If you own the Discover Nature Close to Home book, you can find loads of information on pages 110-119. (Note this is an affiliate link.)
For members of the Handbook of Nature Study, you can look up the March 2013 newsletter that featured mushrooms, lichen, and moss. All levels of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study include the newsletter archives.
Here are my Great Backyard Bird Count results for 2016.
Anna’s Hummingbird – 2
Spotted Towhee – 2
California Towhee – 1
Scrub Jay – 1
House Finch – 1
Titmouse – 1
Mourning Dove – 1
White-crowned Sparrow – 2
Dark eyed Juncos – 2
American Robins – 14
Cedar Waxwings – 30
Northern flicker – 1
12 different birds with a total count of 58 birds! This year I only managed to count birds one of the mornings during the count period. This made a big difference in the results. Although, we had more birds this year than in the last 2 years, it is only because we had such a high count for the cedar waxwings. The morning I counted they just happened to be in my tree eating and roosting.
Hope you had a chance to count birds this year! Leave me a comment if you created an entry for your results and I will pop over and take a look.
Have you seen the new product over at NotebookingPages.com? If you own a Lifetime Membership over on Debra’s website, you can log into your account on NotebookingPages.com and download your set right now. If you aren’t already a member over there, you can purchase the set separately or I would highly recommend a Lifetime Membership so you can access all of the 1000’s of notebooking pages she has to offer. ($4.95 for the setor get started with your membership with $10!)
Please note I am an affiliate for NotebookingPages.com and have used the notebooking pages with my family for years!
Looking back through my photos from the past few months, I collected a few of the fungus images from our hikes that I wanted to share with you. I love a good fungus and find them truly fascinating. If only I had more time and energy to study them more in depth! The images above and below are from our trip to the East Coast…found along the trail in New Jersey.
Isn’t the color on this fungus pretty? From our study of fungus last autumn, I recognize this one as a scarlet cup of some sort. For now I will just enjoy the image…and make a note on my New Jersey nature journal page reminding me that we saw this beauty.
Here is a fungus found a little closer to home, in my backyard. It is growing on the trunk of our plum tree where we cut a limb off last year.
This one is also growing in my backyard on the stump of an old pine tree. I love the layered look of it!
Here is something we saw on a recent local hike. I am not sure if it is a fungi or a lichen…..going to need to do some research.
Please read the following explanation outlining how to get this month’s newsletter.
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This month’s newsletter link will be available only during the month of March so be sure to download it before 3/31/16.
March Nature Study Planning Page with field trip ideas, nature photo ideas, and a special 15 minute challenge for parents.
Lichen Study printable notebook page which can be used as a nature journal topper as well.
Resources for your Nature Library: I have started to build a nature library store on Amazon that will feature by category my favorite nature study books and resources. Take a look and see if there is anything you would like to put on your wish list for your family’s nature study library: Handbook of Nature Study Nature Library Suggestions on Amazon.com.Note this is my affiliate store to items I personally recommend and have read or seen in person.
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.
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!
I had a friend ask me the difference between a common mullein and a lamb’s ear. I just happen to have both growing in my yard so it didn’t take me long to pop out and take a few images. The images above are both of the mullein plant and the second year winter seed stalk. The rosette shape of the plant with its blue gray soft and fuzzy leaves grows low to the ground in the first year. Later on it will have leaves that are more upright along the stalk.
The image directly above this is of the lamb’s ear in winter. It grows in more of a clump with no marked rosette. The leaves are also a soft gray-green color and are fuzzy, perhaps not quite as thick as the mullein. In winter you can really see how different the plants are.
If you are observing these two plants in the summer or autumn, you can really tell the difference by the flower stalks. The mullein grows super tall and has yellow flowers and the lamb’s ear has a short stalk and purple flowers.
Lamb’s ear plant image from my archives…taken in the month of May.You can really see how the leaves are shaped in this image.
Here is the lamb’s ear blooming in the spring. You can see it is a low growing purple flower.
This is an image from my archives…taken in July. You can see how tall the stalk is in comparison to my window!
This is the tall yellow flowering stalk of the common mullein.
Hopefully this helps you distinguish the two plants….a lot of similarities and some really big differences too!
Use the link above to view the challenge from the archives. This is an easy and fun study for everyone and includes a free printable notebook page to record your observations.
If you own the Discover Nature Close to Home book, you will find a section talking about fungi on pages 173-187. Once you go over this information with your family, you may wish to complete the Mushroom Shapes Notebook page found in this entry: Mushroom Study.
This quote came to my mind this morning as we were walking along the walking trail in our town. The walking trail extends from the center of town all the way to a the far, far side of our town, three and a half miles one way.
It winds along through a wooded area, near the highway for a stretch, back into a wooded section, out into the open along a pasture, and then back into another wooded area. There are many different habitats you can experience as you walk. Over the years we have learned what grows in each section and what to expect in each season.
Our children have walked with us hundreds of times along this trail and we came to have certain spots we would meet up if we got separated. This idea of learning how far it is between landmarks and what to expect on the trail ahead is an easy way to introduce the idea of geography to your children during a nature walk.
I can remember saying, “Stop at the bridge and wait for us on the bench.” Or I would say something like, “Turn around at the old mill and meet up with us on your way back.”
Naming certain landmarks reflects a knowledge of local geography…maybe it will inspire you to do the same on a favorite trail in your neighborhood.
The Tunnel: an old train tunnel we walk through
The Acorn Oaks: place to gather acorns or to watch squirrels
The Sweet Pea section: spring and summer colors
The Star Thistle section: the hot part of the trail where you want to stay clear of the edges
The Mill: an old lumber mill site now vacated and being overgrown with a variety of weeds
The Bridge: crosses over the highway and marks a turning around point for many of our walks
The Llamas: this is the farthest point from our parking spot…always fun to see the llamas on the hillside
This is an easy nature study idea that all can enjoy! Young children can help gather some twigs and older students can go deeper to learn more about the twig’s parts and function in the life cycle of the tree.
You may wish to view these additional entries for twig study ideas:
For members of the Handbook of Nature Study, you will find this challenge in the More Nature Study – Winter ebook. Included in this ebook, there are three different notebook pages for you to use in your study of twigs plus a variety of graphics to help you learn more than you ever thought possible about this interesting topic.
I know there are a lot of new readers here on the Handbook of Nature Study and many of you have never downloaded my free printable that outlines 3 easy steps to encouraging better nature study experiences. This printable includes suggestions for progressive nature study using practical ideas, a printable chart, and a reminder checklist for your nature journal.
Whether you are beginning your nature study adventure or you have been on the trail a long time, take a look at the ideas we tested and found valuable in my own family.
Sometimes using a simple thing like an arrow on a nature journal page pumps up the interest factor and helps create a focus. I hope this entry will help you see how using an arrow feature on your page is a simple but effective tool for your family.
Nature Journal Page Ideas – Arrows!
Draw attention to a point of interest on the page.
Use the arrow to highlight something in the sketch.
If you would like to contribute to the board, you will need to follow this Pinterest Board and then leave me a comment letting me know you want to be added. Important: If you contribute to the board, you need to include in your description the prompt it is featuring.
Sample: Our The Window Nature Journal
If you don’t include a description using one of the monthly journal prompts, I may remove it. This is not a board to post general nature journal pages. It is strictly for pages created using one of the twelve monthly prompts as part of this project.
Please note that you are not committed to make a journal each month…participate as you can and share your results to encourage others.
book, you can find loads of information on pages 110-119. (Note this is an affiliate link.)
