FES third graders in Joycelyn Gibbs’, Kim Martin’s, Mandy McClure’s, and Kristi Smithson’s classes recently visited Bowie Nature Park on Friday, October 17th. The field trip activities included an owl study, a scavenger hunt, stream exploration, and “food chain” games.
Students learned about the history of the park and viewed artifacts in the Nature Center. Naturalist Dennis Gibson shared photos of owls, and a variety of mounted owl species. Additionally Gibson explained how elk, barn, barred, and great horned owls exhibit similar and different habits. Afterwards, students participated in a lab and investigated owl pellets.
Students sorted and analyzed the bones found in the pellets to determine that the owl’s diet consisted of mice, shrew, moles, and birds. Playing the food chain game called “cross my field” was a highlight. On the scavenger hunt hike along the Hidden Lake Trail students noticed plant and animal interrelationships, plant competition for sunlight, and sighted a variety of wildlife, including a wood pecker and other birds, butterflies, turtles, fish, insects, and a green snake.
Students also noticed signs of erosion and created a list of living and non-living things seen on their hike while comparing and contrasting a forest and stream ecosystem. At the Hidden Lake students used nets to capture creatures in the lake, such as crawfish, tadpoles, minnows, and snails. One student found a large tadpole soon to develop into a bull frog.
To conclude the outing, students enjoyed a picnic by the lake amongst duck, geese, and a hint of rainbow wavering in the water spout.
A special thanks to Jenny Henna, Program Director at Bowie Nature Park, Staff Naturalist Nancy Carter and Dennis Gibson, and park volunteers Jason Ingram, and Trisha Kittrell for leading the fun and informative activities. Students felt invigorated after spending the day outdoors.
