Nature Study
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Paddy, North American Beaver
What’s with Paddy’s big tail? Check out the information below to find out more about this amazing animal. Here are some answers, but there is even more to discover about each question so don’t let your discussion stop with these answers! Here’s a few more facts about them: Until next time, keep engineering! <3 Kate…
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Grubby Gopher, Pocket Gopher
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Chicoree, the American Goldfinch
American Goldfinches are a great bird to try and attract to your backyard bird feeder. They love seeds, especially nyjer and sunflower seeds, which makes it easy for them to be year-round in many places around the United States. One thing that Peter Rabbit picks up on in The Burgess Bird Book for Children are…
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Prickly Porky, North American Porcupine
Avi fittingly names the Porcupine in his books Ereth. Can you see why below? Porcupines are a cool animal, just check it out: Here are some answers, but there is even more to discover about each question so don’t let your discussion stop with these answers! Here’s a few more facts about them: Until next…
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Linnet, the Purple Finch
The name Linnet and why Burgess would choose it, caused me to pause and think this morning. Amazingly in my research, I discovered that it comes from Welsh, French origin and means “songbird.” I am always encouraged by Thornton W. Burgess’ thoroughness when delivering natural history to children. To think about how much thought and…
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Indigo, the Indigo Bunting
Why are Indigo Buntings blue? Do you have any idea? If a bird is blue it’s because it doesn’t have blue pigment. Isn’t it so interesting how that works? As Cornell Lab tells us, Their jewel-like color comes instead from microscopic structures in their feathers that refract and reflect blue light, much like the airborne…
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Stubtail, Mountain Beaver
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Chewink, the Eastern Towhee
We find Peter Rabbit having to make a brave choice as he sees Chewink, the Eastern Towhee for the first time in The Burgess Book for Children, by Thornton W. Burgess. As he is observing Chewink scratch along the ground for food, he sees Reddy Fox preparing to capture Chewink. Peter doesn’t want to be…
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Little Chief, American Pika
Even cooler than Pikachu, the American Pika is a resourceful animal and you’ll see why below! Here are some answers, but there is even more to discover about each question so don’t let your discussion stop with these answers! Check out one of the calls of the Whistling Hare here: Mount Rainier National Park. Here’s…
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Veery, the Veery
Veery, the Veery… it just rolls off the tongue. But what exactly is a Veery? In his classic, The Burgess Bird Book for Children, Thornton W. Burgess mentions that Veery has been named Wilson’s Thrush and Tawny Thrush as well. Veery has this name now because of his call, which you can sample here. I…