Author: Barb

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Bird’s Eye View Window Decals-Saving Birds

Trying to Stop Birds From Flying Into My Windows Birds Eye View Review

I had such high hopes for the Bird’S Eye View Window Film. I will rewind to give you my story.

I have a subscription to Birds and Blooms and in the June/July issue there was a full page advertisement for a product that caught my attention, Bird’s Eye View Window Film. This product was developed to help protect wild birds from flying into windows by making shiny clean windows more visible. I thought they looked beautiful with the geometric designs and a touch of color.

Let me tell you that I have had a problem with birds smacking into my front and back windows. I happen to have a lot of windows in my house…love the natural light. But, it does make for a lot of window strikes.

Birds Eye view (2)

I received two packages of the Bird’s Eye view product to try and share a review with you. These are more like square window clings, they went up easily and have stayed adhered to the window. You can actually peel them off and reposition them if you need to with no problem. I am totally happy with that aspect.

Large Size Package: (4) 6”x 6” Bird Deflectors

The problem is that I have had numerous birds fly right into the very windows with the product on them. Have they reduced the number of birds colliding with my shiny windows? It is hard to say. I went back and reread the application instruction and realized it does say that there needs to be 2 6″ pieces or 4 4″ pieces near the center of the window about 4″ apart.  I moved my pieces around but put them right over where I could see the feathers from the bird strike on the outside of the window. We are still hearing birds hit the window.

Birds Eye view (5)
That’s my finger pointing at feathers from a bird who hit the window just to the side of the window film.

I am going to leave them up all summer and try to pay attention to see if we seem to have less collisions…partly because it seems proactive on my part and partly because they are pretty. And, I think I am actually going to get some more and see if placing more of the Bird’s Eye View product on my windows will help eliminate the bird strikes over time. I will keep you posted.

Birds Eye view (8)

On this very day, a scrub jay hit my back door window and I found him dead on the back mat even though I have a decal on that particular door. It breaks my heart when this happens.

If you have a problem with birds hitting your windows, you can try this product and see if you have success. You can purchase this product online or on Amazon.com: Bird’s Eye View window film.

So, although this product hasn’t completely eliminated my problem with birds flying into my windows, I think it is a step towards solving a worrisome problem.

Additional Links

Please note that the Amazon link is an affiliate link.

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Outdoor Hour Challenge- Johnny Darter, Sunfish, Shiner

Outdoor Hour Challenge Johnny Darter Common Shiner Sunfish @handbookofnaturestudy

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Johnny Darter, Sunfish, and Common Shiner

Inside Preparation Work:

  • Read in the Handbook of Nature Study:
  • For this challenge, make drawings of each fish with captions as a means of preparing for your outdoor time. Drawing each fish carefully will allow time to focus on the shapes and sizes of each fish so you can more readily identify them in the future.  Use the images in this ebook to help you draw each fish.
  • Additional fish activity: Use the fish grid study in this ebook for some fish fun.

Outdoor Hour Time:

  • Take a trip to a nearby stream, river, or lake to create an opportunity to look for fish  Take along a little fish net to use to scoop up water and maybe a fish to observe. Some families may prefer to take a fishing trip to complete this challenge, perhaps catching one of the subjects for closer observation.
  • Make sure to keep your eyes out for any nature study subject that may come your way. Take a photo or write a few notes and then research the subject when you get home or at your local library.

Follow-Up Activity:

  • Create a follow-up nature journal for one or all three of the fish in this study. Use the notebook pages provided in the ebook or create your own page in your nature journal.
  • Advanced study: Use the information on these websites to complete a fish study for each fish in this challenge.
  • Advanced study: Research the term “lateral line” and complete a nature journal page Or the notebook page in this ebook explaining what it is and then create a sketch to illustrate .

Handbook of Nature Study Ultimate Naturalist Library
If you want to purchase the Summer Nature Study Continues ebook so you can follow along with all the notebooking pages, coloring pages, and subject images, you can join the Ultimate or Journey Membership Levels. See the Join Us page for complete information. Also, you can view the Summer Nature Study Continues – New Ebook announcement page for more details.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Summer Nature Study Continues ebook


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Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter – August 2015 Nature Library

Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter Aug 2015 @handbookofnaturestudy

August 2015 Nature Library

I apologize for not posting this earlier in the month….you should have already received your email with your download link. Any new subscribers will receive the link in their welcome follow up email.

Please read the following explanation outlining how to get this month’s newsletter.

The newsletter link is not in this email but will come separately. There may be a delay in your receiving the email so please don’t email me until the second day of the month if you haven’t received the link on the first. For some reason, some email providers take longer to receive the newsletter email.

If you don’t receive the separate email with the download link, you probably aren’t subscribed to the blog yet. This will take less than a minute to do if you follow the steps below.

If you are a subscriber and you haven’t received your newsletter email yet, check your SPAM inbox. Some subscribers have found the email buried in SPAM inbox.

If you need to subscribe:

  • You will need to go to the Handbook of Nature Study, look to the top right corner for the box to type in your preferred email address, and then confirm the email that comes to your email inbox.
  • Once you subscribe, you will receive a thank you email from me with the download link.

This month’s newsletter link will be available only during the month of August so be sure to download it before 8/31/15.

Remember! All of the archived and current newsletters are available as part of the Ultimate Naturalist Library…every level!

Contents of this edition of the newsletter include:

  • Three new articles sharing practical tips for building and organizing your own nature library
  • Three articles from the archives that will encourage you with specific nature books and authors
  • August planning page (four challenges to schedule for each Friday in July)
  • August Nature Journal Toppers, grid, and My Backyard in August notebook page
  • Bonus August grid and printable from 8/12!

Please note that Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level members have access to members only printables each month in addition to the newsletter printables. You will need to log into your account and then go to the “Other Releases” section.

Getting Started FAQ Button
Need help getting started with your nature study using the Handbook of Nature Study? Check out the fresh “Getting Started” page here on the website!

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge – Bee Larkspur

Outdoor Hour Challenge Larkspur Delphinium @handbookofnaturestudy

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Larkspur or Delphinium Study

Inside Preparation Work:

  • Read pages 568-571 (Lesson #157) in the Handbook of Nature Study. Read through the suggested lesson activities and pick a few to use while in your garden looking at a larkspur (delphinium).
  • Youtube video: Larkspur with bee and Delphinium seedlings.
  • If you have never worked through the Outdoor Hour Challenge on Flower Parts, this would be a great supplement to your larkspur study. Use the information and links in that challenge to learn the plant part names and then start to use them in your study of flowers. This challenge is in the Garden Flowers ebook if you have a membership to the Handbook of Nature Study.

Outdoor Hour Time:

  • Find a flowering larkspur to observe either in your garden or at your local garden nursery. Use the suggestions from the lesson to help your child see the way an insect pollinates this beautiful flower.
  • Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

How does the bee hold on to the flower?
Where does it thrust its tongue?

  • Advanced study: Make note of all the flower parts while closely looking at a larkspur blossom.

Follow-Up Activity:

  • Create a nature journal entry featuring the larkspur (or delphinium). There are two notebook pages included in the ebook, one for a larkspur study and one for a general summer flower study.

Handbook of Nature Study Ultimate Naturalist Library
If you want to purchase the Summer Nature Study Continues ebook so you can follow along with all the notebooking pages, coloring pages, and subject images, you can join the Ultimate or Journey Membership Levels. See the Join Us page for complete information. Also, you can view the Summer Nature Study Continues – New Ebook announcement page for more details.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Summer Nature Study Continues ebook


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NotebookingPages.com Back to School Sale

Back-to-School Membership Sale

Have you been waiting to try notebooking pages in your nature journal? With the $25 off sale this week over at NotebookingPages.com you do not need to hesitate anymore. This will give you a Lifetime Membership to NotebookingPages.com which includes 100’s of nature related notebook pages for you to print and use with your family.

When: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 through August 7, 2015.

SAVE $25 on Notebooking Pages LIFETIME Memberships
LIFETIME Members receive all current & future notebooking products
PLUS our 2 bonuses:
Bonus 1: 12 months free subscription to The Notebooking Publisher web-app
Bonus 2: $100+ Homeschool e-book package

Click over now to get more information and to see the variety of nature related pages you receive in the Lifetime Membership!

Back-to-School Membership Sale

Entries about notebooking for your nature journal you may want to read:

Nature Journal or Nature Notebook?

Notebook Pages in Your Nature Journal

How to Organize Your Nature Notebook Pages

 

Want to see what they look like from our nature journals? Here are a couple of examples.

Geranium Notebook Page

Poppy Nature Journal Notebook Page

5865176356_9a826857f9_b

Notebooking Pages LIFETIME Memberships

Please note I am a sponsor and affiliate for NotebookingPages.com. I love this product and I have used with my family and in my personal nature journal for many years.

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NotebookingPages.com Giveaway – Today Only!

Back-to-School Membership Kickoff Giveaway

Click over to enter this amazing giveaway over on NotebookingPages.com! This is one of my favorite homeschool products that you can totally use in your nature study notebooks! Stay tuned for tomorrow’s start to her big back to school sale and $25 off her Lifetime Membership! Don’t wait too long because this giveaway is only for today.
1 GRAND PRIZE WINNER (value $850):
  • Notebooking Pages LIFETIME Membership
  • plus 11 Sponsor gifts
24 WINNERS:
  • Notebooking Pages LIFETIME Membership
Freebie for everyone:
  • Notebooking Pages Sampler Set

Please note that I am a sponsor and an affiliate for NotebookingPages.com.

You can read how I used notebooking pages in our nature journals in this entry: NotebookingPages.com in Your Nature Journal.

 

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Summer Days Filled With Goodness

Tahoe Emerald bay July 2015 (2)

It doesn’t get much better than this on a hot summer July day in my neck of the woods. It is times like this that I count my blessings.

We had a glorious day up at the lake….a short last minute idea to go for a hike and then have a picnic dinner. This lake was the bluest I have seen in a very long time….three shades of blue-turquoise, blue-gray, and deep blue.

Tahoe Emerald bay July 2015 (6)

We hiked a new trail for us and it was surprising that we had it all to ourselves. We had planned to hike from a popular trailhead but there were no parking spots left, which is what happens when you show up at around 2 PM. We decided to park on the highway, walk down the road leading to a closed campground, and then see what adventure would come our way. It was far better than expected!

Tahoe Emerald bay July 2015 (7)

The trail we found wandered around and out onto a peninsula overlooking Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay. The sun was hot but there was a breeze and in the shade it was comfortable. We sat out at the point for a long time just drinking in the views. There were several birds flying overhead and I could identify the call of the osprey and the song of the chickadee.

wildflowers aspens tahoe juy 2015 (12)

After that hike, we drove back down to Taylor Creek and hiked down to the water. This is my favorite little aspen grove and right now it is very green and filled with wildflowers. The cow parsnip is thick and smells fragrant…giving the hike a wonderful smell to remember. The insects were busy working in the flowers…mostly bees.

crayfish taylor creek tahoe july 2015 (3)

Play I Spy and you will see the crayfish that was scuttling along the creek bed. The water wasn’t very deep or moving very fast and we actually saw five different crayfish  on this trip. They are strange creatures!

squirrel tahoe july 2015

Here is another little wild friend that we stopped to watch along the trail. This squirrel (actually a chickaree) actually climbed up the tree with that cone in his mouth and then he sat eating the seeds up on the branch. Adorable!

Tahoe snow plant july 2015 (1)

We saw lots of snow plant on this hike.

pine drops tahoe july 2015 (2)

And here is a really tall specimen of pine drops!

pine drops tahoe july 2015 (1)

Here it is up close! So interesting!

wildflowers tahoe july 2015 (1)

Here come the wildflowers! I am trying to positively identify this purple flower.. Rydberg’s penstemon?

wildflowers aspens tahoe juy 2015 (6)

One of my favorite flowers! Western sky pilot....so pretty!

Ranger buttons wildflower Tahoe July 2015 (1)

Then we found a whole patch of Ranger buttons.…the insects were loving this flower!

Evening Primrose lupine tahoe july 2015 (4)

Down on the beach it was covered in Hooker’s primrose and lupine….almost unreal how beautiful it was in the fading light. We walked and found a place to sit as the sun was setting…watching the shadows getting longer and longer.

Evening Primrose lupine tahoe july 2015 (8)

This shows the lupine better….maybe this one will need to get printed out and put up on my wall. I love this place, feels like home. Do you know what I mean? Do you have a place that just feels like it was meant for you?

wildflowers aspens tahoe juy 2015 (4)

One last wildflower, this time a pink one, Checkermallow

So ends our most excellent summer day at the lake up in the mountains….sigh. Can’t wait to do it all again sometime!

 

5 senses Nature Journal Tahoe

I managed to create a Five Senses Nature Journal page as part of my Once a Month Nature Journal Project. This is a super simple idea for a quick nature journal page that you and your children can do very easily this month!

5 senses nature journal @handbookofnaturestudy

Go create your own summer day filled with goodness….enjoy!

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Outdoor Hour Challenge – Lacewing Insect Study

Outdoor Hour Challenge Lacewing Insect @handbookofnaturestudy

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Lacewing Insect Study

 

Inside Preparation Work:

  • Read pages 356-358(Lesson #86) in the Handbook of Nature Study.  You may wish to also read about aphids as part of this study which is Lesson #84 in the Handbook of Nature Study.
  • View this Youtube video: Green lacewing.
  • Lacewing Life Cycle: Read about and then draw the life cycle of the green lacewing in your nature journal. This will help you prepare for your insect hunt when you go outdoors. The images at this link are clickable and will enlarge for you to see better. This link has amazing images: Green Lacewing.
  • Advanced study: Learn about the beneficial aspects of having lacewings in your garden: Youtube-Lacewings. Here is a printable information sheet about lacewings: Beneficial Insects-Lacewings.

Outdoor Hour Time:

  • One way to attract these insects is to leave your porch light on and watch for visitors. Lacewings are slow flyers so it may be possible to catch one with your hands if you do it carefully. Place the insect in a viewing jar. If you observe a lacewing, use the ideas from the Handbook of Nature Study to take a closer look.
  • Go on an insect hunt! Use the ideas from the Insect Study Grid found in the ebook or in the September 2012 Newsletter to create some excitement about your nature study this week. Print out the grid and take it with you! Mark off the squares as you complete them. This can also be a more long term project, finishing the grid during subsequent nature walks.

Follow-Up Activity:

  • Create a nature journal entry for the lacewing or any other insect you found interesting this week. Keep it simple: sketch, date, caption. There is a notebook page in the ebook for you to use.
  • Advanced study: Conduct additional research on the insect order– neuroptera. Use a field guide and complete two additional nature journal entries for insects in this order found in your local area. You can use this notebook page for your information.
  • Advanced study: If you are interested in learning to draw insects like a true naturalist, you will want to watch this YouTube Video: John Muir Laws  – Drawing Insects.

Handbook of Nature Study Ultimate Naturalist Library
If you want to purchase the Summer Nature Study Continues ebook so you can follow along with all the notebooking pages, coloring pages, and subject images, you can join the Ultimate or Journey Membership Levels. See the Join Us page for complete information. Also, you can view the Summer Nature Study Continues – New Ebook announcement page for more details.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Summer Nature Study Continues ebook


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Summer Seasonal Nature Study Reminders

Year Long Nature Study Summer Reminders

Seasonal Topics – Summer Reminders

It is that time of year again! Time to plan a few seasonal observations….and get outdoors with your family! I make it easy with the printable notebook pages that go along with these year long nature study ideas. Pick one and get started or take a few minutes to make the summer observations happen before we run out of summer.

If you have a continuing year-long nature study project, don’t forget to put it on your calendar or you may forget to make your autumn observations.

Enjoy your summer activities and share your comments or links in this post and I will come over and check it out.

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New Printables for Members – July 2015

July 2015 New Printables for Members @handbookofnaturestudy

I hope you can make use of these two new printables that we created for some summer time nature study.

What Does the Moon Look Like? – Make observations several times during the month to note the changes in the moon’s shape.

Butterfly Journal – Use this notebook page to document a butterfly sighting from your outdoor time.

These new printables are free if you are a member of the Ultimate Naturalist or Journey level memberships. You need to log into your account and then check the “Other Releases” section for brand new printables to enjoy along with the Outdoor Hour Challenges in 2015.

Enjoy!

Outdoor Hour Challenge Summer Nature Study Ideas Index @handbookofnaturestudy

Please note that I am in the process of updating and indexing the tabs found at the top of the website. Take a look at the Summer tab and the Garden tab to see how I have added more challenges, alphabatized the topics, and tried to include more links for you to try with your family! I will be working on these tabs over the next few weeks so that finding a particular challenge will be easier to find both here on the blog but also in the ebooks.