BIRD IDENTIFICATION

I often come across a bird that I can't identify, so what I do is take note of its size, beak, and field markings. For example, does the bird have a throat color or wing tip colors? Does the bird have an unusual eye color? Also does the bird have a noteworthy behavior, like jumping up and down or climbing trees?

Today while walking at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, I came across a black and white bird that I couldn't identify. The first thing I noticed was that it was black and white, had a white throat and a white edging at the end of its tail. I also noticed that it didn't mind if I got too close. Oh yeah, and it had a big head!

When I got home, I popped all this information into the computer and, viola!, learned that I had seen an Eastern kingbird! This bird is migratory and must have just flown up from South America. It will breed here in the United States, perhaps even at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. They eat insects and berries, so they are omnivores!

Iory and the Pigeon

Today during Urban Nature Club, Iory brought his pet pigeon to the garden. Iory found this pigeon weeks ago when it was practically featherless and homeless. Iory has nursed his new friend back to health and now pigeon is feather fluffy and very happy to nestle inside of Iory's shirt.

While Iory knows that a wild bird needs to be free, he wasn't prepared for pigeon's first solo flight. As Iory was showing pigeon around to friends, pigeon suddenly flew off and landed on a second floor window ledge, just one window away from the principal's office.

Iory bought a croissant at the deli across the street to coax his friend from the ledge, but pigeon just wouldn't budge. A couple of adult pigeons even landed on the same ledge, but when they flew away, pigeon stayed glued to the ledge. Nothing seemed to get the pigeon's attention, so most of us continued planting in the school garden, while Iory and Danny kept a watch on pigeon.

After about a half hour later, everyone was back staring up a pigeon when pigeon surprised us all by soaring across the street. When he or she (not sure!) couldn't get footing on the brick building, pigeon dropped down toward the street. Everyone ran across the street to see what happened and within seconds pigeon was once again safe in Iory's arms. And yes, Iory even kissed pigeon. The Doctor Doolittle of the graduating class of 2013 was happy once more, but he has been warned. Pigeon is going to want to fly free one day.

Welcome Back!

The Pigeon Rescue Team

Nothing Beats a Boy and his Bird

Munching on Wild Violets

During an exploration of the school garden with Class 3-302, I pointed out all the tiny, purplish flowers growing in the lawn. Wild violets! I explained to the kids that the flowers are edible. They could hardly believe it. Then I popped one of the colorful morsels into my mouth to prove it. Yummy! Before I knew it, all the kids were harvesting handfuls of violets for themselves and loving them.

Wild Violets

And so many people just think these spring bloomers are pesky weeds! Prettiest weed I've ever seen.

In fact, all flowers in the "viola" family -- and that includes pansies, violets, and johnny jump-ups -- are safe to eat. And they look lovely in a salad.

Johnny Jump-Up

Pansies

CAUTION: NEVER EAT PLANTS, FLOWERS OR BERRIES UNLESS YOU KNOW THEY ARE EDIBLE. ASK A KNOWLEDGABLE ADULT!!!

BROWN EGGS VERSUS WHITE EGGS

Students sometimes tell me that brown eggs are better than white eggs, that brown eggs are healthier. Well, that's not true. In fact, egg color has nothing to do with healthiness or taste. It has to do with the chicken that laid the egg. Simply put, different chicken breeds or kinds lay different colored eggs.

This Rhode Island Red lays brown eggs

Americauna Hens actually lay LIGHT BLUE eggs!

Leghorn Hens lay white eggs

Here are come other eggs "colored by nature" and the chicken breed that lays them

KINDS OF SCIENTISTS

In my morning program, we have been studying different types of scientists. One of the scientists we studied is Charles Darwin, who lived from 1809-1882. His research changed the way we think about the natural world. He traveled all around the world studying different organisms and devised his Theory of Evolution, which was revolutionary at the time. Most scientists then believed that plants and animals  pretty much remained the same throughout time. But Darwin believed in "natural selection," meaning that only species that successfully adapted to the changing requirements of their habitat would survive while the rest wouldn't evolve and would eventually die off and disappear.

For a great explanation of how natural selection works, go to:
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_25.

IN MEMORIAM

On Friday, the science lab experienced two losses....the small American toad and "Jay" the medium-sized red-eared slider passed away. Causes unknown, but Ms. Seitz stayed after school on Friday and thoroughly cleaned their terrarium and aquarium. They will be missed.

Our Unofficial Show and Tell

I love when students think about science when they're not in school. Sometimes students bring in projects that they've done....not because I asked them to, but just because they want to. I love to see these projects. Sometimes, students bring in questions that they've been thinking about over the weekend, when they're not in school. And sometimes, students bring in really cool stuff. Check it out!

One morning last week, Arti walked into my room with the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Well, not the actual bridge, but a model he made right at home. Way to go Arti! The real Verraano Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects Brooklyn to Staten Island.  It is the longest suspension bridge in the Americas, named for Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazano.

 Elliot brought in this bird's nest. Does anyone have any idea what bird made it?

Milo and Margalit shared this awesome skull with us! Their grandmother found it 35 years ago in the woods of the Hudson Valley. Milo and Margalit's father actually took the same skull to his school all those years ago, and passed the tradition on to his kids. If anyone has any idea what kind of animal this is, please let us know!