brachiomyback Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Not a fossil hunt; however do have a hunting trip for you all Did a “walk about” with my two daughters over the weekend at a local forest preserve hunting for “nature”. I attempted to educate them on my limited knowledge of all things in the woods. I taught them some tree / reptile / insect identifications while stressing to stay away from poison ivy (which was thicker than flies on coprolite). We even enjoyed morsels that were complements of some hickory trees. I improvised the extraction of the fallen squirrel snacks with some trail rocks. I had to explain to my youngest that squirrels don’t use rocks to open them. I think she got mixed up seeing a Discovery episode showing a sea otter smacking away at a clam on his belly with a rock. Thought that was pretty funny. I always feel it is better with a “hands on” approach to teaching, which was verified by a big “WOW” when we showed my youngest a downed tree succumbed by beaver. My eldest daughter found the most unique spider I have ever seen. I later was able to identify it as an arrow-shaped micrathena – orb weaver spider (Micrathena sagittata). I also found a tree frog under my deck gate the following morning that my girls found fascinating. My wife and I got in a debate with her stating that this was a toad and not a frog. “Frogs have smooth skins, toads have bumps.” I stated, “Yes, in general, and that nature is never black and white”. I followed my argument with “Do mammals lay eggs?” I identified the frog on-line as a common gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor) and she concurred with my findings. The following websites were very informative on my IDs and I wanted to share them in case you encounter bugs and reptiles on your fossil outings and need a source to ID them.[/font] http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740 http://www.mcmartinville.com/reptiles/trips/id.htm enjoy...... - Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fig rocks Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 That's a pretty nasty looking spider! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicranurus Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Fascinating animals and really beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing. "It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living." -Sir David Attenborough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Brad, you the MAN, kindling the sense of wonder in those girls! There is a great little book you might consider having around (reading level 8-12 yrs. +/-). "Girls Who Looked Under Rocks", by Jeannine Atkins; subtitled "The Lives of Six Pioneering Naturalists". "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron E. Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 You must have some beautiful nighttime trilling from that treefrog, and any friends he/she has. Suggestion: Teach the girls the fun of tossing a bug into the web and watching Mrs. Spider do her thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megateeth Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Very cool photos. I am glad that you take time to do things like that with your girls. Too often people do not. Megateeth Fossils - Megalodon Teeth, Other Shark Teeth and Info about Megalodon shark tooth collecting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 What a fun trip for any age... Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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