Some animals get a bad rap, especially when they aren’t particularly cute or cuddly. Animals of the night are cloaked in mystery and sometimes make us feel fearful. Knowledge of these animals can make humans more likely to care and protect them! Talk about some of the clues that led us to our animal of study today. BIG REVEAL…the animal is???
Bats have a really cool way to find their prey in the dark. This is called echolocation. We played a game that showed how bat finds a moth to eat. Teach this to your friends and play it.
We have different bats that live right around this area. You may see them swooping under streetlights or diving around your garden. On our hunt you joined in BIG bat and LITTLE bat partners to find these bats and places where they might roost during the day to stay safe. Can you remember the names of five of the most common ones we found along the trail and where they like to slide in to? (Check the photos if you need a reminder)
Most bats are quite small and weigh about as much as a (fill in the blank). Frog really wished he could take this example home:).
Hanging upside down is something bats find easy by hooking their thumbs to hold. In fact their wings are very much like human hands, that’s where they got their scientific name - Chiroptera - meaning ‘hand-wing’. Maybe you can show the skill of roosting upside down at home.
Wander time in the sunshine seems like it should last all day. Squirrel and Blue Jays painting 'en plein air' included some colourful trees, flowers and a deer. Looking across beautiful fields towards the forest can be inspiring!
Two groups were working on lean-tos and both were collecting critters from the water. What kind of things do you find today? What did you notice about working with the people in your group? Whittling sticks with the Harry Potter birthmark was pretty creative, while White Tailed deer carved her name. What would you like to do again in the Backwòods?
Some bats migrate to warmer places, others find warm places to hibernate over winter? In the summer, pups are born in a nursery. Tell the story of the life cycle of bats using your own words including the maternity ward. What did we use as bat pups (leaves).
When we pull nature notebooks out, its time to add our new knowledge. If you are a Seedling. you created a picture of places bats roost around the farm and things they eat for energy. Tell your family about this picture. What insect food sticker did you add? Saplings tried something new for writing called ‘point of view'. See if you can retell your story from the point of view of a bat. Which bat species did you become? This kind of writing can be tricky, but once you get into the head of a bat, it's super fun!!!
We found a perfect place bats would love to use as a home base...AND we love it too!
Bats need help finding homes just like some people do. Farmers may cut down older trees or remove empty barns that were used as summer roosts or winter hibernation spots for many bats. Today we put up a bat house at the farm. Do you remember how we decided on the right place to put it? HINT: they like to be warm and high up away from predators. How many bats might fit in this house?
Our group gave some compliments to Nature Mentors at the end of the day. Hawk (Erin) is so fun and was with us helping all day, Dragonfly keeps everything happy and flowing while Raccoon carries the loads and snaps many beautiful pictures. We ALL miss Beaver who promises to be back before the end of this month. We'll have so much to tell her!
Keep looking for those secretive bat neighbours when you’re out rambling after dark...AND weird signs of spring even in late fall. Happy hunting Forest Friends:)
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