Prowling the Woods
I have noticed a trend here lately. My little family has gotten in the habit of running around in the woods in the dark. I tend to stay at the rear of our foursome to round up strays, but Barry says it is just to heckle!
We couldn't have slipped up on any wildlife last night unless it was deaf as a post! We were near the front of the pack, while around 100 of our noisy compadres crashed along behind us. Flashlights swirled all around and up and down in a light show that would make Disney jealous! Once in a while, the ranger would halt the entire line, and get everyone to turn off the lights in order to point out something. Then the whole procession would start up again. I took a bit of dark delight in letting some low-hanging vegetation drag across my jacket and whack the noisy guy behind me. I turned around as sweetly as I could and said, "Oh I am so sorry about that!"
What am I talking about? We spent yesterday afternoon and evening at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area's Nature Center. The first event worked on Aaron's nature merit badge with the ranger who taught the beginning of it last month. The group of us (1 ranger, 3 boy scouts, 1 cub scout, 4 parents, and 2 little sisters) hiked along the river identifying leaves, bugs, and critters. We found a river otter slide, saw a great blue heron and a bunch of deer, and caught a salamander. Our quiet little group contrasted sharply with the nocturnal herd that flashed and crashed down the same trail later on. Upon returning to the lodge, the boys got to make a bird feeder, which they were very excited about.
After helping the ranger set up tables and chairs, and eating a bite of supper (You may be familiar with that scout staple trail food called Chic-fil-A?), we watched as car after car arrived for the Owl Prowl. You could sit around a campfire and toast marshmallows, color an owl mask or a heron hat, or go upstairs and sip hot cider. Finally the owl program began, and three birds who live at the nature center were brought out. The great horned owl was awesome. He was brought out with a little female screech owl who was just as cute as she could be. The kids got to ask questions and listen to stories about them. The highlight for the kids of course was when both birds decided to do a demonstration of "what goes in must come out." When the program was over I heard lots of kids running excitedly up to their parents asking, "Did you see it poop???" A third owl was brought out about 20 minutes later, and boy was she beautiful. She was a barn owl who had been struck by a car. Due to her injuries she can no longer live in the wild. The boys really liked her and had to go up to the female rangers who cared for her and ask a zillion questions. The ranger then gathered the human flock and led us on the walk on the wild side.
We thawed out our chilly bodies in the warm Jeep on the way home. Daniel promptly crawled into bed to hibernate, while the rest of us talked about our latest adventure in the great outdoors. We can't wait to do it again!
We couldn't have slipped up on any wildlife last night unless it was deaf as a post! We were near the front of the pack, while around 100 of our noisy compadres crashed along behind us. Flashlights swirled all around and up and down in a light show that would make Disney jealous! Once in a while, the ranger would halt the entire line, and get everyone to turn off the lights in order to point out something. Then the whole procession would start up again. I took a bit of dark delight in letting some low-hanging vegetation drag across my jacket and whack the noisy guy behind me. I turned around as sweetly as I could and said, "Oh I am so sorry about that!"
What am I talking about? We spent yesterday afternoon and evening at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area's Nature Center. The first event worked on Aaron's nature merit badge with the ranger who taught the beginning of it last month. The group of us (1 ranger, 3 boy scouts, 1 cub scout, 4 parents, and 2 little sisters) hiked along the river identifying leaves, bugs, and critters. We found a river otter slide, saw a great blue heron and a bunch of deer, and caught a salamander. Our quiet little group contrasted sharply with the nocturnal herd that flashed and crashed down the same trail later on. Upon returning to the lodge, the boys got to make a bird feeder, which they were very excited about.
After helping the ranger set up tables and chairs, and eating a bite of supper (You may be familiar with that scout staple trail food called Chic-fil-A?), we watched as car after car arrived for the Owl Prowl. You could sit around a campfire and toast marshmallows, color an owl mask or a heron hat, or go upstairs and sip hot cider. Finally the owl program began, and three birds who live at the nature center were brought out. The great horned owl was awesome. He was brought out with a little female screech owl who was just as cute as she could be. The kids got to ask questions and listen to stories about them. The highlight for the kids of course was when both birds decided to do a demonstration of "what goes in must come out." When the program was over I heard lots of kids running excitedly up to their parents asking, "Did you see it poop???" A third owl was brought out about 20 minutes later, and boy was she beautiful. She was a barn owl who had been struck by a car. Due to her injuries she can no longer live in the wild. The boys really liked her and had to go up to the female rangers who cared for her and ask a zillion questions. The ranger then gathered the human flock and led us on the walk on the wild side.
We thawed out our chilly bodies in the warm Jeep on the way home. Daniel promptly crawled into bed to hibernate, while the rest of us talked about our latest adventure in the great outdoors. We can't wait to do it again!
posted by Jennifer at 9:08 AM
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