Winter at the Outdoor Discovery Center

Today was the big day!  Our second visit to the ODC to compare and contrast animals and their habitats in fall and winter.  Our guide, Miss Andrea, was awesome once again!  

We began our day in the Visitor's center.  The children were given time to explore some living animals as well as some taxidermy animals.

 

We then moved into the back area of the Visitor's center so that Miss Andrea could show us some living animals.  She wanted the children to understand the different ways that animals survive winter.  The first way is to migrate like birds.  The second way is to sleep most of the winter, which is called Topor.  This is different than hibernation, because an animal in Topor will wake up at times to eat throughout the winter, whereas hibernating animals do not wake until spring.  The third way is to just 'deal with it' by thickening their fur or feathers.

The first animal Miss Andrea showed us was a screech owl, which is an animal that stays in Michigan for the winter.  His feathers/coat thickens in the winter to help keep him warm.  He hunts at night to avoid predators.  The females are larger than males because they carry eggs.  The screech owl is sometimes confused with the great horned owl because of the ear tufts, but the screech owl is much smaller.  Some believe that the tufts may be used by the owl to communicate feelings, much like a dog uses his ears to show when he is happy, sad, etc.

The second animal we were shown was a bunny!  This one is not native to Michigan, but makes a good animal to teach kids because it was formally a pet before it was given to the ODC.  Bunnies also learn to 'deal with' winter.  Their fur also gets much thicker in the winter to help keep him warm.  Their ears can turn in many different directions and a large, which helps him to hear predators and run away before becoming prey.  The kids enjoyed watching the bunny wander around inside the circle to visit them.

We then moved outside!  Our goal was to visit the same places we saw in the fall so that we could compare and contrast the changes in winter.  Our first stop was the meadow.  We noticed that the grass is in a dormant stage, so it was brown and laying down.  We were surprised to see a bald eagle fly overhead while we were there!  We took a walk through the field, being careful not to harm any animals or their habitat.

Miss Andrea took a moment to point out a Gall, which we also saw in the fall.  A Gall is the lump found on a Goldenrod plant.  A bug, called a Goldenrod Gall Bug, burrows into the stem, which irritates the plant.  The plant makes the Gall to protect itself from the bug.  This also protects the bug, and provides it food while it goes through it's life cycle inside.  Miss Andrea also said that there are predators that like the bugs inside.  Woodpeckers especially enjoy them!

 

Our next stop was the pond.  In the fall, the kids were able to see frogs, fish and touch the water.  This time, the pond was completely iced over, but they still enjoyed reaching down to feel the ice.

We moved on and stopped briefly to check out the marsh and the swamp.  Miss Andrea said that in ponds, swamps and marshes, turtles and frogs burrow into the mud under the water.  They absorb oxygen through their skin while they sleep through the winter.  They do not hibernate, and have even been known to come out on days that are warmer, like today.  We were not lucky enough to see either.  No fish live in the marsh, because they dry up during the dry season.

Our next stop was the forest, but on the way, Miss Andrea pointed out the Evergreen/Coniferous tree.  She showed us the White Pine, and told the kids that they could pull off a needle or two and eat them!  Mmmm... snack time!  The needles of the White Pine have a thin layer of wax on their needles to help keep them warm in the winter.

 

We didn't spend long in the forest.  We did see a rabbit print in the snow, and Miss Andrea showed us how the Autumn Olive Plant we saw in the fall looked very different now.  This plant is an invasive plant with berries that don't taste very good.  

Rabbit footprints

Autumn Olive Plant

We had some extra time, so we hiked to the Birds of Prey area!  We got to see several birds in their cages.  All of the birds live at the ODC because they have been hurt in some way, and are no longer able to survive in the wild.  The children were very excited to be able to see these birds close up.  

Barn Owls

Great Horned Owl

Peregrine Falcon

Golden Eagle

Adult Bald Eagle

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

On our hike back, we took a moment to stop at the bird feeders.  When the Sandyview first graders visited the ODC, they were lucky enough to see a quail visit the feeders.  We were not that lucky unfortunately.  We did hear some birds in the distance however.

We enjoyed our day so much!  It was sunny, and even a bit warm (for winter).  Miss Andrea was an awesome guide once again, and taught us a lot!  I would like to thank the ODC staff and the Hamilton Administration for providing such a great learning experience for us in first grade!  

And now... the group pictures!  Our first try was in the Birds of Prey area.  The sun was behind the kids though, so they were a bit dark.  So our second photo was by the sign and turned out a bit better.