effects they have on nature, animals, and even people. Teaching the topic of migration to children enhances their powers of observation, which is an important skill they will need for scientific study. Accordintg to MSN Encarta, migration is the “seasonal or periodic movement of animals in response to changes in cliate for food availability, or to ensure reproduction. Migration most commonly involves movement from one area to another and then back again.

Some of the easiest animals to spot migrating, depending on where you live, are monarch butterflies and Canada geese. You can often hear the geese long before you can see them. You may also see many other species of birds congregating in groups as they pass through your neighborhood. Each animal you see has a story — a particular destination and a interesting lesson behind it. Below is a list of common animals you see migrating with links to either cool videos or information you can use to teach your children.

If you have interest in teaching your kids about migration, below is a list of animals that migrate. You can do research with your kids and discuss the different migration patterns with them.
Monarch butterflies
Canada Geese
Flickers
American Robins
Sandhill Cranes
Red-tailed hawks
Bald eagles
Turkey vultures

There are hundreds of animals migrating this time of year and some of the most amazing migrations are seen by very few people. Several of the more well-know ones are:
Hummingbirds
Blue whales
Caribou
Salmon

I hope you enjoy reading the information and researching the topic with your kids. Have I inspired to spend some time outside this week helping your kids spot migrating animals? If so, please take a moment share with me what you saw by posting to my comments page. Thank you!

Photo credit: © Galyna Andrushko | Dreamstime.com

Birds

5 Resources to Attract Wildlife to Your Yard

by Editorial Staff

Spring is around the corner! Now is the time to start planning for when you and your kids will be outside enjoying fun in the yard. Families will be again be spending a lot of time in their own yard this spring, so it’s the perfect opportunity to increase engagement with wildlife, insects, birds, frogs, and many other critters. There are 100’s of strategies you can employ to attract interesting critters to your yard and there is a plethora of information available to help you do it. Your effort will be rewarding by not only hours of enjoyment outside but will provide an easily accessible opportunity to connect your kids to wildlife and teach them about nature

Below are several resources that provide helpful ideas and instructions on how to plan your yard and gardens. It is important to plan ahead and choose plants, shrubs, and other installations that work well for attracting wildlife.

Your state wildlife agency website. You will find guidance on appropriate trees, shrubs, and plants. You can find list of the different species of wildlife that live in your area.
The National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Habitat Program provides tons of great information on how to attract wildlife whether you “have an apartment balcony or 20-acre farm.” You can even qualify to become a certified wildlife habitat.
The Natural Resource Conservation Service provides basic planning and a helpful list specific plants and trees to plant specifically to attract birds.
The American Horticultural Society provides a to state master gardener associations. The state associations maintain a list of master gardeners and can provide contact information to those who do business in your area. A master gardener is a specialist and thoroughly trained to help you design, plan and install a garden. Many have a special interest in being ecologically sensitive and are trained accordingly.
The National Audubon Society has resources dedicated to helping you design a bird-friendly yard. Its website provides advice and how-to tips on using native plants to attract wildlife, with a special emphasis on birds, of course!

Now is a great time to do some research, put a pencil to paper and start planning. Getting your kids involved at the planning stage is a great way to engage them and teach the process. Plus, they will have some terrific ideas on what they would like to see in the yard.

If you have helpful resources you would like to share, please share in the comments.

Birds

Quick & Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids

by Jodi Valenta

A few weeks ago I surveyed readers to determine their favorite outdoor activities to do with their children. The results showed that you overwhelmingly like camping and hiking. Frankly, I was surprised because these activities require a lot a preparation and planning. However, I totally get it because the rewards are great as both activities afford children an excellent opportunity to explore nature and spend valuable time with their families. Plus, summer is the perfect season for camping vacations and weekend hikes!

Now, with summer quickly winding down and children heading back to school, there will be less time to enjoy these activities and it will be harder to make time to enjoy the outdoors. All the demands of the school year have returned, with homework, after-school activities, less time off and, well, you know the drill. It makes the challenge of getting outside more difficult. However, with all those demands comes stress, so it’s even more important that kids (and you!) spend time in nature.

I thought it would be helpful if I provided a list of some outdoor activities for your children that don’t take much time or effort. They can be done even if you have only 30 minutes to spare one morning, afternoon or evening. Print it out and keep it on the fridge for quick reference for those days you need a quick idea.

1) Go for a walk around the neighborhood.
2) Explore your backyard with a magnifying glass.
3) Before bedtime, do a little stargazing on the front step.
4) Do some birding.
5) Pull weeds in the garden and look for bugs.
6) Look for interesting rocks and stones.
7) Play backyard games like tag or hide-and-seek.
8) Eat an afternoon snack outside on a blanket in the grass.
9) Try to catch butterflies with a butterfly net.
10) Spread a blanket out on the grass, lie down and look up at the clouds.

Not only are all of these activities fun, but they also promote relaxation, creativity and several include a splash of exercise!

Please comment on this post and add your own ideas. The school year is long, vacations are short, and we can all use some time to connect with nature, even if it’s only for a few minutes a day!

Fish

Nature Activity: Enjoy a River Walk Together

by Jodi Valenta

Yesterday was a busy day, but I was determined to find time to take a nature break. I decided to stop by our park to let the kids play in the river. When we arrived my daughter said, “why are we here? This is boring.” I said, “Well, we have some time to spare so let’s walk down to the river to see what we can find.”

There is bound to be a river stream in your area that allows public access. If you are not sure where that might be, contact your park and recreation department and ask. Spending time by a river, stream, or even a pond is not only fun and refreshing but educational too!

Supplies You Will Need

Rubber-soled shoes to prevent slipping on rocks and to protect feet
Sunscreen
Hat
Clothing appropriate for the weather and activity
Insect repellent

What to Do

Encourage your kids to explore the bank by looking at the rocks, critters, vegetation, etc.
Throw stones a safe distance from others
Watch sticks and leaves flown downstream in the current

The Challenge

Who can find a fish, frog, crayfish, etc.?
Who can name the critter?
Race sticks or leaves downstream
Build a dam with rocks and mud

Great Ideas

Bring along critter nets and a pail for collecting
Discuss currents and eddies as they watch their sticks, etc. float downstream
Discuss the difference between fresh and saltwater
Teach how and where rivers begin and where they flow
Discuss the ecology of the stream and food chains

Additional Tips

Take the back seat and allow the children to explore on their own
Remember to return critters to there home before leaving
Encourage gentleness when handling critters

Safety Tip

Children should wear personal safety devices if the water is deep
Never allow them to drink the water
Never allow them to walk barefoot, rocks can be sharp and you never know what is on the bottom (glass, rusting metal).

Benefits to Your Children
Encourages exercise, relaxation, and exploration. Provides the opportunity for lessons in water flow, natural history, and ecology.

Helpful Links

Learn more about rivers at American Rivers.
Learn about our country’s wild and scenic rivers.
Find fun activities for river play at TLC Family

Birds

Five Outdoor Activities to Cure Spring Fever ~ Even…

by Jodi Valenta

Oh my! It was 19 degrees outside this morning. By the calendar, Spring arrived four days ago, but by the thermometer it certainly doesn’t feel that way outside! If you are desperate to get some quality outside time that does not require big effort, following is a list of easy activities designed get you and your families outside, even for just a few minutes.

Look for signs of spring. We walked around the yard over the weekend looking for spring bulbs. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any, because we have to much SNOW on the ground. Maybe you will be luckier than we were.
Listen for and watch the birds. The birds are fully into their springtime activities. Watching them and listening to their chirps is enough to convince the toughest skeptics that spring really is here. Hearing them sing and watching them flit around on the branches really raised our spirits. You might even catch a few migrants passing through on their way back to their breeding grounds.
Find a sunny spot and lie down. The sun will feel so good on your face! Just 10 minutes and you will believe the temps are in the 50’s.
Go for a walk. Back to basics on this one. The warm afternoon sun will warm you up fast, even if the temps are hovering in the 20’s or 30’s.
Watch the sunrise or sunset. Along with the longer days and the time of year comes the opportunity to enjoy the the beautiful colors of the sunrises and sunset and some amazing cloud formations.

Please share your ideas. Any inspiration is appreciated!

With and luck, Old Man Winter will officially bid his “adieu,” and we can all breathe a sign of relief.

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Fall migration is upon us!

Watching birds migrate is a great way to teach your kids about Fall and the changing seasons

5 Resources to Attract Wildlife to Your Yard

Quick & Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids

Nature Activity: Enjoy a River Walk Together

Five Outdoor Activities to Cure Spring Fever ~ Even…

Take the 30-Day Outdoor Challenge