June/July 2015

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Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Have you ever seen a Bobolink? Some people give them the nickname “skunk blackbird.” The males look very distinct when they are breeding because they are the only bird wit a black front and a white back! They have two other nicknames, both food-related, in their migration and wintering grounds. They are called ‘butterbirds” in Jamaica and in South America, where they feast on fields of grain, they are called “ricebirds.”

Here are some fun facts:

• They molt their feathers twice a year, which is unusual for a songbird. One molt occurs after breeding and before migration; the other molt occurs on the wintering grounds. Males change the way they look quite a bit. They go from the striking “skunkbird” black and white to more muted coloring that looks more like the female bird.
• What do you think they call a group of Bobolinks? They are called a “Chain” of Bobolinks!
• The Bobolink has been celebrated by several American poets.

Here is a verse from William Cullen Bryant’s Robert of Lincoln:

Robert of Lincoln’s Quaker wife,
Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings,
Passing at home a quiet life,
Broods in the grass while her husband sings:
Bob-o-link, bob-o-link,
Spink, spank, spink;
Brood, kind creatures; you need not fear
Thieves and robbers while I am here.
Chee, chee, chee.

(Fun Bobolink Facts taken from www.birdorable.com.)

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!