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Year Long Nature Study Reminders – Winter


Seasonal Topics Reminders – Winter

Here are some ideas from year-long nature study topics we have done in the past:

Make sure to add your year-long study to your January or February nature study plans so you don’t forget!!!

 

Outdoor Hour Challenge Winter Nature Study Continues ebook

If you are a member of the Ultimate or Journey levels here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you will find this ebook listed in your library after you log into your account. The ebook version available to members includes all of the notebook pages, coloring pages, and color images. I highly recommend purchasing a membership for all the added benefits for each and every challenge.

Handbook of Nature Study Ultimate Naturalist Library

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December Bird Study and Nature Notes

Our December bird study has been accomplished by participation in Project Feederwatch.

We didn’t see a Belted Kingfisher for that particular Outdoor Hour Challenge. As much as I travel in California, I have never seen one in real life. I used the location and species application over on the Great Backyard Bird Count website to local possible locations for future observation. It looks like that we can find them within an hour’s drive of our house which is encouraging.

Anna hummingbird

Here are our details for Project Feederwatch so far in the month of December.

  1. Anna’s hummingbird-1
  2. Western scrub jay-2
  3. Titmouse-2
  4. House finch-12
  5. Junco-9
  6. California towhee-2
  7. Spotted towhee-3
  8. Sooty fox sparrow-2
  9. White-crowned sparrow-8 (no house sparrows yet!)
  10. Mourning dove-2
  11. Downy Woodpecker-1
  12. Mockingbird-1
  13. American robin-5
  14. Lesser goldfinch-6
  15. Western bluebird-3
  16. Northern flicker-3
  17. European starling-6
  18. White-breasted nuthatch-1

Spotted towhee Dec 2014

Other Nature Notes

  • Aside from counting birds this month, I have been keeping track of rainfall. Yes, we have had rain! Our rain gauge has measured a total of 11 inches of rain since 12/1/14. We have been so dry that we don’t mind the rainy days at all!
  • We have had some beautiful orange-pink sunrises in the last week with the stormy clouds.
  • The last of the autumn leaves are down from the trees.
  • My Zygocactus has started to bloom.
  • We have several rose buds on the plant.
  • My early spring Narcissus bulbs are blooming! I think they are a little mixed up about the season.

Narcissus

 This year I am pretty much on my own for weekday nature walks.  I am scheduling in at least two long walks a week because walking and thinking are so very refreshing. Just getting outside in the air to observe the season takes a little effort but it is never disappointing. Let me how you are able to keep your nature walks going during the winter. I will be writing an article for an up-coming newsletter about the benefits of regular outdoor time for families.

How is your December looking?

 

 

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Handbook of Nature Study – December 2014 Newsletter

Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter December 2014 @handbookofnaturestudy

December 2014 – Transition to Winter

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.

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 December so be sure to download it before 12/31/14.

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:

  • 5 awesome articles that will give you some ideas for winter time nature study: tree phenology, hemlock trees, winter nature study ideas, animal adaptations, and bear hibernation.
  • December planning page printable
  • December Nature Journal Toppers
  • January preschool nature table ideas, printables, and coloring page

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.

 

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Chinese Pistache – Sumac Family Study

Chinese Pistache Tree Sumac Family @handbookofnaturestudy
I was excited to learn that our Chinese Pistache tree is related to the Staghorn sumac tree, giving us a tree to observe and learn about as part of the Sumac Nature Study from last week.
Chinese Pistache tree (3)
This is a gorgeous tree in the autumn with its blazing red-orange leaves and bright red pea-sized fruits. We learned that only the female trees have fruit. Many of the resources we read about this tree said that it is not attractive to wildlife but we have found that we have birds visiting from autumn and on through winter that come and eat the fruit of this tree. Even in the winter when the limbs are bare and only the fruits are left, we see robins, starlings, and cedar waxwings visiting and feasting.

Chinese Pistache tree (4)

This is not a native tree to California but is a tree from China. We see them growing all over our part of California so they are a popular nursery tree that is commonly used for its autumn color. The red fruit is pretty this time of year and any left over the winter will turn a dark blue in color.

In comparing our Chinese pistache to the staghorn sumac, I see a similarity in the leaves and arrangement of leaves. Also, the color of the leaves is very similar.

Chinese Pistache nature journal sumac

We are always learning about the creation around us and this study helped us to take a deeper look at a tree we enjoy right in our own yard!

Have you found a sumac to study?

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Handbook of Nature Study – October 2014 Newsletter

Handbook of Nature Study October 2014 Fall Trees Newsletter Cover

October 2014 – Fall Trees

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.

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 October so be sure to download it before 10/31/14.

Remember! All of the archived and current newsletters are available as part of the Ultimate Naturalist Library…every level!  You may wish to download and use the October 2012 newsletter with additional autumn tree ideas and printables for your family.

Contents of this edition of the newsletter include:

  • 3 fall tree related articles with loads of practical ideas
  • Tree book review
  • Nature journal idea tutorial
  • Nature Study Grid and Nature Journal Topper printable ideas
  • Coloring pages!
  • Spotlight Family – The Kordishes
  • Preschool nature table ideas and printables
  • Mom’s Planning Page: Use this printable page to plan your month’s nature study. 

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.

 

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Year-Long Study Reminders – Autumn Season

Year Long Nature Study Autumn Reminders @handbookofnaturestudy

Here are some ideas from year-long nature study topics we have done in the past:

You may wish to start a new year-long study this autumn using some of the ideas above. 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. If you are using the new planning page from the newsletter, there is a box on each page to note the seasonal observations you wish to make during the month…we all need reminders!

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Outdoor Hour Challenge – Autumn Nature Study Continues Ebook

OHC Autumn Nature Study Continues Cover Button

Included in the Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Nature Study Continues Ebook:
  • 15 challenges centered on the Handbook of Nature Study plus 1 bonus challenge
  • 40+ notebook pages (regular and advanced options) and 15 coloring pages
  • Ten Charlotte Mason style exam questions
  • Full color images for each challenge in the ebook (separate pages so you can choose whether to print them or not)
  • Complete instructions for each challenge included additional links, videos, and resources
  • Nature journal suggestions
  • Complete list of supplies needed
  • Sample to view: OHC Autumn Nature Study Continues Ebook Sample
  • 98 pages!

Here is a list of the specific challenges included in this ebook:

  • Garden Flower – Salvia
  • Weeds – Teasel
  • Weeds – Burdock
  • Reptile Study – Lizards (Geckos and Anoles)
  • Tree Study – Ash
  • Tree Study – Hemlock
  • Tree Study – Witch Hazel
  • Tree Study – Staghorn Sumac
  • Fungus Study – Stinkhorns
  • Fungus Study – Bracket Fungi
  • Mammal Study – Pig
  • Star Study – Casseopeia’s Chair, Cepheus, and the Dragon
  • Rock Study – Mica
  • Bird Study – Belted Kingfisher
  • Bird Study – Hawks
  • Winter Berries (not in the Handbook of Nature Study)

I am happy to announce the release of the long awaited Outdoor Hour Challenge Autumn Nature Study Continues ebook! You are going to love the fresh new challenges to try in your family as you work your way through the weekly topics. I have been eager to start them as I put them together, gathering lots of fun videos and supporting resources to use along with the Handbook of Nature Study lessons.

You will need to have a copy of the Handbook of Nature Study to use with the suggestions in the ebook. You can purchase a copy from Amazon.com or you can use an online version. The version I use is ISBN 0801493846.

Each week I will be sharing one of the challenges here on the blog which means you can follow along without a membership if you subscribe to my blog. You can subscribe by entering your email address in the subscription box at the top right of my website. After you enter your name, you will need to confirm your subscription by responding to the email that will come to your inbox.

Where Can I Get The New Ebook?

This ebook will not be sold separately but will be added to the Ultimate and Journey levels of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study.

If you are a member of the Ultimate or Journey levels here on the Handbook of Nature Study, you will find the ebook listed in your library after you log into your account. The ebook version available to members includes all of the notebook pages, coloring pages, and color images. I highly recommend purchasing a membership for all the added benefits for each and every challenge.

Handbook of Nature Study Ultimate Naturalist Library

 

 

 

 

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Coming Soon! Autumn Nature Study Continues Ebook

OHC Autumn Nature Study Continues Cover Button
Get ready for the soon to be released Autumn Nature Study Continues ebook!

Want a sneak peek at the topcis?

  • Garden Flower – Salvia
  • Weeds – Teasel
  • Weeds – Burdock
  • Reptile Study – Lizrds (Geckos and Anoles)
  • Tree Study – Ash
  • Tree Study – Hemlock
  • Tree Study – Witch Hazel
  • Tree Study – Staghorn Sumac
  • Fungus Study – Stinkhorns
  • Fungus Study – Bracket Fungi
  • Mammal Study – Pig
  • Star Study – Casseopeia’s Chair, Cepheus, and the Dragon
  • Rock Study – Mica
  • Bird Study – Belted Kingfisher
  • Bird Study – Hawks
  • Winter Berries (not in the Handbook of Nature Study)

This new ebook will be loaded into the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level memberships soon!

If you aren’t a member yet, you still have time to join and have immediate access as soon as it publishes.

Handbook of Nature Study Ultimate Naturalist Membership

Autumn nature study Continues Button Coming Soon

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Year-Long Study Reminders – Summer Edition

Year Long Nature Study Summer Reminders

Seasonal Topics – Summer Reminders

Here are some ideas from year-long nature study topics we have done in the past:

You may wish to start a new year-long study this spring using some of the ideas above. 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.

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Our Summer Tree – Mystery Continues

 

Summer Tree leaves and sunlight

I am continuing our study of the mystery tree…our year-long tree study that we began in springtime. I am frustrated about its identity and have spent lots and lots of time scouring my field guides and the internet for just what kind of tree this is in our yard. I know it is not a native tree which only complicates matters.

Leaf of summer tree

Here is the leaf.

Bark of summer tree

Here is the bark.

Summer Tree

Not much to go on since it doesn’t currently have flowers, seeds, or pods.

Summer tree mystery tree

I got excited when I found this tree, the Hardy Rubber tree. It looks like the right bark and leaf but the rubber tree doesn’t turn color in the fall like my mystery tree.

Here is a link to our spring entry: Our Spring Tree – Officially Starting a New Tree Study.

Something I recently learned about another tree in our yard, the tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). It is a host tree for swallowtail butterflies! I love that I have a great habitat for the caterpillars right in my front yard among my other butterfly, bird, and bee habitat. Read more about hunting for swallowtail caterpillars in this post over at Beautiful Wildlife Garden.