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KIDS PAGES -- MARCH ACTIVITY CALENDAR!
WOW! HERE'S A TON OF WONDERFUL ACTIVITIES TO DO EACH
DAY IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.
WE HOPE YOU'LL KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE FUN AND
INFORMATION EVERY CHANCE YOU CAN!
PERHAPS YOUR TEACHER, PARENT, OR OLDER BROTHER OR
SISTER CAN HELP YOU GATHER SOME OF THE MATERIALS YOU
NEED OR HELP YOU DO SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES.
MAYBE YOUR CLASS, BROWNIE TROOP, CUB SCOUT TROOP, 4-H
GROUP, OR A GROUP OF FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO DO SOME OF
THESE ACTIVITIES TOGETHER.
Send us a short note and let us know which activities
you did and how they turned out.
MARCH
March brings breezes, loud and shrill, to stir the dancing
daffodil.
MARCH 1
LISTEN FOR THE EARLY BIRDS
Even in the colder northern reaches, it's not too early for some of the hardier
birds to return to their summer breeding grounds. Among the first to fly north
are the ducks and geese (do you hear them honking?), and the red-winged
blackbirds. If you live within earshot of a marshy area, you'll hear them staking
their territorial claims. That's them calling "conk-kar-ree"!
Some of the year-round residents are starting to sing again, too. The mourning
dove has a melancholy song that sounds almost owl-like. Do you like the sound?
As certain birds prepare to choose mates and raise families, their behavior
changes, as does their name, in some cases. The chickadee, well known for its
"chicka-dee-dee-dee," adds a whistled "fee-bee" (not to be confused
with the
phoebe's "fee-bee" which is more abrupt and repeated over and over). Did
you
know that it's the male that does all the singing? They have the most to say.
Their songs, after all, are meant first to keep other males away from their
territory, and later to attract females to it.
MARCH 2
LISTEN FOR SPRING PEEPERS
The first warming spring rains stir a number of animals to life, and in your
area
you may be aware of a bell-like "pee-eep, pee-eep, pee-eep," coming from
the
direction of a pond or marshy spot, even when there is snow on the ground.
Who is making this noise? Spring peepers, tiny (postage stamp size) frogs that
awaken from their underground sleep well before more other frogs and toads.
The peeper's call is a welcome one. Not only does it mean that spring is
inevitable (it's too early to say that it's on its way in colder regions!), but it
means you've also found a pond where you'll be able to find other amphibians
later in the spring and summer. Would you like to see what the spring peeper
looks like? Good luck! The frog is so small, and so well camouflaged that it's
very hard to actually glimpse the noisemaker. spring peepers are tree frogs, but
they prefer the low branches of bushes and other plants, so concentrate low
down when you are hunting. Spring peepers usually wait until twilight to call,
although on overcast days you may hear them earlier.
MARCH 3
HUNT FOR WOODLAND FLOWERS
Take a walk through a wooded area and search for those first flowers that poke
up through the leaf strewn forest floor. (You'll find that there is more plant life
-
from mosses to wildflowers - on the ground of deciduous forests than in a stand
of pines. The fallen needles from conifers make the soil rather acid, which many
plants can't tolerate). These flowers are usually delicate, and short-lived, as they
require sun for their growth and blooming. Once the trees are in leaf, little light
penetrates to the woodland floor.
Look for those plants that bear such descriptive names as spring beauty and
harbinger of spring. Trailing arbutus, hepatica, and bloodroot are some others
you may find. In clearings look for wood anemones, slender stalked flowers that
are sometimes known as wind flowers, because they dance and sway in the
breeze.
MARCH 4
MAKE A WIND VANE
Did you know that the sun is responsible for creating winds? As the air is
warmed by the sun, it rises, and colder, denser air moves into replace it. This is
wind! Geographical features, such as mountains, bodies of water and deserts
help determine the nature of wind -- its speed and direction.
The direction of wind (where it is blowing from) often affects the weather.
For
roughly two-thirds of the continental United States good weather is brought by
northwest, west and southwest winds; bad weather is generally blown in by
winds from the northeast, east and southeast. You can make your own wind
vane to check wind direction.
(Before you start this one, you may need a diagram. If you want a copy of
the diagram send us a #10 envelope with your name address and one
first-class postage stamp on it (it's called an SASE, for
self-addressed-stamped-envelope). Put your SASE inside a regular envelope
and send it to DIAGRAMS, northernwisconsin.com, Box 32, Clam Lake,
Wisconsin 54517) and we'll send it to you).
Make an indicator with a straw and two triangles cut from thin cardboard. Cut
slits in the straw ends and glue the triangles in place. Stick a pin right through
the
middle of the straw into a pencil eraser. Make sure it swings freely. Support the
pencil in a yogurt container that is anchored to a board with some modeling clay.
Place the vane on a flat surface outdoors and mark N, E, S, and W on the
container. The arrow will point to the direction the direction the wind is blowing
from. Can you predict what weather the winds will bring?
MARCH 5
GUESS THE WIND SPEED
Have you ever noticed how a gentle breeze can make an otherwise unbearably
hot day almost pleasant? Or how a brisk wind in winter will send you scurrying
for cover?
Wind velocity is measured on a scale of 0 to 12, known as the Beaufort Scale.
It
is named for Sir Frances Beaufort, an English rear admiral who devised this
method of determining wind speed in the early 1800s. (We have since added the
figures in miles per hour). Here are the clues for determining the wind's speed.
Can you guess how fast the wind is blowing today?
Blow Ye Winds, Blow! Here are some ways to tell how fast the wind is
blowing:
Calm: Smoke rises. 0 mph.
Light Air: Smoke drifts. 1-3 mph.
Slight Breeze: Leaves rustle; vanes move. 4-7 mph.
Gentle Breeze: Leaves and twigs move. 8-12 mph.
Moderate Breeze: Branches move; flags flap. 13-18 mph.
Fresh Breeze: Small trees sway; white caps on water. 19-24 mph.
Strong Breeze: Large branches move; flags beat. 25-31 mph.
Moderate Gale: Whole trees move; flags extend. 32-38 mph.
Fresh Gale: Twigs break; walking is difficult. 39-46 mph.
Strong Gale: Signs, antennas blow down. 47-54 mph.
Whole Gale: Trees uproot. 55-63 mph.
Storm: Much general damage. 64-72 mph.
Hurricane: Wide-spread destruction. 72 + mph.
MARCH 6
MAKE A PINWHEEL
Over the centuries people have come up with all sorts of way to harness the
wind to use it to push boats and power machinery. Wind power is currently of
interest to those who would like to see us using cleaner and less expensive
energy. Windmills can be used to generate electricity, and while you need plenty
of wind to make this work, it's clean, and it's free!
Did you know that pinwheel is just a miniature version of a windmill? Make
a
pinwheel to see how the sails catch the wind and make the wheel turn.
(Before you start this one, you may need a diagram. If you want a copy of
the diagram send us a #10 envelope with your name address and one
first-class postage stamp on it (it's called an SASE, for
self-addressed-stamped-envelope). Put your SASE inside a regular envelope
and send it to DIAGRAMS, northernwisconsin.com, Box 32, Clam Lake,
Wisconsin 54517) and we'll send it to you).
You can make a pinwheel from a square of stiff paper (6" is a good size), a
pencil that has an eraser, and a straight pin. Fold the paper diagonally both ways
and cut along the crease lines to within 1" of the center point. Take each corner
in turn and bring it to the center point (let it overlap slightly). Push the pin
through all four layers. To reduce the friction between the spinning sails and the
pencil eraser, make a "bead" by rolling a strip of paper into a tube. Glue
its end
so that it won't unroll. Place the "head" on the in and stick the pin into
the side
of the eraser. The pinwheel should turn freely.
Experiment holding the pinwheel at different angles to the oncoming breeze.
Which works best?
MARCH 7
READ A STORY OR POEM ABOUT WIND
Wind has a magical quality, don't you think? We can't see it, but it's all
around
us, sending spiders on their way and changing the face of the earth with its brute
strength. These stories and poems have captured some of that magic.
The March Wind
Anonymous (poem)
The Spring Wind
Charlotte Zolotow (poem)
The Surprise from Frog and Toad All Year
Arnold Lobel (story)
Who Has Seen the Wind?
Christina Rossetti (poem)
The Wind
James Reeves (poem)
The Wind Blew
Pat Hutchings (story)
When the wind is out of the east,
'Tis good for neither man nor beast.
But when the wind is out of the west,
it sends every man the very best.
MARCH 8
SEE HOW PLANTS AND ANIMALS USE WIND
Have you ever watched dandelion seeds floating on air? Or seen a tiny spider
attached to a single thread, blow from one branch to another? Then you've seen
two fabulous ways that plants and animals actually use the wind.
Take a walk outdoors and see if you can find any other evidence of plants and
animals putting the wind to use. Dandelions aren't the only plants that disperse
their seeds with the wind's help. Maple seeds are those funny helicopters that go
twirling with the breeze. And lots of plant pollen is spread by the wind.
Mushrooms rely on the wind to send their spores to new locations. (You'll have
to look again in the autumn when the ripe seeds from other plants, such as thistle
and milkweed, are launched with the wind).
What about animals? Stop and watch a spider if you see one hanging by its
silken thread. It's waiting for a slight breeze to blow it to a new spot. This is
called ballooning. It looks like fun, doesn't it? Other animals use the wind to help
them hunt (and avoid being hunted, as the case may be). Odors travel with the
wind, and both predators and prey use this to their advantage. It also explains
why people try to stay downwind from animals they are tracking. Our scent can
give us away long before animals hear or see us.
MARCH 9
MAKE SOME WIND CHIMES
How about using the wind to make music? You can if you hang up some wind
chimes! Chimes can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, metal
and shells.
Wood makes a soft sound, but you can improve upon it by hollowing out the
wood you use. (Bamboo chimes, which you may be familiar with, are hollow).
Choose a wood like elderberry or sumac that you can push the pith out of (do
this with a straightened wire coat hanger). Or string up some empty wood spools
(these are getting hard to find, unfortunately).
Metal chimes ring, and you can make some from washers or nails of various
sizes hung with a strong thread. Experiment with different combinations to make
different sounds.
Shells work very well, tinkling pleasantly with the slightest breeze. Tap holes
into
thin shells (such as jingle shells -- how do you think these shells got their name?)
or wrap string around shells that have a "handle." Group several strands
together
for a full orchestra.
MARCH 10
CONSTRUCT A KITE
(Before you start this one, you need some diagrams. If you want a copy of
the diagrams, send us a #10 envelope with your name address and one
first-class postage stamp on it (it's called an SASE, for
self-addressed-stamped-envelope). Put your SASE inside a regular envelope
and send it to DIAGRAMS, northernwisconsin.com, Box 32, Clam Lake,
Wisconsin 54517) and we'll send it to you).
Go fly a kite! Here's a quick one you can make. Fly it in a gentle breeze (kits
were thought to have originated in China about 3,000 years ago).
You need a 24" square piece of paper (newspaper or wrapping paper will
do), a
14" x 1 1/2" strip of thin cardboard, a 1/8" dowel 18" long,
and tape. Use
buttonhole thread for the flying line, wrapped around a stick.
Fold the paper in half and mark the lines shown in diagram #1. Cut away the
areas marked. Fold the top sheet down and rule a line from wing tip to wing tip.
Join the wings with tape along the fold. Tape along the wing edges (on one side)
to keep them from tearing.
Turn the kit over and rule the lines on the fin as show in diagram #2. Cut
as
shown. Tape these edges with folded tape. Snip the corners from the cardboard
and tape it to the fine, 1/2" down from the wing fold, and 3" over the
wing line.
Mark the center of the dowel and tape it to the back of the kite 1 1/4"
above the
wing line. Bow the dowel and tape the ends to the wing tips. Attach the flying
line 1 1/4" behind the wing line on the fin. Note: If the kite won't climb,
move
the line forward. Move it back if the kite spins.
MARCH 11
PUT BRANCHES IN WATER FOR EARLY BLOOMS
Are you getting impatient waiting for spring to arrive? Why not help things
along
a little? You can coax the buds of spring-flowering trees and shrubs to open in
the warmth of your home.
Forsythia branches are a good choice, and lots of people have a bush in their
yard. The bright yellow blossoms are just the thing to put you in a sunny mood.
How about apple blossoms? These are beautiful, delicate flowers that smell just
as good as they look. Just cut the branches from the plants and either peel or
mash the thick ends to help them absorb water. Change the water frequently,
and depending on how close the plants were to blooming, you should have a
lovely display of spring blossoms within a few weeks.
And then there are pussy willows. Pick these branches when the fuzzy catkins
have developed. Don't put pussy willows in water, however, because that
encourages them to leaf out. If handled with care, the dried branches of pussy
willows can be kept for many years.
MARCH 12
MIX UP SOME POTTING SOIL
Who needs potting soil when you have a yard full of dirt? Well, if you want
to
start your own plants from seed, or if you plan to grow plants in containers, you
should use potting soil. Potting soils are simply sterilized mixes that hold
moisture well without becoming waterlogged. You can buy bags of soil at garden
centers (even your supermarket may sell it), but you can easily make your own.
Some potting soils have soil in them; others are soilless. If you would like
to add
some real dirt to your mix, you will have to sterilize it, and the easiest way to
do
this is in the oven. Coffee cans full of soil need to bake for 1 1/2 hours at 350
degrees F. to kill weed seeds, insects and soilborne diseases. Soilless mixes need
no special treatment. Perlite and vermiculite (both mined rocks that are
heat-treated to turn them into lightweight particles) can be used interchangeably.
Soil Mix
2 parts sterilized garden soil
1 part peat moss
1 part and or perlite
Soilless Mix
1 part peat moss
1 part perlite or vermiculite
Note: Neither of these mixes contains fertilizer. You will have to add this
nourishment. Choose an organic blend and follow the instructions on the
package.
MARCH 13
START SOME SEEDS INDOORS
Some plants benefit from a head start indoors. Sow the seeds of those plants
that
need a long growing season, and those that you would like to have bloom as
early as possible. Your seed packets will help you determine what to plant when.
You can start seeds in practically any container that is deep enough for the
plants' roots, and that has drainage holes. (Punch holes in milk cartons and
yogurt containers with a nail). Dampen the potting soil before putting it into the
containers. Bury large seeds about 1/4" to 1/2" deep; sprinkle tiny seeds
right on
the surface, covering them lightly with more soil. Label the containers, and put
them in plastic bags. Place them in a warm, dark place. Check them every day,
and when the seeds have sprouted, remove the bags and put the containers in a
sunny spot, or under a plant light. Keep the soil moist, but not too wet.
You'll have to transplant the seedlings as they grow, and give them "food"
(as
fertilizer is known) to keep them healthy. Just tend to their needs, and watch
them grow.
MARCH 14
RIG A PLANT LIGHT
You can start your own plants from seed even if you don't have a sunny
window. How? With fluorescent lights. Maybe you've seen "grow lights" that
claim to stimulate sunlight. You can make your own rig with ordinary fluorescent
bulbs.
You may already have a fluorescent fixture in your house. Check your basement
or garage. Ask if you can "borrow" it for a month or so that your seedlings
will
need it (make sure the room has some heat). One "cool" and one "warm"
bulb
used together will give your plants the right kind of light. Twelve to sixteen hours
or artificial light each day are necessary for proper growth, but fluorescent bulbs
don't use much electricity. If you turn on the lights in the morning, and turn
them off when you get ready for bed, your plants will prosper.
Plants do best when the lights are placed on 3-4" above the foliage. That
means
you either will need to put the fixture on a chain (to raise it as the plants grow)
or
make the plant shelf so that it adjusts lower. Have your parents help you figure
out the best way to do this.
MARCH 15
MAKE NEW PLANTS FROM CUTTINGS
You can fill your garden with new plants without having to spend a dime by
taking cuttings from existing plants. Stem cuttings are the most common,
although some plants (notably African violets and begonias) will root at the
leaves. Not only houseplants can be started with this method -- many herbs and
flowers that are grown outdoors can be propagated by stem cuttings.
Choose a healthy 4" to 6" shoot, and cut it just below the spot where
a leaf
meets the stem and insert it into a pot containing clean damp sand (or vermiculite
or perlite). Put in a cool but light location. Keep the sand moistened and within
about six weeks the stem will have sent out roots. You can then transplant the
cutting to a pot containing potting soil. If the cutting wilts, put the pot in a
plastic
bag (to increase humidity) until it rights itself.
Leaf cuttings are done much the same way. Cut the leaf close to the stem at
an
angle. Nestle this in some moist sand (this anchors it well). Once the leaf has put
out roots, it can be potted in regular potting soil.
MARCH 16
MAKE A COLD FRAME
Long before gardeners thought to start plants indoors under lights, they used
cold
frames. Serious gardeners still find them invaluable. A cold frame is basically a
sloping box that has a hinged lid made of clear glass or plastic. The air inside
the
box is much warmer than the outside air (thanks to solar energy), and cold
frames can be used to start seeds and harden off plants.
Make a miniature cold frame with some easy-to-find materials. Look for two
cardboard boxes the same size and put one inside the other (remove the tops and
bottoms first). Sink the frame into the ground a few inches (dig a trench for it),
banking up some dirt all around the box to keep it in place. Cut a piece of heavy
plastic for the cover. It should be the same width as the box, but make it long
enough so that it can be weighted with rocks or bricks when closed.
To see how effective a cold frame is, place a thermometer inside the box and
compare this temperature to the outside air temperature. It's almost summer-like
inside the frame, isn't it?
MARCH 17
GROW SOME PLANTS FROM PITS
Wait, don't throw that avocado pit out! You can grow a lush, green houseplant
with it. Just peel the brown covering off and stick three toothpicks into the pit.
Suspend it over a jar of water, fat end down. Add more water as it evaporates,
and the pit will soon send out roots, followed by a green stem and leaves from
its top. Transplant it to a pot of soil at this point, and pinch it back to keep
it
bushy and healthy.
You can do the same thing with a sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are vining
plants. Plant the pits of oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits. The plants won't
bear fruit, but they make nice houseplants. Or cut the top off of a pineapple and
root it in sand.
A pineapple makes a long-lived houseplant. Let the cut top dry on its side
for
about five days. Place it in a shallow pot of moist sand, buried so only the leaves
show. Place the pot in a warm, sunny location and in about 2-3 months the top
will have rooted. You can then repot it into regular potting soil. The great thing
about a pineapple is that after several years it will bear small pineapples of its
own!
A Tree Grows In . . .
Is there a tree in your yard, or on the way to school, or in the park, that
you
think of as special? Maybe it's a tree you planted when you were little (or one
that your mom or dad did). Or maybe it's a tree that has a family of squirrels
living in it that you have watched. You may have marveled at the color it turned
in autumn, or collected its cones.
Why not keep an eye on your tree for the next 12 months, to learn as much as
you can about the tree itself and its inhabitants? Record your observations in a
scrapbook or on a wall chart. Measure the tree, photograph it, and sketch it.
Make rubbings of its bark, and press its leaves and blossoms at different times of
year. Try to find out what animals live in the tree, from the tiny creatures that
live beneath the bark to the opportunists that make their nests in any holes. This
is a good time of year to begin, before the buds open and the leaves obscure the
upper reaches (if it's a deciduous tree). A tree is a wondrous thing. Introduce
yourself to one today!
MARCH 18
LOOK FOR SIGNS OF THAWING AT PONDS
With the warming of the air, comes the thawing of the thick ice that covers
lakes, ponds, and other watery areas. Many lakes suffer from winterkill this time
of year. Winterkill is caused by lack of oxygen in the water, brought about, in
part, by the ice, which keeps external air from stirring the waters. Once the ice
breaks up, life within the lakes is roused.
You can see how the spring thaw varies from year to year. The ice may
gradually become thinner and thinner, melting from the banks inward. Or it may
thaw and re-form if the temperature drops. Rain may fall and raise the level of
the water, breaking the ice into chunks, or melting it into patterns that are visible
on the surface. What does it look like is happening this year? One thing is for
certain. Once a proper thaw is underway, you can be sure that spring is soon to
follow.
MARCH 19
SEE HOW RIVERS ARE RISING
Rivers are at their highest this time of year, full of water from melting snow
and
ice. Watch how rivers rush with abandon, even thundering with force. Do you
see how water power might be harnessed? Many mills, of course, have been
built along rivers throughout the world, to take advantage of water power. Some
rivers are dammed to control their flow and are used to generate hydroelectricity.
Have you ever noticed how many small brooks come alive only in spring? They
dry up in the heat of summer, as do many vernal pools (vernal, for spring) that
exist only long enough to give amphibious life a start. The amount of water in
rivers now will depend on how much snow there was during the winter months.
Stop and admire a river, gushing with spring importance.
MARCH 20
FIRST DAY OF SPRING!
The first day of spring falls on or about March 20th. This is the vernal equinox
(equinox being Latin for "equal night"). What this means is that on this
day, the
length of the day equals that of night, everywhere on earth. (This also happens
at the autumnal equinox, around September 21st).
The sun also rises due east and sets due west today. And the length of the
days
will continue to increase until June 21, when night strives to overcome day once
again.
As you have seen, many of the natural events that we think of as happening
in
the spring have already taken place. But this is a special day, so do something
special to celebrate spring. Take off your shoes, and walk in some mud. Look
for some fresh fruit in the market and make a huge fruit salad. Go fly a kite.
Take in some deep breaths of fresh air and praise nature.
The Rite of Spring
As recently as the 16th century, Europeans regarded spring as the beginning
of
the year. That's not surprising, really. The spurt of plant growth and the birth
of
animals proved that renewal was taking place. Different days were actually set
aside by different peoples, usually in connection with the spring equinox. For
some the new year coincided with religious celebrations which took place at the
end of March. In face, the original "April fools" were those people who
refused
to adopt the New Year and steadfastly clung to the old, which celebrated with
festivities that ended on April 1st. The custom of poking fun at everyone in
general on April 1st evolved later.
MARCH 21
READ A STORY OR POEM ABOUT SPRING
Is spring your favorite season? It certainly is an exciting time for nature
observers. Poets and other writers are poetry observant, too, as you'll see.
The Day the Sun Danced
Edith Thacher Hurd (story)
Good-by My Winter Suit
N.M. Bodecker (poem)
March
Elizabeth Coatsworth (poem)
Ode to Spring
Walter R. Brooks (poem)
Really Spring
Gene Zion (story)
Smells
Kathryn Worth (poem)
Spring
Karla Kuskin (poem)
Spring Is
Bobbi Katz (poem)
MARCH 22
MAKE A SPRING MURAL
There are so many changes taking place in spring, it's hard to keep track of
them
all! You can with a mural. On a continuous length of newsprint, or computer
print-out paper (or piece together sheets of paper), paint, sketch, paste, and stick
all sorts of pictures that show spring growth and change.
Make a tree silhouette and paste down green paper leaves when the real leaves
open. Glue pictures cut from other magazines. Paste down pictures of baby
animals that are born in spring. Don't worry about everything being to scale.
Label what you put in your mural, including any relevant dates.
When did the first robin start poking around on your lawn? Is there still snow
on
the ground? Can you feel spring in the air, or will it be a little late this year?
Do
you remember what it was like at this time last year?
MARCH 23
WATCH FOR FLIES IN YOUR HOUSE
Some warm, sunny day you may notice flies inside your house. How did they
get in, and why are there none outdoors? Most probably these are cluster flies
that have spent the winter hibernating between your storm and inner windows.
Warmed and wakened by the sun, these insects make their way through the
tiniest openings, often ending up inside your home. Do them a favor and let
them outside.
MARCH 24
PLAY IN SOME MUD
With the thaw comes mud, stuck to the soles of boots and shoes and inevitably
tracked into the house and car. Ask your parents if there's a spot you can play
in, because mud pies just can't be made with anything else!
In some parts of the country, where the thaw is prolonged and the ground gets
really muddy, this time of year is known as "mud season." It can be pretty
messy, but also a lot of fun. Just make sure your boots are laced on nice and
tight.
MARCH 25
LEARN SOME BIRD SONGS AND CALLS
Have you ever been wakened by the birds? The morning chorus of chirps,
tweets, and squawks can be delightfully deafening. With some practice, you can
learn to identify birds by sound, which is a handy skill to have. Often you will
hear a bird before you see it, so if you know what bird to look for (and where to
look), you'll have a good chance of spotting it.
Birdwatchers make a distinction between a bird's call and its song. A call
is
usually a single sound (it might be a shrill, long note or a squawk or a peep). A
song is a series of sounds -- a melody. Some birds have both calls and songs.
Others are considered poor singers, but their calls are noteworthy.
The best way to learn a bird's "voice" is to study the bird while
it is singing (or
calling). concentrate on forming a mental picture of the bird going about its
business. Can you think of any funny little ways to remember the song? Many
songs have been "translated" into English (and other languages). These
can help
you recall the string of notes that a bird is singings. Check your library for
recordings of bird songs. These can be a big help.
It's Bird to Me
Dr. Doolittle talked to the animals. Maybe you can too! To a lot of people many
bird songs sound like human speech. Check out some of these examples
Bird Song (or portion of song)
Barred Owl "Who cooks for you all?"
Chestnut-sided warbler "I want to see Miss Beecher"
Ovenbird "Teacher, teacher, teacher"
Robin "Wake up, cheer up, cheerily up"
Rufous-sided towhee "Drink your tea"
White-throated sparrow "Ah, sweet Canada, Canada"
MARCH 26
CALL SOME BIRDS
Birds are naturally curious creatures, and if you imitate their calls and songs,
many will come forth to investigate. Owl hoots and the mournful sounds of the
mourning dove are easy to imitate; anyone can quack like a duck. But what
about some of the other birds?
You can get your voice to make many of the sounds that birds make, or you can
use a bird caller. The Audubon bird caller is probably the best known. It's a
pocket-sized wooden cylinder with a pewter stem that is twisted to produce a
variety of sounds. They don't cost much, and you can find them at nature
centers and from catalogue retailers. With this simple device, you can call
chickadees, catbirds and white-throated sparrows, to name a few. Try one out.
What birds can you get to visit you this way?
Many birds can be drawn out into the open just be making a squeaky sound by
placing your lips against the back of your hand and sucking in your breath. Birds
just can't seem to resist finding out who is making this noise.
The songs of the whip-poor-will, bobwhite, phoebe and chickadee gave these
birds their names.
MARCH 27
CONSTRUCT A BLIND
Birds may be curious, but they are cautious, too. They are easily startled
and
may even abandon their nesting sites if they have cause to worry. You can put
birds at ease when you are watching them, by concealing yourself in a blind (or
hide, as it is also called). This is a trick professional naturalists and
photographers use in order to observe wildlife up close.
If you have a tent (preferably a green or tan one, or one camouflaged with
paint), set it up where you can watch a nest under construction, or birds at your
feeders. Lacking that, drive some stakes into the ground and drape a
camouflaged blanket over and around the uprights. Branches and other foliage
placed in front and around the blind will help it to blend in with its surroundings.
Even just a bush that you can crouch behind works well. Enter your hiding place
as quietly and calmly as possible, and the birds will soon discover that they have
nothing to fear.
Use your blind to watch other animals, too. Mammals, especially, are easily
spooked, so you'll want to conceal your presence. Because most mammals come
out at night, make sure your blind will give you the insect protection you'll need.
Dress warmly because you'll be sitting still for long periods, waiting and
watching.
You'll attract seed and insect-eating birds if you have a meadow or open area.
Berry-eating species look for berry bushes, while birds that eat pine nuts will
settle where there are plenty of coniferous trees.
There are about 8,600 species of birds in the world.
MARCH 28
WATCH FOR BIRDS BUILDING THEIR NESTS
The time soon comes for the birds that have staked their claims, and chosen
their mates, to begin nest building. The males of some species do the work;
sometimes the females take charge, and sometimes the males and females work
together. Look for birds making frequent trips with twigs and grass (and even
paper and bits of plastic in urban areas) held in their beaks. Follow them
discreetly and watch them building their nests. Some of the birds may have
chosen the house you provided for them; others will be looking for concealed
spots in evergreen trees and bushes, and natural cavities within dead trees. Some
birds build their nests at ground level.
Nesting materials are also getting harder for birds to find. You can help by
putting out short lengths of yarn and string, dried Spanish moss and dried grass.
Even hair from a hair brush and stuffing from old furniture can be put to use.
Hang up a mess bag (the kind that onions come in) full of these materials, or
thread the yarn pieces around a pine cone hung from a branch. Don't forget that
many birds plaster their nests with mud. Keep a bare patch of ground wet for
them.
MARCH 29
TRY BUILDING A NEST
It's pretty amazing how with only two feet and a beak, birds are capable of
weaving all sorts of different sized materials into nests, daubing some with mud
for added strength, and lining many with softer materials such as their own down
or plant fluff. Watch birds building their nests to learn some of their techniques.
Then try to build a nest yourself.
Gather up the same sorts of materials that birds find -- dried grasses, twigs,
scraps of paper and other trash, and even some of the materials that you have
put out for the home builders. With your own two hands, weave all of these bits
and pieces into a nest. You can appreciate how skilled birds really are, and how
patient they must be to take on the task of nest building year after year. It's not
as easy as it looks, is it?
MARCH 30
RECORD SOME EARLY SPRING SOUNDS
You can make your own recordings of birds and other animals with a portable
cassette recorder. While some recorders have a built-in microphone, use a
microphone that has a long cord. That way you and the machine can be hidden
some distance from the animals you are recording. Inside your blind, for
instance, or behind a tree or bush.
Try attaching the microphone to the end of a broom stick, so that you can hold
it
close to the source of the sounds (such as a wasp's nest) without getting too
close. Or clip it to a stake driven into the grass in a meadow. You'll be able to
make recordings of all the insects coming and going. To help reduce the sound
of wind (which our ears tune out but which a good microphone will pick up),
make a simple frame to fit around the microphone's recording end. Bend some
flexible wire into a balloon shape and stretch a stocking foot over it.
If you note what you are recording at the time, you can use the tapes to help
you
learn bird songs, or to play games with. Try stumping your family and friends.
Can they guess who's making the sounds in your recordings?
MARCH 31
LEARN YOUR STATE BIRD, FLOWER AND TREE
Can you name your state bird, flower, and tree? It's less widely known that
many states have also designated other natural resources to honor. Some states
have animals (some list both a wild and domestic animal), insects, fish, minerals,
gems, grass, fruit, nuts, mushrooms, and even soil and fossils.
Here are some of Wisconsin's selections:
State Bird: Robin
State Wildlife Animal: White-tailed deer
State Tree: Sugar Maple
State Flower: Wood Violet
State Fish: Muskellunge
State Animal: Badger
State Insect: Honey Bee
State Rock: Granite
State Mineral: Galena
State Domesticated Animal: Cow (what else, right?)
State Beverage: Milk (what else, right?)
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