After several months of seeing signs of beaver in Mud Lake, our class set out hoping that today would be the day that one of our big-toothed friends would grace us with its presence. It was a perfect morning for a walk, and we brainstormed a list of animals that we might see on our trek. The list included Canada geese, mallard ducks, chickadees, cardinals, blue jays, red and gray squirrels, turtles, frogs, and snakes.
As we entered Mud Lake, we were greeted by the usual chickadees, but the students quickly noticed another small bird that they hadn't seen or heard before. Some research told us that it was a type of flycatcher, but we'll have to observe more carefully next time to determine the species. Within the next couple of minutes, a cardinal darted through the trees nearby, and a hairy woodpecker "peeped" in the trees as we walked quietly towards the bridge. As we stepped onto the bridge, we noticed something large swimming in the water - and there it was - a beaver!
After swimming back and forth for a few minutes, it climbed out onto the nearby shore and began grooming itself, using the castor oil it produces and its specially designed split toenail. We spent several minutes checking it out and taking pictures, and then one of the students spotted another beaver close by in a clump of trees. Several walkers have told us that they have seen kits (baby beavers) and we'll keep our eyes out for them next time.
What else did we see? Well, we managed to discover everything in the list above, except for a snake (maybe next time), but we did watch a muskrat, which was a bonus.
As we entered Mud Lake, we were greeted by the usual chickadees, but the students quickly noticed another small bird that they hadn't seen or heard before. Some research told us that it was a type of flycatcher, but we'll have to observe more carefully next time to determine the species. Within the next couple of minutes, a cardinal darted through the trees nearby, and a hairy woodpecker "peeped" in the trees as we walked quietly towards the bridge. As we stepped onto the bridge, we noticed something large swimming in the water - and there it was - a beaver!
After swimming back and forth for a few minutes, it climbed out onto the nearby shore and began grooming itself, using the castor oil it produces and its specially designed split toenail. We spent several minutes checking it out and taking pictures, and then one of the students spotted another beaver close by in a clump of trees. Several walkers have told us that they have seen kits (baby beavers) and we'll keep our eyes out for them next time.
What else did we see? Well, we managed to discover everything in the list above, except for a snake (maybe next time), but we did watch a muskrat, which was a bonus.