I Love Mail

Showing off my Harry Potter silly bands that my cousins sent me in the mail. Each bracelet is a shaped like a feather, wand, sorting hat or somehow related to the wonderful world of HP. I love getting surprise mail!!

MN State Fair

Here I am, showing off my awesome Walleye hat that I got at the Minnesota State Fair today. It was quite the event with lots of crazy people watching and a little bit of food. All I managed to eat was an ice cream cone, roasted corn on the cob and a coffee. Not too impressive but my stomach was not amused. We lucked out with the weather and had a great day :)

phone book meets corvid

When I was home at the beginning of the month, I brought back an old phone book (Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!) to use as crow and raven enrichment. They loved it! Here's a picture of the crow tearing it apart to get the food hidden inside.

 

CRANES!

I have been hearing them all summer long but haven't gotten to see a bunch of these beautiful birds. One day, we were looking out one of the buildings and there they were - right outside my office window!!! I got a couple decent pictures of them - and yes, I did stalk them.

Osprey Tower!!

Check it out - a little over a week ago now, the center put up an osprey nesting platform. I helped out and took a lot of pictures while it was going up. I even got to learn a couple new tools :) Eventually a web cam will be put up. Now all we have to do is cross our fingers that osprey show up!!

Me pitching in - attaching an anchor the climbers can use

The volunteers and staff hard at work!

There she goes!

At the base of the tower

 

 

 

Wildlife staff and the finished project!

Dakota

Check out Dakota's nice beak! 

She is a red-tailed hawk and turned 20 this year. During her first year, she was shot in the wing for an unknown reason. The wing didn't heal correctly and now she lives at the Audubon Center. 

Anyways. this morning, I finally got enough courage to go ahead and cope (trim) her beak. I also did her talons (toes nails). Dakota was a patient teacher. Looks good, right?

New Education Staff

Introducing Delilah and Spike

Delilah is a gray squirrel that has some health issues. She isn't as active as normal squirrels and needs to get her teeth trimmed on a regular basis. Spike is a porcupine who was found by the side of the road next to his dead mom. He has spent the past year traveling the country in a truck. 

Meeting Delilah!

Unfortunately, neither wouldn't survive in the wild. Delilah will be joining the Audubon staff this fall, once we build her an enclosure and gets the permits. Spike will likely join the team as well, we are just waiting for the final go ahead.

Snack time for spike

Today, I was in Duluth at a place called Wildwoods Rehabilitation where both animals are currently. The wildlife staff got to meet and hang out with the 2 mammals. It was loads of fun and definitely one of the best work days I had all summer! More pictures to follow but here are just a few of the cute mammals we met :)

Delilah enjoying a grape

Hanging out with a squirrel in my pocket :)

Rivers Institute

For 3 days last week, I took a class called the Rivers Institute in the cities with a co-worker. It was 3 days where we learned about the Mississippi and a bunch of activities we can do in our classroom. The workshop was meant for classroom teachers but I still got some great ideas and a new appreciation for what the classroom teacher is up against. As a bonus, I ran into a couple friendly faces. Some teachers that bring their students to the Audubon Center and a former co-worker at the International Crane Foundation.

Going down the Mississippi in voyageur canoes! It was my first time in one

In the locks! It was a first as well and certainly makes you feel small :)

Besides the 2 graduate credits I get, I also received a mini-grant. I am planning on writing 3 lesson plans for K-3 students that come to the center. The topics will be habitats, birds and beavers and with the money I am planning to buy a bunch of puppets. Now all I have to do is get my act together and crank out the lessons!