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Adventures
with Nature
Let us help you Discover the beauty of the Central Coast. |
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Do You Want to be a Docent?
Do we have a job for you! Become a docent for the California
State Parks in San Luis Obispo County.
More
Details. |
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Volume 2, Issue 1
February 2005
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Let’s learn about:
RED-TAILED HAWKS |
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Have you ever been driving down the road and seen a bird perched on top of a fencepost or telephone pole? Have you looked up in the sky to see birds flying overhead, with a red colored tail shining in the sun? Chances are, you have seen a red-tailed hawk!
One of the most common hawks around North America, these birds of prey are mighty hunters and survivors. They use their strong legs and talons (razor sharp toenails) to grab their prey. A 5 pound hawk can catch a jackrabbit of the same size! That’s like your Dad catching a huge deer with his bare hands! But, since the hawks are not always successful at catching their prey, one meal may have to last them a few days!
The first year of life, red-tail hawks don’t have the red tail! They have to wait until they’re one year old and the cream-colored tail feathers are replaced with red ones.
So, keep your eyes open as you drive down the road. Look for that red tail and sharp talons. And if you see a large red-tail hawk-that’s a girl! Females are larger than the males!
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Want to learn how to identify a hawk, falcon, eagle or turkey vulture when they are soaring overhead? Here’s an easy and fun way to practice your skills AND decorate your windows!
Need:
| •Tissue paper or thin calligraphy paper |
•Pen or pencil |
| •Bird guide book |
•Tape |
Take a small piece of paper and trace the outlines of the birds you like from the Bird Guide book. Look at the silhouette above-this is what you would see over your head, right? This is what you want to trace. Notice how the wings of a hawk are different from eagle or vulture wings.
Write the name of the bird below the drawing. Tape on your window so you can look at them everyday! It will seem like you have raptors in the sky by your house everyday! |
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Birds of prey are hawks, falcons, owls, and eagles
All birds of prey have sharp talons (toenails) and feed mostly on meat
A bird of prey is also known as a “raptor”
Each year a bird “molts”, which he grows new feathers and gets rid of old feathers.
Look closely at a bird of prey’s eyes. They have a ridge over their eye which acts like a visor or baseball hat, shading their eyes. |
Did you miss our last Kids Rock! Sleepover? Well, don’t miss it next time it comes around! Here are some of the things we did on January 28-29 th:
Animal Track identification in the sand
Scavenger Hunt in the Museum
Explored a State Park Ranger’s patrol truck!
Behind-the-scenes tour of Museum
Met Rocky and learned of the local environment
Storytelling by an expert!
Binoculars and birds walk in the mudflats
Pillow fight!!! |
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