May 13, 2014 Habitat Is Where It's At!

The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Habitat is where it's at, especially at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge where we experienced the estuary of the Nisqually River, the riparian forest tidally influenced, the permanent freshwater wetlands, the seasonal freshwater wetlands and the riparian forest. 

We had a chance to think like zoologists, botanists, entomologists, ornithologists, ichthyologists and herpetologists. 

We explored and discovered inside first with Liz Peelor, a former Seabury student herself! She fondly remembers her days at Seabury especially raising salmon in the classroom. Perhaps that's why she loves what she does now!

Each table had a box of items from the different habitats. 

Our job was to ask questions and to find the answers...

...and to put things into perspective. 

As usual, we had lots of parents along to help. Couldn't do it without you!

We then went outdoors and had a lesson on how to use binoculars. 

We each got our own pair!

We adjusted and focused them to be just right for us.

And right away we saw something way up in a tree!

...and wood ducks in a pond!

We had plenty of field guides to help us identify the animals. 

Do you see the snake? 

And what about the two camouflaged bullfrogs? 

They sounded like a cell phone vibrating. I got caught both ways--thinking it was my cell phone when it was the bullfrogs and thinking it was the bullfrogs when it was my cell phone!

The scope made it even easier to see the animals.

Davy, our volunteer guide, was very knowledgeable and interesting. We learned to be watchful, respectful and conservation-minded as we took a mile hike with him. 

    

We spotted an American Bittern, a rare sight to see due to its mastery of camouflage. As a lifelong bird watcher, this is a new one for my list!

Here's Davy showing us what a bittern sounds like. 

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 

"a stocky and well-camouflaged heron of dense reed beds, the American Bittern is difficult to see. Its far-carrying booming call is distinctive, but the bittern itself likes to keep under cover."

We had fun with a plant that would stick to us. Ms Shamaela was "it". 

When we got back to school we made a list of birds we either saw, heard or saw evidence of. Our list is a very good start for this young group of nature watchers, don't you think?

 

 

Next year's birthday present list?

• a pair of binoculars
• Peterson's Field Guide to Birds of Western North America