A Fields Pond Mystery Solved: “Libellule!” Since this past March, the Fields Pond Audubon Center has been engaging the public in a “mystery.” Each week hikers find a new set of clues along one of the Sanctuary's trails. These clues are part of a “mystery animal trail” designed to engage and …
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Connections: Living with Loons
Summer is almost here and school (as we've recently known it) will be done soon. For many people, summer in Maine means spending time in or near water. With over 6,000 lakes and ponds to choose from, perhaps you'll be finding yourself in the habitat of one of Maine's most iconic bird species: the …
Connections: Guided nature explorations
Focusing your time outside helps provide practice in looking and seeing, and increases the fun! Several examples of nature journaling and scavenger hunts have been offered here, on our Connections pages. They are a great way to share the wonders of the outdoors with others. Here are a few more …
Connections: Explore a Pond, Part 2
Nature in the Middle Last week we set out in search of a local pond, equipped with some homemade tools to help us explore. The weather has been fantastic this past week and hopefully you were able to get outdoors and explore a pond. This week I'd like to take a closer look at the community …
Connections: Exploring a Pond, Part 1
Typically, our spring program for middle schoolers at the Fields Pond Audubon Center involves some type of pond exploration. Exploring a pond is a great way to learn about how an ecosystem works. Predator/prey relationships, life cycles, and energy flow are all easily viewed in a relatively small …
Connections: The Darling Buds of May
Now that the temperature outdoors is moving up, it's starting to feel like spring has really sprung! One of the things that I look forward to each spring is the blooming of flowers. As I sit on my front porch writing this, I can see dandelions, violets, and wild strawberries in bloom on my lawn just …
Connections: Great Migrations, Part 2
Something's Fishy! Last week we looked at the current migration of millions of birds through the air, all making their way to seasonal feeding and nesting areas in our part of the world. This week, we'll be exploring another one of Maine's great migrations. This one is a bit more hidden from our …
Connections: Great Migrations, Part 1
Nature in the Middle The sights and sounds of birds around us are increasing every day as we move further into spring. This annual symphony of color and song is the result of something called migration. Migration is a strategy used by many bird species to survive seasonal changes in their …
Connections: Plagiarizing Nature
Nature in the Middle (grades 6-8) Most middle schoolers have heard the warnings from their teachers about the perils of plagiarism; and for good reasons! So listen to your teacher's advice and practice ethical work habits; trust me, you'll be glad that you did! But, let me suggest that we do a …