








Audubon will again offer this program, which will be a fun winter morning learning about the animals that are out in the woods at this time of year. If you have attended before, come again because every tracking walk teaches us about something new. Families with children are encouraged to attend because much of the program will be hands-on, such as going outside and looking for tracks, scat and other clues that animals provide. Hopefully, there will be snow, but even if not there will be plenty of signs for us to observe. Dress for the weather, including footwear that protects your feet from snow. We will meet in the Mogle Center which is located at the south end of the parking at the Oakdale Nature Preserve. Oakdale is three miles south of Freeport on Baileyville Road. Program sign-ups are encouraged, so call Richard at the number above if you plan to attend.
Does your family like to watch birds on the feeder? The NIAS annual Christmas Bird Count might be just the thing to start your family on the road to becoming a bird watcher and supporter! On December 14th, this year’s count will take place. You and your family can take part in the feeder portion where you watch your feeders for at least 4 hours and record the largest number of each species present at any one moment.
For directions about how to begin, check out page 5 of our December 2014 January 2015 Newsletter. There are instructions that will tell you who to call if you would like to participate and a copy of the form needed for the count. You must be sure that your feeders are in the official count circle, a 15-mile diameter circle with Read Park in Freeport as the center. We hope you can help us take these one-day snapshots of bird diversity and population.
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
A treat to find in your binocular viewfield, the Cedar Waxwing is a silky, shiny collection of brown, gray, and lemon-yellow, accented with a subdued crest, rakish black mask, and brilliant-red wax droplets on the wing feathers. In fall, these birds gather by the hundreds to eat berries, filling the air with their high, thin whistles. In summer, you’re as likely to find them flitting about over rivers in pursuit of flying insects, where they show off dazzling aeronautics for a forest bird.
Here are some cool facts:
Children, Nature and You Resources to help you give the children you influence the awe and wonder that only the natural world can inspire
Freeport Park District Information on all the Freeport parks
Freeport Public Library More than books on a shelf...visit the Freeport Public Library
Freeport Outdoor Experience Events located in Freeport and Stephenson County
Getting Kids Involved (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology) Includes bird information, tips, and more for kids and families
Jane Addams Recreation Trail Ride or Hike the beautiful Jane Addams Trail
Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots A program of the Jane Goodall Institute offering a variety of programs and resources
NASA Climate Kids to tell the story of our changing planet through the eyes of NASA missions studying Earth and provides games, activities, and articles that make climate science accessible and engaging for children
National Audubon for Kids provides resources for classroom curriculum, DIY activities, and bird activities for children at home
National Wildlife Federation Many family-friendly articles; Ranger Rick family magazine
Resource Guide Supplement to Last Child in the Woods Designed for parents, teachers, and community leaders to help them encourage children’s enjoyment of the great outdoors.
Severson Dells Nature Center Located near Rockford, IL.
Sierra Club Outdoors The program's goal is to give every child in America an outdoor experience.
World Migratory Bird Day Learn about the importance of migratory birds and how to celebrate birds any day of the year!
Ideas from Project Learning Tree of the American Forest Foundation.
Go on a winter evergreen walk. Stop, look, listen the crunch of snow, the crackling of twigs, the wind. Notice the dark green of the evergreens against the sky. If there is snow and sun, point out the contrast of blue sky, dark green, and the snow.
Look on the ground for pine cones and high in the trees.
Look up through the branches of evergreens, talk about the patterns, and the ways evergreens provide shelter from wind, rain, and snow.
Look up at the deciduous trees; find the nests and holes now visible with the leaves gone.
Look for evidence of how animals survive in winter. How could evergreens help them? Look for animals tracks, scat, other signs of animals. Ask: If you were an animal in winter, where would you stay?
Look for the whorls of branches on conifers. Each year the tree adds a new whorl of branches. Estimate the age of the tree by counting the whorls (adding two or three years for the early years before the tree started making whorls).
Back inside, enjoy some hot chocolate or tea, pointing out that these treats come from trees.
Mix one part peanut butter or suet with five parts corn meal and pack the mixture into the crevices of a large pine cone. Hang outside and watch the birds enjoy their treat.
Check out our full calendar of activities, events, and educational opportunities. You're sure to find something to interest you. Please join us!
Events include:
For more details, see the current newsletter.
Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023
Program: Hidden Prairie: Photographing Life in One Square Meter...
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023
Christmas Bird Count...
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023
Beginning Birder Club- Bird Movement - REGISTRATION CLOSED - Contact for waitlist...
Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024
Program: Birds and Beauty in Arizona...