Around the Spinney

Nature Study

  • Yap Yap, Prairie Dog

    Yap Yap, Prairie Dog

    Prairie Dogs are a cultural landmark of the West. They have very interesting behaviors. What are some questions you might have about them? Here are some answers, but there is even more to discover about each question so don’t let your discussion stop with these answers! We can’t stop there. Here’s a few more facts…

  • Hermit, the Hermit Thrush

    Hermit, the Hermit Thrush

    In The Burgess Bird Book for Children, Burgess doesn’t go into great detail about the Hermit Thrush except to say a few things. He comments that his song is even more lovely than Melody’s. If you want to hear it for yourself, you can check here. Although he doesn’t go into detail, if you live…

  • Whistler, Hoary Marmot

    Whistler, Hoary Marmot

    Who is Johnny Chuck’s cousin? Haven’t you ever heard of a Hoary Marmot? What are some questions you might have about them? Here are some answers, but there is even more to discover about each question so don’t let your discussion stop with these answers! We can’t stop there. Here’s a few more facts about…

  • Melody, the Wood Thrush

    Melody, the Wood Thrush

    In Chapter 31 we happen upon Peter at the time of dusk, listening to the birds sing themselves to sleep. He hears one voice after the others have stopped, very clearly in the wood, from a tree just back of him, there poured fourth a song so clear, so sweet, so wonderfully suited to that…

  • Johnny Chuck, Woodchuck

    Johnny Chuck, Woodchuck

    Woodchucks or groundhogs seem to be an animal with so many different names. Why is that?! What are some other questions you might have about them? Here are some answers, but there is even more to discover about each question so don’t let your discussion stop with these answers! They seem to be quite the…

  • Mocker, the Northern Mockingbird

    Mocker, the Northern Mockingbird

    I grew up in the DFW area in Texas from the age of six until I was out of college. I was aware of birds, but I really didn’t pay attention to them. I was keen on words, however, and the word Mockingbird was all around me. There was an elementary school in my town,…

  • Seek Seek, the Spermophile

    Seek Seek, the Spermophile

    Spermophiles are also called Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels. If you live somewhere in the Plains they may be a common occurrence, but maybe you haven’t seen one before. What are some questions you might have about them? Here are some answers, but there is even more to discover about each question so don’t let your discussion…

  • Brownie, the Brown Thrasher

    Brownie, the Brown Thrasher

    In Chapter 30 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children, Jenny Wren asks Peter if he has seen her bigger cousin. If you know the size of a House Wren, you would be just as surprised as Peter was at her question. This larger super family that she is speaking of as her second cousins…

  • Striped Chipmunk

    Striped Chipmunk

    Striped Chipmunks may be the cutest thing to see during the Spring, Summer, and Fall in northern Illinois. You can always hear them when walking in the woods. What are some questions you might have about them? Here are some answers, but there is even more to discover about each question so don’t let your…

  • Yellow-throated Vireo

    Yellow-throated Vireo

    The Yellow-throated Vireo is one of the beautiful singers who also has a beautiful throat. Burgess doesn’t go into any detail about this bird, although Jenny Wren does tell Peter that he is the distinguishable one of the lot. So let’s find out a little more about him. Looking into what Cornell Lab has compiled,…

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