By BARBARA
BARBIERI
At the last Lunch & Learn gathering of the year, a sponsored event by the Friends of Ouabache State Park, Interpretive Naturalist Jan McGowan from the St. Joseph Park told all about “How Animals Prepare For Winter.
McGowan explained that trees also are preparing for winter by coloring their leaves and shedding them. In addition all animals are preparing for winter by eating more and in many cases storing more food for future eating.
There are three ways animals can prepare and include migrating, hibernating and tolerating and McGowan explained how each group prepares with the aid of slides.
She also shared a Fall Scavenger Hunt list that could be shared with family members on a hike at the park. All items on the list will require a keen eye!
Scavenger Hunt
Look for:
Receding chlorophyll: yellow, orange and reds (on leaves).
New buds awaiting next year’s growth (on branches).
Nuts: chewed or being cached and carries.
Which plants still have berries and which ones do not?
Feeder birds caching sunflower seeds.
Burrow holes: chipmunk and groundhog.
Any reptiles or amphibians?
Any butterflies?
Golden gall (bird)
Migrating/arriving birds: especially juncoes, sparrows and kinglets.
The Lunch & Learn sessions will resume in March, sponsored by the Friends of Ouabache State Park.
