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Outdoor Hour Challenge Sapsucker Bird Nature Study

Did you hear that? Rattle, tat, tat, tat! Run, look out the window, there’s a sapsucker visiting again. I hear their tap or their call and I try to sneak a peek. There is such joy in seeing this colorful woodpecker each year, a reward for the effort put into learning about him and all the other birds that come to visit.

sapsucker in yard april 2020
Sapsucker in our yard this past April 2020.

Your family can learn about this interesting and beautiful woodpecker with this Outdoor Hour Challenge.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Sapsucker Bird Study @handbookofnaturestudyView the original challenge here: Outdoor Hour Challenge – Sapsucker.

sapsucker notebook page 1sapsucker notebook page 2

If you have access to the ebook, there are two notebook pages to choose from for your nature journal.

Alternate study: Take a bird walk and look especially for birds you observe in trees.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

Sample to view: Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Nature Study 2015 Sample Pages

If you don’t have a membership yet, click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 26 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

  • Swallows and swifts
  • Catfish
  • Jewelweed
  • Prickly lettuce
  • Cockroach
  • Field horsetail
  • Catbird
  • Calcite, limestone, marble
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Hedgehog fungi
  • Sapsucker
  • Brooks

 

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist June 2020

You may want to look at the Learning about Birds ebooks for additional bird study ideas using the Outdoor Hour Challenge. There are two other woodpeckers featured in this book: downy woodpecker and hairy woodpecker.

Learning About Birds 3D cover

You’ll find this ebook in the Member’s Library.

Learning About Birds ebook Bird List @handbookofnaturestudy

 

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge: Catbird Nature Study

This week we’re going to learn about the catbird using lesson #24 in the Handbook of Nature Study. The pages and activities suggested will be a wonderful start to learning about this interesting bird. I had the opportunity to hear a catbird while on a trip to Florida many years ago and I’ve never forgotten the experience.

Don’t miss the links in the challenge where you can hear what a catbird sounds like too!

Note: The sample for the Autumn 2015 ebook includes the catbird challenge (link below). If you download it, you’ll have the notebook pages to go along with this study.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Bird Nature Study Catbird @handbookofnaturestudy

View the original challenge here: Outdoor Hour Challenge – Catbirds.

>>>>If you don’t live in the range of the catbird, consider doing an alternate study of the mockingbird or the cowbird.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

Sample to view: Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Nature Study 2015 Sample Pages

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist June 2020

If you don’t have a membership yet, click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 26 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

  • Swallows and swifts
  • Catfish
  • Jewelweed
  • Prickly lettuce
  • Cockroach
  • Field horsetail
  • Catbird
  • Calcite, limestone, marble
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Hedgehog fungi
  • Sapsucker
  • Brooks

 

 

Learning About Birds 3D cover

Included in your membership will be the Learning About Birds ebook.

Learning About Birds ebook Bird List @handbookofnaturestudy

Print the ebook sample here: Learning About Birds from the Outdoor Hour Challenge.

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge: Swallows and Swifts Nature Study

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Swallows and Swifts Nature Study

This week we kick off the autumn series of Outdoor Hour Challenges with a bird study! Use the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock (Lesson 28) to learn more about these beautiful flyers.

 

Outdoor Hour Challenge Swallows and Swifts @handbookofnaturestudy

View the original challenge here: Outdoor Hour Challenge – Swallows and Swifts.

This nature study lesson not only helps you learn about swallows, it will introduce the idea of bird migration using links and maps.

 

Swallows NB 2 Swallow NB Page 1

The follow up pages in the ebook will help you easily record your observations and research.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

Sample to view: Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Nature Study 2015 Sample Pages

If you don’t have a membership yet, click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 26 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

  • Swallows and swifts
  • Catfish
  • Jewelweed
  • Prickly lettuce
  • Cockroach
  • Field horsetail
  • Catbird
  • Calcite, limestone, marble
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Hedgehog fungi
  • Sapsucker
  • Brooks

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist June 2020

Learning About Birds 3D cover

Included in your membership will be the Learning About Birds ebook.

Print the ebook sample here: Learning About Birds from the Outdoor Hour Challenge.

Learning About Birds ebook Bird List @handbookofnaturestudy

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Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge-Turkey Vulture

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Turkey Vulture Nature Study

We know it’s spring in our area when the turkey vultures return and begin soaring and spiraling in the sky. They are often seen gliding along the tree tops as they look for their next meal. Although they’re not a very attractive looking bird, once you learn about their abilities and the reason for their ugliness, you can appreciate the important role they play in the habitat.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Turkey Vulture nature study

Use these ideas to get you started with your turkey vulture study:

¨ Turkey vultures are large birds often seen soaring overhead. This makes it important for you to know what a vulture looks like when it’s flying.  You can view a video on the AllAboutBirds website.

¨ Make sure to look at the range maps in a field guide or on All About Birds because they are found in a widespread area depending on the season.

See the High Desert ebook for more turkey vulture nature study ideas!

 

Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog. You’ll find the detailed challenge in the High Desert ebook that’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, and notebook pages.

High Desert Ebook cover graphic

If you don’t have a membership yet, you can click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 25 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

  • Bitterbrush
  • Sagebrush
  • Greater sage-grouse
  • Succulents
  • Mountain Lion
  • Coyote
  • Pocket Gopher
  • Bristlecone Pine
  • Elk
  • Turkey Vulture
  • Juniper
  • Snowberry
  • Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
  • River Otter

 

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist January 2020

Use the discount code SPRINGTOGETHER for $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

 

 

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Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge: Greater Sage-Grouse Nature Study

Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge

Greater Sage-Grouse Nature Study

Have you ever read about the greater sage-grouse? Have you ever heard what it sounds like? Have you seen its beautiful mating dance? Not many of us will be able to observe this magnificent bird in person, but there are many wonderful online resources for viewing and learning about the greater sage-grouse.  The habitat for this bird is decreasing and the numbers of greater sage-grouse are decreasing with it.

The value of studying such interesting birds is in exposing your children to the challenges of development and the impact on certain species of birds and other wildlife.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Greater Sage Grouse bird nature study

Use these ideas to get you started with your greater sage-grouse study:

  • Choose your resource to study the greater sage-grouse.  A terrific website for bird information is All About Birds: Greater Sage-Grouse. Make sure to listen to the sound of a greater sage-grouse: AllAboutBirds.
  • Make sure to look at the range maps in a field guide or on All About Birds to determine if you have this grouse near your home.
  • For this challenge, practice listening to birds during your outdoor time.  We know there will be times that we can’t see a bird but we can hear it in the trees or in the brush. The skill of listening carefully to distinguish a particular bird is something that will be helpful to anyone wanting to be a good birder.  Here’s a link to an Outdoor Hour Challenge I posted in the past that will help you with your building of this important life skill: Birding by Ear.

 

Please note that I will not be posting the complete challenge here on the blog, but you will find the detailed challenge in the High Desert ebook. It’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, and notebook pages.

High Desert Ebook cover graphic

If you don’t have a membership yet, you can click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 25 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

Topics in this ebook include:

  • Bitterbrush
  • Sagebrush
  • Greater sage-grouse
  • Succulents
  • Mountain Lion
  • Coyote
  • Pocket Gopher
  • Bristlecone Pine
  • Elk
  • Turkey Vulture
  • Juniper
  • Snowberry
  • Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
  • River Otter

 

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist January 2020

 

 

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New Printables for Members – Iridescence and Stripes and Spots

Now available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships:

1. Iridescence in Nature Notebook Page– This is such a fascinating topic! Do some research about the benefits of iridescence in nature and then create a notebook page with your notes and sketches.

2. Stripes and Spots in Nature Notebook Page – We all know animals, birds, and insects that have stripes and spots. Use a reference of your choice to discover their usefulness and then complete the notebook page as a follow up.

Iridescence in Nature Notebook Page

Stripes and Spots in Nature Notebook Page

(See the end of this post for more information on how you can become a member.)

Note: If you have any subjects you would like me to create nature notebook pages for, please let me know in a comment here on the blog or in an email: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

Printables for Members Button

Print a complete list of printables available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by clicking the button above.

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist January 2020

Use the discount code  SPRINGTOGETHER for $10 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership!

may page image

Members also have access to the Nature Planner pages in their library. Print out this month’s page and use it to stimulate your weekly nature study time.

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Western Tanager Nature Study and Journal Page

I’ve been looking forward to the Western Tanager bird study (Outdoor Hour Challenge – Western Tanager) ever since we saw our very first tanager visitors to the feeder last spring. Their bright colors reminded us of the tropical flowers we see in Hawaii!

western tanager may 2019

Would you like to see my nature journal page for the Western tanager?  I tend to follow the same format for my bird pages, including the four key graphics from the AllAboutBirds.com website. I include a sketch and some pertinent facts. I use my field guide and the website to gather my information so it’s a super easy page to make.

Western Tanager nature journal

I struggle with drawing and depicting birds accurately but in the end I get the basic idea onto the page even if it isn’t exactly the way I picture it in my head.

Tip: You can always add a photo instead of sketching if it makes you more comfortable.

I was just telling a friend who’s starting out with identifying the birds at her feeder that she should just take it one bird at a time. Birding is something you can do for a lifetime so if you can manage to learn about and identify just one new bird a month for the next ten years, imagine the number of birds you will be familiar with.

Nature study is just the gathering of knowledge over time.

One bird, one tree, one flower at a time.

Getting Started with Nature Journals

Would you like some more ideas for nature journal pages? There is a page on my website devoted just to nature journal ideas. I invite you to click over and scroll through for something that catches your eye!

Forest Fun ebook cover graphic

The Western Tanager Outdoor Hour Challenge is found in the Forest Fun ebook available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships.

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist January 2020

Use the discount code OHC10 for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.

Learning About Birds ebook Bird List @handbookofnaturestudy

You can also use the Learning About Birds ebook from the Ultimate and Journey level memberships to learn more about the birds in your local area. This book can be used over multiple years as you identify a bird and want to learn about it more in depth.

 

 

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Outdoor Mom – March 2020 Crossbills and Bluebirds!

Outdoor Mom – March 2020

Nature study and making daily nature observations is a fantastic way to take a break from the craziness of the COVID-19 situation. As long as you keep your social distancing, it’s recommended that we get outside and take a walk. I’m all in favor of that advice and hope that my outdoor experiences this month inspire you to get out and take that walk!

During our outdoor time this month we went
We’ve taken several walks to our river to look at the river’s level, the condition of the banks with their muddy edges and animal tracks, and to listen to the spring birds that have returned to our neighborhood and make their nests in the river willows.

red crossbill bird march 2020  (9)

So far, the red-winged blackbirds, the robins, and the red crossbills have been the most numerous to return. Yes, I said crossbills! This is very early for them to make a stop at our birdfeeders. So early, that when I reported their numbers on my Project Feederwatch report last week, they wanted to know if I had a photo. Of course I had a photo!

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The most inspiring thing we experienced was…

The green grass is peeking through the remaining brown winter grasses. I can’t tell you how hopeful that made us that we’ll soon see the return of the longer spring days. Even now as I write this entry, and the greenness is covered up with five inches of fresh snow, my mind’s eye can see it under there just waiting for the warm sun’s rays to wake it up again.

Our outdoor time made us ask (or wonder about)…

We observed that one of the ground squirrel holes in our backyard shows signs of activity. It seems a bit early for their appearance but we are wondering if it’s like with ground hogs. Do the ground squirrels take a peek outside once in awhile to determine if it’s time to come out of hibernation? My guess is they went back to sleep!

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In the garden, we are planning/planting/harvesting…

I was so anxious for some spring color that I went to Home Depot and purchased a few colorful indoor plants to enjoy until we can plant our seeds. I brought home a “spring cactus” which is really a rhipsalidopsis. Two African violets also found a home in my kitchen window. What a difference it makes having just a bit of happiness in the form of a pretty flower within view most of my day!

western bluebirds nesting box march  2020 (6)

I am dreaming about…

The bluebirds have been checking out the nesting boxes in our yard, going in and out, sitting near the entrances on sunny afternoons. It reminds me of the summer days of bluebird babies poking their heads out of the box to have their mothers bring them a meal. Such a comforting image that I look forward to seeing again soon.

I am reading…

While it’s strictly not a nature related book, I thought I would share a title that gave me a little winter escape to a place I would like to visit in real life, Avonlea and Prince Edward Island. The book is titled, Marilla of Green Gables, and is the prequel to Anne of Green Gables, telling the story of Marilla Cuthbert.

 

 

Instagram OutdoorHourChallenge small

Want to join in the Outdoor Mom post?

Answer all or just one of the prompts in a blog entry on your own blog or right here on my blog in a comment. If you answer on your blog, make sure to leave me a link in a comment so that I can pop over and read your responses.

  • During our outdoor time this month we went…
  • The most inspiring thing we experienced was…
  • Our outdoor time made us ask (or wonder about)…
  • In the garden, we are planning/planting/harvesting…
  • I added nature journal pages about…
  • One last image…
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Brand New! Outdoor Hour Challenge-Western Tanager Bird Study

Western Tanager Bird Study

Last year was the first time we ever had Western tanagers at our backyard feeders. It was thrilling to see their vibrant color after such a long stretch of winter birds. I invite you to complete this study to prepare for the possible observation of a tanager in your near future.

western tanager may 2019

Here’s an idea to get you started:

Please note that I won’t be posting the complete challenge here on the blog, but you will find the detailed challenge in the Forest Fun ebook that’s available both in the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships. Sign into your account and download the ebook for the details, more links, a coloring page, and notebook pages.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Western Tanaer bird Study

Note: An alternate or additional study this week could be the American Goldfinch or the Baltimore Oriole.

 

Forest Fun ebook cover graphic

We’re working through the Forest Fun ebook which is a brand new series of nature studies featuring things you might find in the forest. It’s not too late to join us by purchasing an Ultimate Naturalist or Journey level membership.

Topics in this ebook include:

Rabbitbrush

Skunk Cabbage

Azalea

Common Raven

California Quail

Western Tanager

Black Bear

Moose

Porcupine

 

 

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist January 2020

If you don’t have a membership yet, you can click the graphic above and join today for immediate access to the 25 ebooks and so much more! Remember that all levels, even the Discovery level membership, include access to all of the archived newsletters!

 

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High Desert Habitat Resources and Ebook

High Desert Ebook cover graphic
Ultimate and Journey Level members can click this graphic to go directly to the library to download a copy of this new ebook. Make sure you are logged in and if you’re having trouble with your password, please leave me a comment or send me a direct email to receive my assistance. Email: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com

New Ebook is Now Available to Members!

The High Desert ebook is now ready for you to download and use with your family. This ebook has been a labor of love on my part because it is filled with some of my favorite topics and things I have in my own habitat. I have been anxious to share these subjects with you my blog readers for a long time!

I have included many links and resources for nature journal pages for your family to use in your nature study.

We will be working our way through this ebook in a few months so get ready to follow along. Please note that even though this ebook is titled “high desert”, many of the the topics can be found in other habitats. In most cases, I have suggested an alternative nature study idea to supplement or substitute for the ebook topic. I encourage you to give it a try!

2019 to 2020 plan graphic with ebook covers 2

There are 14 brand new Outdoor Hour Challenges for you to complete as part of your nature study lessons with your children. These Challenges are not based on information in the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock. You’ll be using internet links and field guides to glean information about each topic. See the bottom of this post for book and resource ideas you may wish to have as a supplement to this High Desert ebook.

  • This 63 page digital ebook has 14 challenges and supplemental activities
  • There are multiple custom notebooking pages for each of the topics. You can choose from simple notebook pages or more advanced notebooking pages.
  • There are 12 coloring pages.
  • Sample: High Desert Ebook Sample

Here are the specific topics included in this ebook:

  • Bitterbrush
  • Sagebrush
  • Greater Sage-grouse
  • Succulents
  • Mountain Lion
  • Coyote
  • Pocket Gopher
  • Bristlecone Pine
  • Elk
  • Turkey Vulture
  • Juniper
  • Snowberry
  • Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel
  • River Otter

 

How do you get the new High Desert ebook?

Members of the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey levels have access to the new ebook in their library. You need to click the “Members Area” button at the top of the website, sign into your account, and the ebook is there to download and save for your family to use when desired.

Join Us Ultimate Naturalist January 2020

If you don’t have a membership yet, I’m offering a $5 off discount code that will be good towards your Ultimate Naturalist membership.

Discount Code: OHC10

 

Here are my favorite resources that I use all of the time in my own study of the High Desert habitat.

The Nature of Bend

Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest

Sagebrush Country-A Wildflower Sactuary
There is also a printable guide to plants of the High Desert found at this link:

Xeriscaping in the High Desert.

I have this printed out and I use it to plan my garden. It may be helpful as a supplement to your learning about this unique high desert landscape.

Please note the links above are Amazon affiliate links to books I own and love.