Turtles on the Move!

Bald Eagle is trying to find and collect a 'tree cookie' without getting tagged!

How wonderful it was that the rain held off, the temperatures were warm and the sun peeked out from time to time!  Are you keeping track of spring changes? What did the soil feel like on your hands as you stuffed your little hair head?  How long will your seeds take to grow?  What will your hair head look like next week? 

Deer, did your pipe cleaner glasses help you see what you were doing? 

Our soil game was a great warm up because it helped us realize how wind, rain and the trees can affect the soil and the growth of living things in so many ways.  What can each of the elements do to soil?  How did the soil we used in the hall look and feel compared to the soil we saw and collected on our way down the trails? 

In small groups the Turtles set off to be soil scientists.  Samples were taken from lots of places, the trail, for example Mystery Forest and Swan Lookout.  It is incredible that only a little while ago the ground was frozen and asleep.  Today we already found so many signs of life.  Bobcat and Pin Cherry, what did you see on the tree when you used the magnifying sheet?  Grey Wolf, do you think the spiders will enjoy the food you found for them?  Which type of soil provided you with the most worms, bugs and plants?  Looking forward to sharing and reviewing our findings next week.

Our Turtle Team was proud to help a snapping turtle get safely to the pond and a few also made some signs!

On the move again!  What a surprise we got as we approached the hall to go into the library.  A snapping turtle still covered in dirt came to visit us just outside the entrance!  A small birthday treat for Hawk and Bald Eagle. After seeing some of it’s features under the careful guidance of Dragonfly, we walked together to set it free closer to the pond. Thanks to Leopard Frog who documented the moment for us!  Do you remember what it did to protect itself? Hope you enjoy spring, Squirtle the Turtle!  Where should we hang our Turtle Crossing sign, Bobcat, Pin Cherry and Deer, so people will see it?  Any ideas?

Ahh time to relax with a browse and a book with a friend.  Grey Squirrel did her magic and found us a book The True and Lucky Life Of A Turtle about an injured snapping turtle being cared for by the turtle rescue people.  Did you feel a little like the characters in the book?  Would that be a job you would like to do when you are older? Thanks for the scavenger hunt to help us learn more about birds and for the magic bird flying craft project!

Creatures everywhere, rabbits made of clay, birds up in the trees (Snapping Turtle counted 15) moving birds made out of paper, wooly bears creeping along the grass and bark tree buds making an appearance.  The turtles were on the move, capturing all that early spring has to offer.  What changes do you think we will discover next week at the hall?  Meet you there!