Wednesdays are for the Birds (+ kids 4 & up), 60 minutes

Funded by a portion of the proceeds from the 2013 Turkey Trot

July 9
Owl Investigation by the New Canaan Nature Center
Owls are super mysterious nocturnal creatures. We’ll discuss their adaptations by showcasing two live owls and comparing & contrasting them. Working in pairs of detectives, we’ll dissect owl pellets filled with fur, feathers & bones as we see what the owls had for dinner.

July 16
Bird Beaks by the New Canaan Nature Center
Birds come in a variety of shapes & sizes, so do their beaks. Introduced to the different types of beaks birds have through a hands-on look at bird artifacts & a visit from a live bird of prey, participants will then try out the Bird Beak Lab where they will perform experiments about which beak is best suited for eating berries or nuts or insects or fish.

July 23
Farm Creek Bird Walk
Join expert birders, Sean & Brendan Murtha—a father/son team from Norwalk—as they introduce kids to birding basics. They will discuss birds you are likely to see everyday as well as ones that swoop in temporarily as they migrate. End with an informative walk at Farm Creek Preserve.

July 30
A Bevy of Bird Books and Avian Craft
Discover the many recent books about birds. Find out fun facts & laugh at silly stories. Come ready to peck at some tasty treats and make your own bird craft to take home.

August 6
Flight by the New Canaan Nature Center
Flight by the New Canaan Nature Center Learn the science behind one of the most incredible achievements by any animal on Earth—flight! Perform experiments to illustrate the forces necessary to overcome the pull of gravity. We’ll also examine bird and bat artifacts, plus a real live bird to see how nature flies. By creating paper airplanes, students will have a chance to display their understanding of lift & how this force is created.

August 13
Birds and Their Homes by the New Canaan Nature Center
Birds create homes in all sorts of places. Students will examine a variety of unique nests that various birds have created. We’ll also explore other places birds call home such as old trees & holes in the ground. After examining nests, students will discover some unique “treasures” & see some eggs up close plus a visit from a live bird of prey.