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Early Spring 2019!

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Spring is finally here! The forest floor is covered with a new carpet of green and birds are singing all around us. Amphibians are calling from the ponds and insects are flying through the air. If you haven't been to Eberwhite Woods recently, come explore and observe the new flora and fauna that have suddenly appeared with the change of seasons. And please stay tuned, because new animals and plants are appearing in the Woods each week! Amphibians & Reptiles  The early amphibians in our Woods are spotted salamanders, wood frogs, and spring peepers. The spotted salamanders are very elusive and spend most of their lives in hiding - under leaves, in burrows, under trunks, etc. However, when the conditions are wet and warm enough in early spring, often by March, the adults leave their hidden homes and head for vernal ponds where they will breed. (These salamanders are dependent on vernal pools and cannot breed in larger bodies of water with fish as potential predator...
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Winter in the Woods

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Listen Up!  With so many studies touting the cognitive benefits of learning a 2nd language,  it got us thinking we should be helping kids to  learn the language  of birds. Birding by sound is the way most birders first identify birds in the field, being outside is relaxing, and a walk in the woods is a great way to spend time with your kids.  Wintertime is the perfect time for kids and adults to learn the common birds of Eberwhite Woods. There are only a few species present in the woods in the winter, they all have distinct sounds, and with the leaf cover gone, they are easy to spot - it helps learning to see and hear the bird at the same time. Come spring, the woods will be filled with the sounds of migrants and summer birds, so head out now on a hike to learn these few winter birds in the woods. (we feel the iPhone Chirp! app is the best tool for helping kids learn their bird songs, otherwise the Cornell AllAboutBirds site has many bird song and call...
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