Happening
at the Crossroads
August 17,
2009
by Coggin
Heeringa
Happenings This Week at the Crossroads: Comet Chef, Dinner Webs, Blacksmith at Work
At Crossroads at Big Creek,
we frequently do Web searches. Yes, we do use our computers, but we
also enjoy the beauty of the webs out in the meadows of our preserve.
Families who will be attending our educational programs are not the
only web searchers.
white breasted nuthatch
A few years ago, I was given a decorative bird house. I put this
gift up near the nature museum at which I was working. To my amazement,
it served very nicely for a nesting pair of white breasted nuthatches.
I watched with interest as the male bird faithfully carried food to
his mate while she incubated the eggs. Once the young hatched, both
parent birds frantically flitted about to find food for the young. And,
they were astounding. Their turn-around time was mere seconds. These
nuthatches were finding insects almost instantly. I knew nuthatches
were excellent foragers, but they seemed entirely too efficient. Had
they stockpiled food?
Not exactly. You know, I had had good intention. I meant to sweep
the eves of the nature museum. All those spider webs looked so messy.
But I hadn’t gotten around to it. Well, to parent nuthatches - those
spider webs were a smorgasbord. By pirating the webs, the parent birds
were able to gather countless insects and caterpillars to meet the
growing demands of their offspring.
For the good of the birds, don’t you know, I put off sweeping the
eves indefinitely. But, I also learned that webs are great places to
observe insects while enjoying the structural beauty of the webs
themselves. Webs are especially dazzling when glittering with morning
dew.
Our Monday Family Program will be a Web Search. Families will
explore the fields and forest for the beautiful webs of late summer.
On Tuesday, families will learn about the planets of the inner solar
system by making “Edible Planets”–rice crispy bar models of Mercury,
Venus, Earth and Mars. Wednesday, families will wade in [not so very]
Big Creek, to explore the habitat and habits of water striders.
The Historical Village at the Crossroads is open every summer
Sunday from 1:30-4:00 on Sunday. This week, visitors will have an
opportunity to see “A Blacksmith at Work”. Bob
Barnard, Adam Weldon and Al Briggs will be work the forge. Al Briggs,
the volunteer who trained a group of beginning blacksmiths and
designed the shop, served for many years as the blacksmith at Heritage
Hills in Green Bay.
Briggs will be on hand to demonstrate the process and to talk about
the significant role of the blacksmith in every rural community. Bob
Barnard and Adam Weldon will create S hooks, J hooks, and dinner bells
which will be offered for sale. Bring your questions to create a
lively conversation, and plan on taking home a special metal art
project.
Crossroads at Big Creek is a donor- supported preserve welcoming
learner of all ages to programs in science, history and the
environment. The Collins Learning Center is open daily 2:00-4:00 The
Historical Village at the Crossroads is open Sundays from 1:30-4:00.
Trails are always open to the public. Pets (on leash and under control)
are permitted. For maps and information go to www.crossroadsatbigcreek.org
Thursday, August 20, 3:00
Family Program: Kitchen Comet
Learn about the “starry messengers”— comets– by attending this
family-friendly demonstration, during which the Comet Chef will concoct
a frigid comet model. Every family will get a souvenir chunk to take
home and enjoy. Free. Meet in the Collins Learning Center.
Saturday, August 22, 10:00
Nature Hike: Prairie Rambles
Enjoy a gentle walk through the prairie plantings and upland areas
of the preserve. The compass flower is blooming! About an hour. Free.
Meet at the Collins Learning Center.
Sunday, August 23, 1:30-4:00
Tours of the Historical Village
Costumed interpreters will offer free tours to the Historical
Village. The General Store will be open for business. Tours start each
half hour. Meet at the Chapel when the bell tolls.
1:30-4:00
“A Blacksmith at Work”.
Bob Barnard, Adam Weldon and Al Briggs will be work the forge to
created S hooks, J hooks, and dinner bells for sale. Bring your
questions to create a lively conversation, or plan on taking home a
special metal art project
Monday, August 24, 10:30
Family Program: Web Search
Few things are as beautiful as a spider web studded with morning
dew. Join the naturalist is searching for webs and the insects they
trap.Free. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.
Tuesday, August 25, 2:00
Family Program: Edible Planets
Families will learn about the inner planets of the solar system by
making rice crispy models. [Please call 746-5895 by Monday if children
have special diet requirements] Free. Meet in the Collins Learning
Center.
Wednesday, August 26, 2:00
Water Striders of Big Creek
Itsy bitsy Creek might be a better name, but low water makes
conditions perfect for exploration and capture/release activities. Nets
and jars will be provided. Wear clothes and footwear that can get wet.
Short hike. Meet at the 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.
