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Happening
at the Crossroads
January 5,
2009
by Coggin
Heeringa
Recently,
we are hearing a great deal about lame ducks... lame duck
Congress... lame duck President. To look at the mallards on the
ice of Big Creek, you'd think we had lame ducks at Crossroads.
Whether
they stay in their normal loafing area in the Cove across Utah Street
from the preserve or fly into the southern end of the Crossroads
property, mallards look lame because they each stand on one leg. But
before our visitors are overwhelmed in sympathy for our lame ducks, I
explain that the birds are fine. Like many water birds, they rest and
even sleep on a single leg.
The Internet and reference books are
full of conflicting theories about this common behavior. One idea is
that half of the brain is still active in a sleeping bird and the leg
controlled by the "awake" side of the brain can provide the balance and
support necessary.
Another idea is that the bird heart would
have less stress if it pumped blood only through one extended leg.
Certainly, the circulatory system in birds is different from ours,
which allows water bird to keep their core temperatures warm while
their large webbed feet are near freezing.
In winter, the theory
easiest to grasp is that a duck tucking one leg into the warm cozy down
feathers of its belly feels more comfortable than one with both feet on
the ice or in the snow. Presumably, a duck warms up one foot and then
the other as it stands in wintery chill.
One of the easiest
places to observe "lame" ducks and "one-legged" geese is Little Lake in
Sturgeon's Bay's Sunset Park. The community was in agreement that this
body of water wouldn't have a leg to stand on unless some sort of
remediation project could clean up the degraded little lake.
On Tuesday, January 8 at 4:00 in the lecture hall of the Collins Learning Center, Dr. Gregory
T.
Kleinheinz will present an informational program on Little Lake. After
extensive testing, data and information gathering and discussion, Dr.
Kleinheinz is prepared to present recommendations for restoring Little
Lake. The public is encouraged to attend.
As part of the
International Year of Astronomy, we are launching a program for our
youngest learners. Pluto Club will meet Friday afternoon at 3:30. Named
for our favorite dwarf planet, Pluto Club is geared for very small
learners - age 3-6 , though first and second graders are welcome, as
are older siblings. This 45-minute program will include songs, hands-on
activities and read aloud books introducing the basics of astronomy at
an age-appropriate level.
Whenever snow and weather conditions
permit, Friends of Crossroads will offer Community Ski this year. At a
recent meeting, the Friends decided that anyone who wants to get in
touch with nature is welcome to borrow skis or snowshoes from
1:00-3:00, free of charge on Sunday afternoons. They ask that
participants 12 years and under be accompanied by an adult.
Crossroads
at Big Creek is a donor-supported (thank you year-end donors!) learning
preserve for learners of all ages focused on science history and the
environment. Trails are free and open to the public. Walkers are asked
to refrain from walking on groomed ski trails. Crossroads is located at
the intersection of Highway 42/57 and Michigan Street in Sturgeon Bay.
Thursday, January 8, 4:00
Informational Meeting: Plans for Little Lake
Dr.
Greg Kleinheinz will present an informational program on Little Lake.
After extensive testing, data and information gathering and discussion,
Dr. Kleinheinz is prepared to present recommendations for storing
Little Lake. The public is encouraged to attend. Collins Learning Center
Friday, January 9, 3:00
Pluto Club
Named
for our favorite dwarf planet, Pluto Club is geared for very small
learners---age 3-6 ( though first and second graders are welcome, as
are older siblings). This 45 minute program will include songs,
hands-on activities and read aloud books introducing the basics of
astronomy at an age-appropriate level. Collins Learning Center.
Sunday, January 11, 1:00-3:00
Community Ski
When
skiing conditions are good and wind chills are above minus 13 degrees,
Friends of Crossroads loan cross country skis and snowshoes.
Participants twelve years old and under must be accompanied by an
adult. Explore nature on our groomed trails. Free. Collins Learning
Center
Many of
the Past News articles may be retrieved from this directory,
indexed and named in the following manner: 080101-news.htm
where
the first two numbers are the year, the second two the month and the
last two the date.
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