Brewster, MA
Today, I promised the bird nerds that we would visit as much of the museum as possible, beginning with Bird Alley. The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History opens at 9:30am this time of year, so I wanted to take advantage of this fancy feathery hallway before the place got too busy. Our objective was to choose a bird, or more time permitting, to draw from observing the species in Bird Alley. There are over 200 species housed in this exhibit and as much time as I've spent in that particular hallway, I am endlessly fascinated by what I learn from their size, their feathers, their beauty. I also am endlessly fascinated by the illustrations of children. I love the purity of them and how they choose to express themselves. Don't miss the photos below of their artwork. They should be very proud of their work.
As we explored the museum, we first visited the Nature Scape Gallery - a rotating artist exhibit housed in the auditorium of the museum. At this time the mind blowing photography of caterpillars by naturalist & photographer Samuel Jaffe. He will be visiting the museum next week on 8.10.16 (click here for details) with his caterpillar lab. I have seen it. It is ridiculous. You walk into the room wondering why are all these branches in water...where are the...and then you get closer to those branches & you cannot believe your eyes. I HIGHLY recommend it! We checked out the habitat mural in the main hallway, which elegantly represents the habitats and species living within the lands surrounding the museum.
We spent some time in the best seat in the house as well - the Marshview Room, where we were able to spot & name some familiar bird species, including one we hadn't seen this week, the Red-winged Blackbird. We even snuck in a quick visit to the Coastal Explorer for hands-on learning about shore & ocean species of animals, including some live animals. When you include doing things with your hands, puzzles, connecting dots (literally &/or figuratively) taking quizzes and touching preserved bones, shells & so many other things... it incorporates a deeper understanding of the wonders of nature that both fill and surround the ocean habitat. I'm going to miss this tiny flock of bird nerds! I know our flight paths will cross again someday! (double click photos to enlarge)
Our List:
House Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-winged Blackbird
Someone brought his Wood Bee protective flag!
A laminated photo of a hedgehog! They eat bees!
Warding off bees with the hedgehog flag!
Bird Alley illustrating
Turtle skull
Snowy Owl!
Eastern Screech Owl - red phase
Bald Eagle
Hairy Woodpecker
Finished Illustrations
Right whale skull
Admiring the photography of Samuel Jaffe
in the Naturescape Gallery
Imitating the large horn on the end of the
caterpillar that looks like a giant eye
Learning from the mural in the main
hall of the museum
Award-winning wood carving of a Ring-necked Pheasant
House Sparrow - male
Making butterfly mobiles
House Sparrow females & a Red-winged Blackbird female
Mourning Dove, Red Squirrel & Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal - female
The bright sunshine is making her appear
light colored, but only in this photo
Red-winged Blackbird - female
House Sparrows & Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Northern Cardinal - male
Black-capped Chickadee
Checking out the Box Turtle
Working on that 'sense of wonder'...
Finding the Wood Frog
Amazing Honey Bees
Learning about Cape Cod's top predators
Award-winning wood carving of
an Eastern Screech Owl
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| Ready to visit the Coastal Explorer |
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| Well camouflaged species |
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| Having success with a tricky 3D puzzle |
REMEMBER...it's COOL to be a Bird Nerd!
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