We don’t always get time to post about what we’ve been doing in our Programs. But Sundays forFledglings is up and running again this year (2pm on Sundays for about 45-60 minutes), and this week we got some nice photos from the occasion. I couldn’t resist adding them:
What you might see when a raw egg is illuminated by a flashlight. (Works best in a dark room. This egg was about 4 days old from some local chickens.)
At 7:30 this morning, I popped a raw egg in a glass jelly jar with white vinegar to cover. Shortly therefore it began to float. By 2pm, the shell was soft enough to scrape and some of the darker markings had come off. What will happen by tomorrow morning? By next week?
One of the eggs we dissected today had apparently been fertilized. It had, in addition to the usual yolk, albumen, membrane, shell, and charazae, an additional “blob of glup” which was transparent but for dome dark reddish streaks and spots.
We looked at light through eggs, the way hard-boiled and raw eggs spin (or don’t, depending on the surface and the egg), and the anatomy of eggs. We investigated the shell, cracked open both raw and cooked eggs to see how the contents change (or don’t), and peered at parts through a stereoscope. (Memo to self:bring hand lenses too next time). We looked at models of eggs of different sizes, colors, and shapes in order to imagine how a combo of characteristics would be useful for some kinds of birds (but others would need a different combination). Lastly, we washed our hands, just in case. Next time, we might try investigating shell strength.
Next week we’ll make some noise: bird calls, chirps, hoots and hollers. Sound off!
Enter your bird art in the Birds of Vermont Museum 2012 Art Contest. The theme is
It’s a Bird’s World
2012 Art Contest Rules
Download an art contest flyer for you, a friend, your school, library, or scout group! Art Contest Flyer (142 kb PDF), or read the rules below. We look forward to seeing your art!
“Flying Birds” Entries from 2010
Who can enter?
Anyone aged 0 – 18 years old.
What can I enter?
Art that fits our 2012 theme: It’s a Bird’s World. How do you and birds affect each other and your world?
Contestants may use any media.
Past entries (and winners) have used paint, colored pencils, crayons, markers, clay, wood, or papier-mâché.
Flat submissions (paper, collage, etc.) must be no larger than 8 ½” x 11”
3-D art must be smaller than 6”x 6”x 8”
How do I enter?
One entry per person.
Name, age and contact information must be included with entry. Please put this on the back or bottom if possible.
Entries must be received no later than September 30, 2012.
Please bring or mail entries to:
Birds of Vermont Museum
900 Sherman Hollow Road
Huntington, Vermont 05462
Entries will be displayed at the museum throughout the 2012 season, so enter early!
Judging
First, second, and honorable mention prizes will be awarded in the following categories (most are age-based):
5 years and younger
6 – 8 years
9 – 13 years
14 – 18 years
3-D Art
We may add additional prizes or categories at our discretion. In the past, we’ve added Masks, Ceramics, and Watercolor and Resists.
Winners
Winners will be announced at the Museum at the Fall Festival, Saturday, October 13, 2011 (see more events on our calendar).
Winning entries may be displayed (with artist and parent approval) on our blog or our Facebook page after the Festival.
Can I get my art back?
Of course! Entries may be picked up at the Museum. We encourage you to collect them between October 13 and November 1, 2012, if possible. We are open by appointment, rather than daily, starting November 1.
Sponsors
We welcome sponsors of our art contest! Contact us if you’d like to donate funds (to purchase prizes) or prizes (we do ask that we get to vet these first).
Past sponsors have included farm and garden stores, art supply shops, artists, and museum members.
Our Exploring Binoculars program today was a blast! Investigators ranged from about 7 to about 65 years old. It was a technical sort of program, more about how they work than about how to use them. We did a little demo/inquiry first, with light and lenses and prisms, asking “What might happen if …” questions and then doing that to see what really does happen. Fun seeing upside-down light bulb images on tissue paper become reversed on sweatshirts! (See that “how they work” link for what we did.)
Tue, April 24, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Birds of Vermont Museum, 900 Sherman Hollow Road, Huntington, Vermont 05462
What counts as a Bird “home”? Nest? Roost? Habitat? Territory? Ecosystem?
Homeschoolers and vacationing children are invited to join us at the Museum to find out more as we craft our interpretations of “home” for a bird. Best for ages 3-10.
$10 members, $15 non-members. Fee includes admission for child and one accompanying adult. Please pre-register by calling (802) 434-2167 or emailing museum@birdsofvermont.org
Saturday, April 21, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Birds of Vermont Museum, 900 Sherman Hollow Road, Huntington, Vermont 05462
Ever wondered how binoculars work? Ever wanted to take some apart? Home-schooling and vacationing children are invited to join us at the Museum to find out more as we dissemble non-working binoculars, investigate optics, and consider how eagle eyes work.
Best for ages 8-16. Younger children should please bring an adult to help. Teachers welcome!
$10 members, $15 non-members. Fee includes admission for child and one accompanying adult.
Enrollment limited to number of defunct pairs of binoculars (feel free to bring your own ancient, damaged or just plain not-very-good-anymore pair). Registration is required. Register by calling (802) 434-2167 or emailing museum@birdsofvermont.org
What a great year! We had first, second, third prize winners, some honorable mentions, and some of special note, e.g., “Best Chuckle” and “Most Like Marc Chagall.” Again, local art teachers in Chittenden County encouraged their classes, which always adds to the diversity and richness of the submitted art.
The winners are:
Traditional Media
Ages 0-5: Maeve, Ruby, Fiona, Cecily, Avery and Pace Ages 6-8: Emma, Alyssa, Alex, Marlie, and Morgan Ages 9-13: Carrie, Erin, Jordan, Brandon, Graham, Sevi, Jason,
and Breanna Ages 14-18: Daniel and Chad
3-D
Ages 0-5: Tom Ages 6-8: Anna, Katie, Hayley and Morgan
Go Wild, Go Birding! International Migratory Bird Day Festival at the Birds of Vermont Museum
Join us at our annual Bird Day Festival, celebrating migratory birds. This is a free, community-wide event co-sponsored by Audubon Vermont and the Birds of Vermont Museum. Events start at 8 am, and go until 4 pm (trails close at sunset).
Storytime in the Nestlings Nook, second Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Storytime at the Museum! Join us at 10:30 a.m. on the second Tuesdays of each month (May – October) for stories about birds and more. Stories will be followed by a craft project, music, or nature walk, depending on the topics and weather.
Intended for pre-schoolers, but all ages are welcome.
Kids are invited to hike, create, explore, carve, act, write, or investigate with us on Sunday afternoons.
We focus on birds, but amphibians, mammals, trees, ferns, forests, insects, and other natural community members may be included. Activity details will be posted at the museum and online each week.
Designed for 1st—4th graders, we welcome beginners of all ages. We are often outdoors, so please dress appropriately. Find out this week’s topic at http://www.birdsofvermont.org/events.php
Free with admission; donations accepted.
Pre-registration strongly encouraged. Call (802) 434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org.
Sundays May 8 – October 30, 2011 • 2:00 p.m – 2:45 p.m.
