This Week at Door County’s Crossroads: EGGStravaganza, About Birds and Fish of the Great Lakes

Posted on 28. Mar, 2010 by in Nature

At Crossroads at Big Creek this time of year, our “natural” instincts often find us thinking about eggs and this week we are not alone.

Boiled eggs are significant in the commemorations of several religious holidays. So this  week,  many people will be cracking and peeling eggs. They may or may not notice that boiled eggs are not quite egg-shaped. One end is flat!

The egg shape is structurally beautiful. Consider that the thin shell must be strong enough to protect the embryonic chick from the being squashed by a setting hen. The shell is remarkable in another way.  It allows oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass in and out.

In a fertilized egg, the unborn chick is supplied with oxygen by blood vessels which come in contact with the air passing through the shell. Then, as incubation progresses, the egg loses some of its water. An air space develops between the two layers of membrane in the shell lining. Shortly before hatching, the developing chick pushes its beak into the air space and begins to breath.

Although store-bought eggs are unfertilized, they still develop the air space. The greater the elapsed time between laying and boiling, the larger the air space will be. And the flatter the end of the boiled egg will be.

On Saturday, April 3, at 1 pm, Crossroads will offer the  annual EGGStravaganza. Families are invited to attend this event to celebrate the incredible edible egg. Participants will break eggs, dissect eggs, try to roll eggs, toss eggs and even drop eggs from the upper level windows of the Collins Learning Center , all in an effort to gain appreciation for eggs and birds… and Oh, yeah,  have fun.

Speaking of birds, Crossroads also will offer two sessions called “About Birds” and (also two sessions of “Fish of the Great Lakes ”) as a part of the Crossroads Cross-generational Program. In these educational programs are designed for one adult and one youth to learn together. Thanks to a grant from the Door County Community Foundation, the programs are free, but pre-registration is required. Call 746-5895.

Crossroads at Big Creek is located at 2041 Michigan in Sturgeon Bay . Trails are open to the public. The Collins Learning Center is open 2:00-5:00 daily, but will be closed Sunday, April 4.

Thursday, April 1, 10:00-11:30
Cross-generational Program: “Fish of the Great Lakes “

This activity based education program is designed for one adult and one youth (age 7-12) to learn together. Free but pre-registration is required.  Collins Learning Center .  Call 746-5895.Classes limited to 8 pairs of learners.

Friday, April 2, 10:00-11:30
Cross-Generational Program: “About Birds”

This activity based education program is designed for one adult and one youth (age 7-12) to learn together. Free but pre-registration is required.  Collins Learning Center .  Call 746-5895.Classes limited to 8 pairs of learners.

Monday , April 5, 1:00-3:30
Cross-generational Program: “Fish of the Great Lakes “

This activity based education program is designed for one adult and one youth (age 7-12) to learn together. Free but pre-registration is required.  Collins Learning Center .  Call 746-5895.Classes limited to 8 pairs of learners.

6:30
Friends of Crossroads

Visitors are always welcome to join this group of volunteers as they plan for spring and summer programming. Collins Learning Center.

Tuesday, April 6, 10:00-11:30
Cross-Generational Program: “About Birds”

This activity based education program is designed for one adult and one youth (age 7-12) to learn together. Free but pre-registration is required.  Collins Learning Center .  Call 746-5895.Classes limited to 8 pairs of learners.
Tuesday, April 6 at 7:00
PM Meeting of the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society

The program will begin with tips on viewing Mercury by Tom Minahan, a quiz by Ray Stonecipher, then the main event on Aurorae by Dr. John Beck. Visitors welcome. Stonecipher Astronomy Center . Please use the Utah Street entrance.

Wednesday, March 7, 4:00
Sustainability Lecture: Sustainable Eating.

Dean Volenberg of UW-EX will surprise you with his insight about food and nutrition and how one can best meet their food needs sustainably. A suggested donation of $5.00 (with proceeds funding an energy efficient upgrade of the lighting in the Collins Learning Center

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