These warm spring days have buds about to burst. Some of the early flowers such as coltsfoot and crocuses are blooming. Moss and lichen are very vibrant right now. Waterfowl migrants such as pied-billed grebes have returned. Watch them dive in search of crayfish, aquatic insects and fish. Canada geese have separated out into pairs and will soon be on their nests. Watch them stretch their long necks underwater in search of aquatic plants. The water lilies are just starting to break the surface in shallow waters. Remnants of beaver chewed sticks, with their bark removed, are afloat on lily pond. The chorus of spring peeper frogs can be heard especially at lily pond, tussock marsh, and secluded swamp. An occasional snore from a leopard frog can also be heard from secluded swamp. Painted turtles have crawled out onto floating logs to soak up the sunny warmth. Trees such as silver maple, pussy willow, and quaking aspen are starting to show their flowers. Soon trout lily and Mayapple shoots will dapple the forest floor. Ticks are very active right now, so please remember to enjoy nature from the trails.

Challenge 9: Find a plant thriving in a place you wouldn’t expect it!
Some plants live in the cracks between sidewalks. Some climb buildings. Some live with almost no sunlight. Where’s your survivor plant?

Challenge 8: Neighborhood Sound Map! Listen for the sounds around you from your front yard!
Draw a simple map of your home and the surrounding area and record the sounds you can hear using words or symbols! They can be anything from birds chirping, dogs barking, or cars running. See this activity in action at https://www.sharingnature.com/sound-map.html

Challenge 7: Can you find any signs that birds have left behind? It may be holes in trees, feathers on the ground, old nests, or more!

Now is a great time for birding. The changing season have birds more active, but the leaves are not yet fully out to cover the view!

What evidence did you see? Take a photo of what you found and come up with a hypothesis of what kind of bird may have left it behind. Do you think it is a large bird, or a small bird? What would a bird need to leave that sign? Share your findings!

Challenge 6: Where does water go?

Don’t let the rain keep you inside! Head out and follow the water in your area. We love these prompts from the Schuylkill Center:
– Follow the path of rainwater from your roof, your doorstep, or the sidewalk in front of your house. Where does it lead?
– Is the water carrying anything with it? Where do you think these objects end up?
– Notice areas where the water puddles. Why do puddles form in some places but not others?
– If you follow the water to the end of your street, you might see it flow into a storm drain. Where do you think the water goes after that?

See more at: http://www.schuylkillcenter.org/…/children-need-nature-rai…/

Challenge 5: What is the value of that tree?
Find a tree and measure its circumference using measuring tape or a string. Next, go to https://mytree.itreetools.org/. Follow the instructions to produce a simple “nutrition-style” label that shows a tree’s benefits!

How much CO2 does your tree absorb? Rainfall?

Visit https://www.plt.org/…/teaching-with-itr…/value-of-that-tree/ for full activity.

Challenge 4: Find a leaf as big as your hand!

Download the “Leafsnap” app or visit http://leafsnap.com/species/ to ID your leaf! Practice using a dichotomous key to ID your leaf using the Arbor Day Foundation online tool at https://www.arborday.org/trees/whattree.

Challenge 3: It’s a windy day out there! Tie a bandanna, piece of ribbon, or flagging tape to a stick and hold it in the air. Using a compass (or your phone compass), determine the direction of the wind. Wind direction is the opposite of the direction in which the cloth is pointing.

Extension: Make an anemometer to measure wind speed out of cups and cardboard: http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/…/le…/energy/anemometer.html

Challenge 2: Celebrate the spring equinox! Try the old tradition of balancing an egg on its head, sing “Happy Birthday” to spring, or thank all the signs of spring you see on your walk today.

The 2020 vernal equinox- the moment when the Earth axis isn’t tilted toward or away from the sun- occurs at exactly 11:49 p.m. tonight. This is the earliest start to spring in 124 years! Our days are growing longer and warmer as the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the sun.

Make a list of all the things you observe that show spring is here! This list can include
• Tree and flower buds blooming
• Birds chirping
• Woodpeckers drumming
• Frogs Peeping
• Bees and Butterflies
• Scents of spring returning

Welcome to our virtual “WOODS Walk” series! Every day we will post a challenge on social media- facebook and Instagram– for you to find/do at Reinstein Woods, a local park, or even just around your block or backyard! Together we will discover the beauty of spring as it pops up around us.

Please comment or share a picture of your observations and discoveries to our facebook and Instagram pages, or even right here! And, as always, please practice safe social distancing as you explore.

Challenge 1: Can you find any blooming flowers?

Early garden and lawn bloomers in our area include crocuses and snowdrops, but don’t forget our trees and even the unique skunk cabbage flower!