Credits and Acknowledgments. We would like to thank the following people and organizations for their assistance in this project:

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Credits and Acknowledgments. We would like to thank the following people and organizations for their assistance in this project:"

Austen Wilkins
6 years ago
Views:

1 Children s Guide 1

2 Credits and Acknowledgments We would like to thank the following people and organizations for their assistance in this project: Margery Read for the use of her drawings in this guide. Marjorie Peronto and Sue Baez for their guidance and assistance. Shirley Beccue, Jane Freeman, and Kathy Suminsby for the use of their photographs. Shirley Beccue for final editing of this guide. Birdsacre Wildlife Sanctuary. University of Maine Cooperative Extension Master Gardener logos. Historical photographs from the Birdsacre Website. Copyright 2008 When using any portion of this guide for educational or personal purposes, please site Hancock County Master Gardeners-University of Maine Cooperative 2 Extension.

3 This guide is for children. It has been created for your use by Hancock County Master Gardeners from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Please take this guide with you as you walk along the boardwalk and in the forest. Be sure to take a pencil and paper along to make drawings and notes of your observations. Enjoy your visit. 3

4 Cordelia Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary This Sanctuary was created in 1960 as a way to appreciate the quiet way of life. Visit the birds and take some time to walk around the boardwalk, walk on the trails, and take in all the beautiful natural sights. 4

Her work was noted in many popular magazine of her time.

5 Cordelia Stanwood This unique woman who was born in 1865 created many photos and wrote extensively about the wildlife in the sanctuary. Her work was noted in many popular magazine of her time. She was a visionary for her time, documented the whole forest, and was a true steward for land a nature. 5

6 Cordelia s Diary Cordelia Stanwood was a great observer of nature. As you walk though Birdsacre, take some time to read some of her diary entries on these wooden signs. 6

7 Injured Birds The birds in this sanctuary have all been injured in some way. Many are non-releaseable. Think of some of the ways in which birds have been injured. Discuss this with your class, group, and family. 7

8 Nature Trails Map There are many nature trails in the sanctuary. If you have time, walk some of the trails and listen for the sounds of nature. 8

9 Barred Owl strix varja Barred Owl-strix varja True/False Owls sleep during the day and do not like the light. False. This owl likes to stretch out and bathe in the sun. 9

10 Broad Winged Hawk buteo platypterus This hawk is named Friendly. It has a hurt foot and a broken wing. It might talk/chirp if you are very quiet and still for awhile. 10

11 This drawing is a map of the boardwalk. Visitors will enjoy 5 distinct habitats as they walk along the boardwalk. These habitats include: -woodland meadow -ledge -spruce-pine forest -ferns and mosses and -the bog. 11

This means that it has areas of different flora and wildlife represented

12 This is the boardwalk. It winds through five micro habitats of the sanctuary. This means that it has areas of different flora and wildlife represented you might see in the larger macro environment. What do you think micro and macro mean? Discuss. This area of the sanctuary is accessible for all. 12

13 Can you find this tree along the boardwalk or in another area of the forest? Do you know its name? Some of its uses are of wreaths, Christmas trees, or scented pillows. 13

14 Chickadee While visiting the various habitats along the boardwalk, you may catch a glimpse of the Chickadee in the Spruce Pine Forest area. 14

15 Striped Maple Striped Maple is also know as Moosewood or Goose Foot. The name Goose Foot comes from the shape of the leaves. This can be found in the spruce pine forest. This tree does well in shaded area as part of the understory. 15

16 Can you locate the Goldenrod? Where did you see it? It flowers in the late summer. 16

17 As you walk along the boardwalk, take some time to look down through the railing. Try to find this plant that has oval shaped glossy leaves. It has been used in flavoring of toothpaste and gum. It has also been used as a tea for helping to relieve muscle aches and pains. Do you know what it is? 17

18 Pileated Woodpeckers make holes for their nests in trees like these Birch trees. This bird also drums on hollow trees with its bill to claim its territory. Have you seen evidence of the Pileated Woodpecker along the boardwalk or in the forest? 18

19 Jewelweed Moss Jack-In- The-Pulpit This area is along the bog section of the boardwalk. What do you see and hear here? Look for some Jewelweed, Moss, or Jack-In-The-Pulpit too. 19

20 These 2 photos are Jack-In- The-Pulpit. It grows in damp woods and swamps. It flowers from April to June and the fruit (see the picture on the right) ripens in late summer and early fall. 20

21 As you walk along the boardwalk or in the forest, you may hear this insect. Do you know what it is? Where else have you seen grasshoppers? Did you know that grasshoppers rub the rough edge of their back legs together against their wings to call and attract other grasshoppers? 21

22 Along the ledge area of the boardwalk, see if you can find these items British Soldiers, Crumpled Rag Lichen, and Old Man s Beard. Why do you think these items have these common names? Discuss this with your group. 22

23 Bunchberry and the Hermit Thrush This plant can be found in cool woods and bog area. Hermit Thrush nest in Bunchberry. 23

24 There are various types of ferns along the boardwalk and in the forest. Here are some photos of ferns taken in the spring, late summer, and fall. 24

25 As you walk along the boardwalk, try to find this mossy blanket of green. It looks like an enchanted picture. Take a few moments to smell, look, and listen in this area. Share your thoughts with a friend. 25

26 Along the boardwalk, you come upon an area that has almost no plants (flora) growing. What do you think has occurred? Look around, make some guesses, or ask some people giving tours of the boardwalk. 26

27 Virginia Creeper or Woodbine This lovely plant turns a brilliant red in the fall. 27

28 Some people call this Miss Muffit s Tuffit. What are other names for this type of moss? 28

29 As you walk by this pond in the sanctuary, stop and listen for a few minutes. What are some of the sounds you hear? 29

30 Cattails This tall plant can be found in shallow waters of marshes, swamps, and ponds. Have you seen any Cattails while walking near some of the ponds? 30

31 Can you locate the Cladonia? It is also called Cup Lichen or Pixie Cup. 31

32 Trail blazes (rectangles painted on trees) and markers (signs on trees) point the way in the forest at Birdsacre. These signs show the way to the Queen s Throne. 32

Spend some time and listen to all the different birds.

33 Along the white trail, you will come upon the Queen s Throne. Why was this area given this name? Spend some time and listen to all the different birds. How many different bird sounds do you hear? Can you identify their songs? 33

34 Purple Coneflower This plant has been used as a natural medicine for colds. It is also called Echinacea. 34

35 Taking this guide a step further On the next few pages are some activities and suggestions for enhancement that can be worked on at the sanctuary or back in the classroom or with your family. 35

36 Children can also review K/W/L prior to a visit. What do the children already know about Birdsacre? What would the children like to learn? After the visit, discuss, draw, write about what was learned. Some other ideas for student enhancement include keeping a journal of the visit, taking photos and creating a big book when the you return to school or home, chanting the song, Along Came A Spider, developing a scavenger hunt of things to find at the sanctuary, or using your imagination to come up with many other activities. 36

37 Use the pictures in the guide to help fill in the blanks below. Find the answers upside down at the bottom. 1. Cordelia Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary was created in? 2. The birds in this sanctuary have all been in some way. 3. The Barred Owl likes to stretch out and bathe in the. 4.The likes to fly near the ground during the day. 5. This plant has been used in the flavoring of gum and candy. 6. The lives in dense forests an it makes holes in trees. 37

38 Vocabulary As you walk along the boardwalk/and in the forest, think about what some of these words might mean. Discuss them with your class, group, or family. If you do not know their meanings, look them up with a friend. Then you can start your own nature dictionary. flora Cordelia Stanwood bog glade ledge woodland meadow volunteer ornithologist insects Master Gardeners pine/spruce forest invasive plants native plants amphibian habitat predator prey mammals micro macro boardwalk accessible silt observation Queen s Throne sanctuary Birdsacre 38

39 Answers to questions p. 12 Macro-This is a term that people use to describe a large area of the environment or the community. Micro-This describes a smaller version of the larger environment or community. The Woodland Boardwalk is an example of a micro environment of the larger Birdsacre macro environment. p. 13 Balsam Fir is the name of the tree. p. 17 Wintergreen. p. 22 Common names such as British Soldiers, Crumpled Rag Lichen, and Old Man s Beard help us to remember the way some flora looks. p. 26 This may be from silt runoff from streets or construction. p. 28 Pincushion p ; 2. Injured; 3. Sun; 4. Short Eared Owl; 5. Wintergreen; 6.Pileated Woodpecker 39

40 We hope this guide has given you a glimpse into this beautiful area. Do you have any questions or suggestions on how we can improve this guide for children? Please tell one of the Master Gardeners or staff at Birdsacre. Or call us at Hancock County Cooperative Extension ( ). Don t forget to visit Birdsacre on the web at: This guide was developed by Master Gardeners of Hancock County Cooperative Extension. Visit us on the web at:

Lesson: Feathers in the Forest

Lesson: Feathers in the Forest Topic/Essential Question: How do trees provide food and homes for birds? Unit: Why Are Trees Terrific? Kindergarten Environmental Literacy Content Standards: Science 3.0