g2g Outside

Yesterday was the KS Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism’s Annual Winter Canada Goose Count.  What is that you ask?  Well, a group of 40+ scientists drive prescribed routes all around Sedgwick County and count Canada Geese.

Why?  Because, in the 80s there were very few Canada Geese, and wildlife biologists wanted to increase the numbers to a healthy population.  Today, there are LOTS of geese.  Some only stop off here on their migrations north and south, but many stick around and live here all year.  At times, there are so many geese that they become a nuisance.  The Goose Counts help wildlife biologists keep track of populations and it helps them make decisions about how to manage so many or not enough Canada Geese.

Why am I tell you all this?  Well, I think counting and tracking things in your own backyard could be a great way to increase counting and observation skills while getting your nature-fix.

Ideas!

• Throw out some bird seed.  Watch for birds.  Once they arrive to feast have your kiddo sit for 5 min (or 10-30 depending on interest and age level) and count the number of birds that come to eat.  Do it again the next day or next week and see if MORE or less come.  For older kids you could have them track temperature to see if that affects the number of birds. 
• When doing the above bird count, children 7 and older can start using basic bird guides to identify the birds that arrive.  Are there new ones this week?  Who didn’t come that usually is there?
• Watch for changes in the plants in your yard.  When do the first flowers start poking their green leaves up out of the ground.  Mark the date on the calendar this year, and see if it changes next year.  Check daily or weekly.
• When do the first leaf buds start appearing on your trees?  Do different trees have different bud-dates?  Check daily or weekly. 
• Take a picture of something (tree, plant, entire backyard, resident bird or squirrel) weekly or monthly and see what changes throughout the year.
• If your child really likes computers, have them record their observations in a computer file.  Or, if they are more journal-writer-ish they can make a nature journal and record their findings in there. 

These types of activities may get some kids excited and others may have little interest.  Encourage the ones that LOVE this type of observation.  Don’t force it if your child isn’t excited about this activity.  Try it for a while, if they hate it, move on to something else.  This activity is for left-brainers.  If your child is a right-brainer this wont have much appeal.  So, try it and if it flops, no big deal.

The cool thing about this (obviously I have left-brain tendencies) is that if you keep these lists year to year, you’ll start to see changes and cycles in your own backyard.