Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Nueces Delta Preserve

October 31, 2016 / Stacie / Leave a comment

**This is our final Nature Challenge for 2016!

*Joey and William will be guests here on the blog as they document our Nature Challenge journey for 2016.

The Challenge: 1. Find an animal track: photograph it, measure it and ID it. 2. Observe a bird at Rincon Bayou: note its distinguishing characteristics, sketch it, and ID it.

W: We went to the Delta Preserve. We went down by the pond and looked for animal tracks.

J: We found a lot of deer tracks. We sat down and drew them.

W: We measured the track. Then we used our Track Guide to identify them. Yep, they were deer tracks.

J: We went back up to the pavilion and were given paints to paint our prints. We also received our very own nature journal (that’s what we painted in!). I drew the deer track and then painted over it.

W: Next we drove down to the Bayou but we had to stop on the way because we saw a turtle crossing the road. We think it was red eared slider because Auntie Jessica and I saw red on its ear.

J: When we got to the Bayou we saw Snowy Egrets and Brown Pelicans. We used our binoculars and our field guide to identify the birds, but Mr. Dane was there, too, to help us.

W: After drawing our birds, Mr. Dane took us on a guided walk. It was a loop walk because the trail looped around.

J: We saw a fiddler crab. We also saw a dead animal and there were huge beetle looking bugs that were carrying away the remains.

W: We also saw a giant green walking stick.

J: We saw some tracks on the trail, too.

Well, thank you to everyone for following along our journey. We completed 15 out of 21 challenges. We learned all kinds of new nature facts. We SAW BOBCATS IN THE WILD and pelicans diving for fish. We learned how to blog and we practiced using the camera. It was all kinds of fun and we can’t wait for the Nature Challenge next year!

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Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Nature Trails and Sensory Exploration at the Botanical Gardens

October 31, 2016 / Stacie / Leave a comment

*Joey and William will be guests here on the blog as they document our Nature Challenge journey for 2016.

The Challenges: (This was actually 2 separate challenges that we combined into one!) Walk along the trails and make a list of 5 shrubs/trees with spines or thorns and 3 without. List some possible reasons why plants have spines or thorns. Use your senses to observe nature along the path.

Plants we saw with thorns/spines:

Spiny Hackberry
Lotebush
Prickly Pear
Blackbrush Acacia
Lime Pricklyash

Plants we saw without thorns/spines:

Flame Acanthus
Retama
Sea Ox Eye Daisy
Tanglewood
Texas Persimmon

The reason we think plants might have thorns or spines is to protect themselves from predators (or kids!).

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Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Discovery of the Kapok Tree at the Botanical Gardens

October 31, 2016 / Stacie / Leave a comment

*Joey and William will be guests here on the blog as they document our Nature Challenge journey for 2016.

The Challenge: Describe the unusual bark on the trunk of the Kapok tree and tell how this part of the tree was utilized for water rescue for people traveling by sea.

J: We went to look at the Kapok tree. It had lots of spikes on its trunk. We looked it up and the reason it has spikes on it is because that helps it protect its trunk.

W: People use the trunk of the tree to make canoes. The white fluffy seed covering is buoyant (which means it floats in water) and it’s water resistant so it can be used in flotation devices like life jackets.

J: So the white fluffy seed covering can be used to rescue people traveling by sea.

W: It’s a really neat tree.

J: Although you could also rescue dogs with it.

W: We all drew a picture of it and had our picture taken with it.

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Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Oso Wetlands Preserve

October 31, 2016 / Stacie / Leave a comment

*Joey and William will be guests here on the blog as they document our Nature Challenge journey for 2016.

The Challenge: Attend a Guided Nature Walk. Take 2 fun pictures of your team on the walk and include 3 fun facts that you learned during the walk.

J: We went out to the Oso Preserve and OH MY GOODNESS, WE SAW BOBCATS! But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. Mommy woke us up early. We drove out to the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve and we got there on time but we missed the group by just a minute. So we hurried to catch up but Katie’s legs are so little that we soon stopped and then there were so many forks we weren’t sure which way the group went!

W: So we built our own group!

J: Yes, there were other people that missed the group, too, and they were walking so we made our own group that way. We finally caught up with the real group only to lose them again.

W: We did get a chance to sit with the group on the observation deck and do some nature sketching. I drew a y shaped body of water and then I saw a huge body of water that I’m guessing leads out to the Gulf of Mexico.

J: I drew the water tower in the distance and the tracks I could see.

W: And Katie made a drawing too.

J: After we finished drawing and the group left, we tried to follow along but again it was hard for Katie to keep up. Finally Mommy said it was okay and we could just leisurely stroll along the path. It’s a good thing we did. We saw lots of butterflies and plants and then Mommy said, “This is where the bobcats have been seen. Let’s say a prayer to St. Francis of Assisi and ask him to call the bobcats out for us.” As soon as we finished the prayer, the mommy bobcat came out.

W: She sat and stared at us. She was about 200 feet away. She was staring at us trying to decide if we were a threat. I guess she decided we weren’t because then she left and came back with her babies. At least three.

J: It was amazing! The babies were rolling around and they were so cute. I bet they were cuter than that lizard my cousin Alex told me about.

W: We said a prayer to St. Francis again to thank him for sending out the bobcats. Later, at home, we looked up facts about bobcats. Here’s what we learned:

It mostly eats rabbits and hares but it will eat almost any mammal, reptile or bird.
The fur color and markings of the bobcat vary. For example, bobcats living in the south have lighter coats than those in the north.
Kittens are usually born in the spring BUT females in the south may have a second litter later in the year.

J: After the bobcat sighting, we finished the trail and just as we got to the end, we saw this snake! Ms. Sara helped us identify it as a Dekay’s Brownsnake. Then Ms. Sara let us touch the milk snake.

W: Ms. Sara said it was cute and I agreed.

J: We got to play on the playground after that! As we left the preserve we saw a rabbit or maybe it was a hare.

W: That’s all for now!

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Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Port Aransas Jetties

October 31, 2016 / Stacie / Leave a comment

*Joey and William will be guests here on the blog as they document our Nature Challenge journey for 2016.

The Challenge: Exploring and identifying different species and their habitats found at the Port Aransas South Jetty

J: After the UTMSI, we went to the South Jetty in Port Aransas. It’s the tip of Mustang Island. Mostly we saw birds and fish. The first thing we saw were a group of Laughing Gulls. Then I pointed out that crabs could live in the nooks and crannies of the jetties but I didn’t see any.

W: There was a man fishing and he caught a stingray. We got to go over and see it. We saw the bottom of it which looked kind of reddish-pink.

J: We saw a man carrying a fish. We asked him about it. He said he pulled it out from under a rock but it was already dead. Then we saw a man with a net. He was trying to catch mullet. He caught a net full and put them in a bucket but they kept jumping out so he put us in charge of standing guard.

W: Every time the mullet jumped out of the bucket we had to catch them to put back in. But they kept squirming out of our hands! It took us awhile to catch just one. But we did catch them all and made sure no more got out.

J: We saw a pelican sitting on a rock waiting to catch a fish. We sat very quietly and very patiently and watched him. He didn’t catch any fish.

W: As we passed by the fisherman who had caught the stingray, we stopped to talk to him. He asked us, “Have you ever seen live shrimp before?” We responded, “No, but we have seen crawdads.” He pulled out a live shrimp that he was using for bait to show us. We got to hold them. Daddy says live shrimp will catch all kinds of things from stingrays and catfish to redfish and trout.

J: The fisherman’s name with the shrimp was Chris. We met a lot of fishermen there! The jetties were very busy while we were there.

W: See you next time! Bye-bye!

J: See you later alligator!

W: After a while crocodile!

J: Not too soon you big baboon!

W: See you soon racoon!

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Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Snap a Critter

October 31, 2016 / Stacie / 2 Comments

*Joey and William will be guests here on the blog as they document our Nature Challenge journey for 2016.

The Challenge: Using any kind of camera, seek out 3 different categories of nature from these categories: 1. reptiles and amphibians, 2. birds, 3. mammals, 4. bugs and insects, 5. landscapes, 6. plants. Label the photos with the category and the location.

Spider (Bugs and Insects), Goliad State Park

Crawdad (crustacean), Cherryville, MO

Western Box Turtle (reptiles and amphibians), Cherryville, MO

Three-Toed Box Turtle (reptiles and amphibians), Cherryville, MO

Turtle (reptiles and amphibians), Nueces Delta Preserve

Turtle: maybe a red-eared slider? (reptiles and amphibians), Nueces Delta Preserve

(bugs and insects), Oso Wetlands Preserve

We can’t identify this one! We submitted the picture to butterfliesandmoths.org but we’re still waiting for a response (bugs and insects), Oso Wetlands Preserve

Bobcats (mammals), Oso Wetland Preserve

Dekay’s brownsnake (reptiles and amphibians), Oso Wetland Preserve

Fiddler Crab (crustacean), Nueces Delta Preserve

Pelican (bird), Port Aransas Jetty

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Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: UT Marine Science Institute

October 30, 2016 / Stacie / 1 Comment

*Joey and William will be guests here on the blog as they document our Nature Challenge journey for 2016.

The Challenge: Check out an Explorer Kit to become a scientist at the Reserve.

W: We went to the UT Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas. We checked out an Explorer Kit.

J: We followed the map and went to different stops along the way.

W: At each stop, we stopped and made observations.

J: Auntie Jessica read the cards from the kit to us which asked us questions. We had to be scientists to answer the questions. For example, we used the microscope to look at leaves and the refractometer to measure the salinity of the water.

W: I learned that an estuary is where freshwater mixes with salt water and the salinity changes rapidly. I also learned that animals use the sand dunes as protection.

J: I learned that the sand dunes block the wind and provide shelter for the animals who live at the estuary. I already knew what an estuary was since we visited Ms. Pringle last year.

W: We learned about barrier islands, too. I really liked going down on the dock. I saw a few brown pelicans there.

J: After the trail we headed into the Explorarium. I went fishing and I put the fish where I thought they belonged. There were lots of fun things to do there.

W: See you next time!

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Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: John E. Connor Museum

October 24, 2016 / Stacie / 1 Comment

*Joey and William will be guests here on the blog as they document our Nature Challenge journey for 2016.

The Challenge: Complete a bird scavenger hunt in the museum. Go outside to sight birds and create a journal entry of the birds seen and identified.

We went out to the Texas A & M University – Kingsville on Saturday, September 10th.

J: I liked the part where I had to look at the different habitats that are around the Coastal Bend area and find the birds.

W: My favorite was the roadrunner.

J: The Greater Roadrunner.

Me: Does anyone remember which habitat the Greater Roadrunner was in?

J: Mesquite Chaparral. It was the first habitat we visited.

Me: Are you sure?

J: Yes! Then after that we saw the Hollow Tree.

(We looked at the pictures to confirm) Me: Yep, you’re right Joey!

W: I pushed the button that made the bird sounds. Remember, Mommy, it drove you nuts?

Me: Oh yes, I remember.

J: I wish I had known there were birds sounds I could do. Then remember we saw some animal skins? Alligator skins and we saw an actual starfish!

W: I touched all of the skins, too. I liked the fur from the fox.

J: I liked the soft furry ones. They were good to touch. We saw birds at Oak Motte and the Dry Chaparral, too. My favorite habitat was the Hollow Tree because it looked so cool to live inside the tree. It looked nice and cozy. I’d want to be a bat living in there where I could hang upside down without being scared.

W: My favorite habitat was the Mesquite Chaparral where the roadrunner was. The Hollow Tree looked nice, but I liked the Chaparral best.

J: After the habitats, we walked over to the Wild West room. I walked in and at first I thought we were just going to pass through it, but it turned out we were actually going to play in it. The Wild West room was made up of things to do in the wild west: ride a horse, take care of a calf, cook, pump water.

W: My favorite part was riding the horse with Katie. She was a cowgirl and she sat on the back.

J: There were also exhibits that showed how the pioneers lived. For example, they had an exhibit that showed a bedroom.

W: It was a really neat room.

J: Yeah, it really was. {sigh}

W: After we played for awhile, we went out of the museum, crossed the street and looked for birds on the campus.

J: We had to be very quiet. First we had to pick a spot, wait 30 seconds and then for 2 minutes we watched. Then after that we walked 120 steps and did the same thing. We repeated that five times. We saw a total of 5 birds and heard 3 birds, but we saw a lot of dragonflies and butterflies and we heard a lot of cicadas.

W: Some of the birds we saw were mourning doves. We always see mourning doves at our house.

J: We only got to see new places for three of them and then we walked back for the other two. I got to use my binoculars, which is always fun.

W: Okay, until next time!

Coastal Bend Outdoor Challenge: Create Your Own

October 23, 2016 / Stacie / 4 Comments

*Joey will be a guest here on the blog as he documents our Nature Challenge journey for 2016.

The Challenge: Select your favorite nature spot in the Coastal Bend and create an activity that can be done by other teams in the area.

Joey: I attended a Nature Journaling Class with Ms. Nicki Sohn at the Oso Preserve and I am going to tell you everything I learned. Then you’ll be able to go in your own backyard and make your very own nature journal.

First you are going to need a journal. It could be a blank book, a sketch book, a scrapbook, a notebook. Basically you need something filled with blank paper. I received a fancy bamboo journal at the class but I also have other nature journals. Some are blank notebooks and some are sketch books.

You’ll also need a pencil or a pen (I recommend a pencil because you can erase if you need to), some crayons or colored pencils, an eraser, a pencil sharpener and a bag to carry it all in. You might need to bring some water with you if you’re going out far from your house. If you’re really far and you’re hungry, bring a snack bag with you.

One kind of journaling you can do in nature is looking for evidence. You pick a spot. A place with trees is a good place to choose, but you really can choose any nature spot. Then you sit very quietly and look for animals. Then find out why they are there in that spot. You could also look for animal tracks and scat and journal about who you think has been there and why. You could also look for an interaction between animals. Whatever evidence you look for, record what you find and show it to your parents. Make sure you explain, in your journal, what you think the evidence means.

Another kind of nature journaling that is fun is called Stop and Jot. You find a place and set a time limit. Then you walk around it and every few seconds you jot down anything you hear, see, or smell in nature. When you are done observing then you can draw a map of what you observed. Include any plants or tracks that you might have seen! Later you can write about your observations. It could be a narrative or a story. I like to pretend I’m an animal in that habitat and I use my observations to make a story or a narration.

Another kind of journaling I like to do is where I read about and observe a plant and then I use pictures (if the real thing isn’t available) and I draw it and write down some fun facts about it. I like to do this when I study herbs. I also include a “Time to Be a Scientist” sidebar where I describe ways you can use the herb for medicine.

When we do nature study during our school day, I take my journal and go outside wherever we are and a choose a spot. I sit there for ten minutes and I draw whatever I see in my area. Then I label it, if I can. I don’t write much about it when I do this type of journaling, but you could if you wanted to. It’s really more about drawing though.

It is fun to get out in nature and to write and draw about what I see. You should get your own nature journal and get started! I hope you will come back here and share with me some pictures of your journals.

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Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Urban Xeriscape Garden

October 22, 2016 / Stacie / 1 Comment

*Joey and William will be guests here on the blog as they document our Nature Challenge journey for 2016.

The Challenge: Visit the Urban Xeriscape Garden near downtown Kingsville. Walk through the garden and find as many different types of plant leaf shapes as possible, while marking off the leaf types we find.

J: We took a walk through the city park. I had a clipboard with a sheet of leaf types. We identified each leaf we saw not by its name (we knew their names by their signs) but instead by their leaf type.

W: I had to ride in the stroller because I was still recovering from my surgery. I helped Joey identify leaf types.

J: We sat on a bench and we saw A LOT of bird poop. Then we looked up and saw why. There were a ton of mourning doves. Mystery of bird poop solved.

W: My favorite plant we saw was the Firecracker plant.

J: I liked the wishing weed we found and wished on. It was neat to see plants that grow in this area easily. Now we know what we can plant. Okay, until next time!

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With Every Intention

Inspiration to live a little richer, breathe a little deeper and appreciate a little more fully

nature challenge

Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Nueces Delta Preserve

Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Nature Trails and Sensory Exploration at the Botanical Gardens

Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Discovery of the Kapok Tree at the Botanical Gardens

Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Oso Wetlands Preserve

Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Port Aransas Jetties

Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Snap a Critter

Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: UT Marine Science Institute

Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: John E. Connor Museum

Coastal Bend Outdoor Challenge: Create Your Own

Coastal Bend Nature Challenge: Urban Xeriscape Garden