Endangered Short-Tailed Albatross

My favorite quote is from Baba Dioum, “in the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught”. We haven’t all been taught the significance of the Endangered Species Act, or the importance of supporting listed species. Therefore, the greatest thing we can do to honor Endangered Species Day is to educate ourselves and those around us to raise awareness.

Find out what’s in your state. Find out what endangered species live near you, learn their story and find out how you can help: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/

Also check out this interactive map of species success stories: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/map/index.html

I chose to learn more about a species in my home state. The Borax Lake Chub is unique to a single lake in Oregon. I learned the lake is one of the most unusual fish habitats in the United States because it is fed primarily by thermal springs. Drilling for energy development threatened the survival of the fish, and emergency listing as endangered saved the species. Great first date conversation material.

Let people know on Facebook. This is the place to really show people what’s important to you. We’ve designed a few Facebook cover photos for you to use, or design your own! Post information and photos about endangered species and tag @National Wildlife Federation to share with our community. I’ll be using this cover photo.

Here’s an example of a Facebook cover photo supporting an endangered species.

Finally, take a loot at these 5 Ways to Celebrate Endangered Species Day.

At the National Wildlife Federation–we want to know about the endangered species you care about, whether you tweet it, share it on Facebook, post a blog or even a comment below! (Also- be sure to join the fun even if you aren’t in the US! We would love to hear from you too)

If you are on Twitter, help us spread the word! Copy and paste this into your “tweet” window:

Happy Endangered Species Day!

This was taken at Crater Lake just after my mom and I tripped and almost fell.

The Bike Ride

We were on a family trip to Alaska and decided to take a bike ride. The mosquitoes were miserable, we were hungry and tired, but we were trying to stay positive. My brother led the pack as we approached a puddle that spanned the road. He decided we should stop, get off our bikes, and carry them through the bushes around the puddle. All of us followed, except my mom. As she rode full speed ahead we heard her say, “I think I can make it through”. Halfway through the puddle (small lake) her bike stopped and she sank. Soaked and trapped in the middle of this huge puddle, she just cracked up. We couldn’t help but join the laughter. It’s overall one of the best memories I have outdoors with my mom.

The Rose Garden

I was maybe 8 years old. My mom and I packed up for a picnic at the local rose garden. I had never been stung and was absolutely terrified of bees. When we arrived, the rose garden hummed with bees, but my mom assured me that the bees wouldn’t be interested in us. Just as we started our picnic and I began to relax, “OUCH!” my mom got stung. She played it off as though it didn’t hurt because she didn’t want to scare me, even though a welt was clearly forming. This is a favorite of mine because it was time alone, just me and my mom. It also shows how my mom always made the best of every adventure, the good and bad.

…And The Rain

I grew up in Portland, and maybe you’ve heard, it rains. A lot. Just about every camping trip I can remember involved at least one day of rain, even during the summer months. Getting wet and having to be in a tent isn’t always the best as a kid, but somehow my mom made it fun with silly songs, board games, and her positive energy. When it rains, why not splash around in the mud and make the best of it!

Outdoor adventures will rarely go as planned. I learned from my time in outdoors with my mom how to be patient, flexible and positive. Besides, perfection in nature is boring. I don’t remember the trips that went smoothly, it’s the mishaps that are special. I adore my mom’s willingness to be silly and make every adventure full of laughter, even when things go wrong. It’s filled my childhood with the best stories and memories.

Celebrate Mother’s Day:

• Enjoy these adorable pictures of wildlife mothers with their babies.
• Share your stories of your mom and nature in the comments below.
• Take an adventure together!
• Make a My Mom’s a Star Mother’s Day card.
• Give your mom a special breakfast in bed.

Me, my mom and my sister enjoying one of our many outdoor adventures. Also, I don’t have an answer for why there is a tissue sitting there. My mom assures me we picked it up.

Ms. Frizzle welcomes students onto The Magic School Bus for a field trip.

1. Words of Wisdom: Ms. Frizzle rarely went through a field trip without telling her students to “take chances, make mistakes, and get messy”. It’s crucial to encourage students to take risks in their exploration, and to communicate that mistakes can be a positive part of learning. And students should especially be messy after playing and learning outdoors!
2. Inquiry-Based Teaching: Although students ask questions throughout each field trip, Ms. Frizzle refrains from giving many direct answers. As a result, students are challenged to investigate and solve problems as a class. She acts as a facilitator of inquiry, allowing students to formulate relevant questions and guiding them to discovery and understanding.
3. Inspiration: Ms. Frizzle approaches each lesson with zest, and is truly fascinated by science. Her enthusiasm transfers to the students, who become engaged and active participants in the lessons. As a student there’s nothing worse than your teacher being bored!
4. Community of Care: The students are not always excited about wild adventurous field trips. Ms. Frizzle manages to push students to embrace new experiences and meet challenges, without dismissing their concerns. Additionally, because of the caring environment created by Ms. Frizzle, students will often help each other overcome their discomfort.
5. Fashion. It’s definitely a nerdier style, but her outfits are fantastic. I mean, her dress and earrings always match the topic. Brilliant.

I recently completed my Master of Environmental Education program and had the privilege of studying with and learning from incredible real-life Ms. Frizzles. There are many ways to be an outstanding teacher, and Ms. Frizzle embodies just a few of them. Today (but really everyday) we celebrate all the amazing teachers and educators whose impact is truly beyond measure. Thank you for your long days and dedication to students, your work is admirable and inspiring!

Click here to view the embedded video.

How to Celebrate

• Make a coffee filter flower bouquet for a teacher.
• Connect kids and nature – you don’t have to be in a classroom to be a teacher.
• Please comment and share with us your favorite teacher to voice your appreciation!

Nests

I’m fascinated with all types of bird nests, and frankly I’m jealous of their craft. A favorite of mine, and the impressive, are the weaver birds primarily found in Sub-Saharan Africa. They make stunning nests by weaving (surprising, I know) grass and plant pieces together. Typically the male constructs a nest in an attempt to woo the ladies. The better the builder, the better the chances of finding a mate. I’ve included a video so you can watch a weaver bird at work! The nests are incredible, and I wish a weaver bird would make me one for Easter. All the kids would be jealous of my fancy basket.

Weaver Bird Nest (Photo by Flickr/SomeHoosier)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Eggs

Many bird species lay their eggs in Spring. Their eggs come in all colors and sizes, and are pretty awesome. Some species lay eggs  in quick succession, while others stagger the laying over the course of a few days.  Either way, the group of eggs is called a clutch, and can include anywhere from 1 to 18 eggs! Ostrich eggs are the largest, and are the size of a medium cantaloupe. The smallest egg is laid by a bee hummingbird and, fittingly, is about the size of a bee. In addition to decorating eggs, kids can learn about bird eggs using common fruits and vegetables as a comparison in this activity.

(Left) Streaked Flycatcher Eggs by Flickr/ and (Right) Thrush Eggs by Arjan Haverkamp.

(Left) Bluebird Eggs by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region and (Right) Lapwing Eggs by Flickr/–Tico–

…And Chicks

I told a friend of mine about all the cool eggs I found for this post. Her reply was, “yes, but Easter isn’t about the eggs, it’s about the surprises you find inside”. That is absolutely true for nature as well (Note: please give chicks a few weeks to actually get cute). Here are a few cute chicks with eggs.

Lapwing Chick (Photo by Flickr/mikethereservewarden)

Egret Chick (Photo by Roger Smith)

Canada Goose Goslings by James Seith

Fun for Kids and Grownups

I know that now you are so excited about bird’s nests and eggs, you’d like to celebrate. It’s your lucky day. These are crafts, recipes and activities designed with Easter and Spring in mind. Have fun. I will be making the bunny hard-boiled egg snack.

Make a Bird Nest You Can Eat – You can build robin nests that are good enough to eat!

Decorate a Flower Pot with Egg Shells – A fun way to recycle your leftover egg shells!

Hunt for Signs that Spring Is Coming – Go outdoors and track down evidence of the new season.

Bunny Hard-Boiled Egg Snack – This bunny hard-boiled egg will hop right into your tummy!

Staying Warm

The core body temperature of cold-blooded animals (such as reptiles, amphibians and fish) is directly dependent on how hot or cold their environment. When the sun is out, their bodies soak up the heat, they warm up, and they become more active. When it’s cold, they tend to be a bit sluggish as their bodies slow down to conserve energy.  I’m jealous that these animals have a reason to sit out in the sun all day.

Collared Lizard by Sarah Waterworth

Keeping a Full Belly

Warm-blooded animals are able to regulate their own body temperature, which requires a great deal of energy. When warm-blooded species get cold, they must generate their own heat by converting food to energy. Maybe that’s why shoveling the snow-covered driveway makes me so hungry! Many animals rely on leaves, fruits and flowers as a primary food source, providing necessary energy. The sun is essential to the lives of those plants, and thus to the survival of plant eating wildlife.

Pika by Danny Nestor

Take Shelter

There are many species that live in trees or use plant material to build homes (such as nests or lodges). Trees and plants derive energy from the sun. Photosynthesis, boom. Therefore, the sun indirectly helps house a number of wildlife species!

Prothonotary Warbler by William Mangun

Follow the Big Yellow Thing

Modern GPS systems haven’t quite caught on with birds. Instead, researchers have found that some birds use their internal clocks in conjunction with the sun in order to navigate migration.

Starlings in Flight by Brad Smith

You Can Be Solar Powered, Too

The sun could be useful to humans as well. In addition to vitamin D that the sun provides, the sun can also be used to provide energy for everything we need in our homes and businesses. The sun provides a clean, renewable energy source that is much healthier for the planet than other fossil fuels.  Learn about NWF’s solar energy partner for the home at www.sungevity.com/nwf.

Golden Poison Dart Frog

The golden poison dart frog is only one of three dart frogs with poison lethal to humans. It is reported that an amount of poison equal to 2-3 grains of table salt is enough to cause the death of a human.

Photo by Leighton Pritchard 

Banana Slug

Banana slugs have primitive eyesight, which means they can only see light, dark and movement. The eyes fold in when they sense a shadow. Also, please don’t lick them; I’m sure they don’t like it.

Photo by Joao Paulo Krajewski

Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons have a beard of spikes and thorns that they’ll puff out at predators as a defense mechanism. Also, when in danger, these lizards will run on the hind legs.

Photo by Bryce Gandy

Goldenrod Spider

These spiders jump on their prey, ambush style, which means they don’t have a reason to spin webs.

Photo by Christophe Quintin

Golden Lion Tamarin

Female tamarins usually give birth to twins and sometimes triplets. That’s a lot of weight to carry around alone, which is why the father and siblings share the load.

Photo by Nelson Wu

Yellow Rat Snake

These snakes are arboreal, which means they climb trees.  Like the black rat snake, they are non-venomous constrictors that suffocate their prey.

Photo by Flickr/vladeb

Goldfinch

A goldfinch’s diet is vegetable based, and they are the strictest vegetarians in the bird world (aside from an occasional insect cheat meal).

Photo by Flickr/TCDavis

Seahorse

Seahorses are unique creatures not only have a kangaroo-like pouch, but the dads are the ones to have the babies.

Photo by Vic DeLeon

Fiery Skipper

Fiery skipper have the ability to hold their wings in a triangular position, which is thought to help better absorb the sun’s rays.

Photo by Ronnie Pitman

Golden Eagle

The name implies that they should look more gold, but I decided to include them anyway. Mostly I wanted to tell you that despite being the largest bird of prey in North America, golden eagles can dive upon their victim at speeds over 150 miles per hour!

Photo by Ed Gaillard 

Red Foxes

What else is there to say, just enjoy this golden pile of fluff.

Photo by Canon Chris

My way of paying it forward has been to connect youth with nature and make it accessible to as many kids as possible. Here in DC, I’m accomplishing that as a leader for Inner City Outings (ICO), a part of the Sierra Club that engages inner city youth in outings to go hiking, camping, canoeing, etc. I leave each outing with a new understanding of how to be an effective outdoor leader, and I do most of my learning from the kids.

On a recent overnight camping trip with ICO middle schoolers I decided that kids are much better explorers than adults.

The eagle egg they found.

First, they ask a lot of questions. After our Saturday afternoon canoeing trip the kids came up to me and asked what kind of egg they found. I didn’t know the answer to their questions, but I didn’t want to discourage their inquiry. I guided the questions so that as a group we could determine what kind of egg it was. Which animals lay eggs? Do you think the bird is big or a small? This process, along with a field guide, helped us determine it was likely a bald eagle egg that had fallen from the nest.

My kids holding the snakeskin.

Second, they take time to really observe nature. While digging holes for our tree planting on Sunday, I looked around and noticed there weren’t any kids around me. I stopped to find them, and couldn’t help but smile. One was crawling around in the grass looking at a beetle, another had found a 4 foot snake skin, and two others were huddled over their freshly dug holes with earthworms squirming in their hands. The adults were so caught up in the tree planting we forgot to stop and observe the wonderful nature around us, but the kids took the time to explore.

Kids are incredible explorers because ask questions and take time to really observe nature – two things that are lost in a fast-paced world teeming with stimuli that we are eventually conditioned to ignore. As outdoor leaders, it is our responsibility to encourage questions and participation in the process of inquiry, instead of just giving answers, and to allow kids the time to stop and play. I learned the importance of going slow on hikes and giving youth unplanned time to simply explore nature.

The kids learning how to plant trees.