This Week at Crossroads: Jackalopes, Whipporsuckers and Lecture, More about Door County’s Groundwater Problem!

Posted on 13. Jun, 2010 by in Nature

Birds are hatching at Crossroads at Big Creek, causing some of our young visitors to wonder how birds know to mate with their own kind.

After all, we don’t find cardna-peckers, whipporsuckers or pileated hummingbirds. Birds of different species have very different habits. For example, a woodpecker would rarely come in contact with a swan.

But clearly, birds can recognize others of their own species. “Imprinting” seems to be at least part of the reason. When the baby bird hatches, it becomes attached to the first moving thing it sees. Usually, the first thing the hatchling sees is its own parents, which are the same species.

Imprinting happens when a bird  isvery,  very young, but apparently the infant memorizes exactly how its parents look – their markings, how they hold their beaks and tails. Little birds also listen to their fathers sing. This teaches the male birds how to sing the characteristic song of its species. It teaches female birds to recognize the song of a potential mate. If a male doesn’t  sing like Daddy, she won’t be attracted.

Other curious things happens when the young birds are in the nest. Apparently, little birds don’t sleep soundly through the night. Researchers believe that when the little guys wake up, they stare at the stars and their bird brains register that groups of stars seem to be revolving around a single point…. a point we humans call the Polaris, the North Star. And this is how birds learn to tell directions.

As they mature, parent birds encourage their offspring to exercise their wings and eventually leave the nest. Raising a family of young birds is labor intensive. Though in some species, a single parent raises the young, most songbirds have both a mother and a father sharing family duties.

Human families are similar. While all sorts of families are successful, in an increasing number of families, dads are taking a more active role in childrearing. And just as baby birds learn to be adult birds by watching their parents, young children learn from role models… usually parents.

So as Father’s Day approaches, lets look at some of the family activities scheduled this week at Crossroads. Many families are hiking, walking and running at Crossroads. Some use the trails just for the joy of being in nature. Some are  training for the upcoming Runing Green for Crossroads Walk/Run which will be June 26. You’ll want to register right away if you want the inaugural organic cotton t-shirts. Visit www.crossroadsatbigcreek.org and click on the  Running Green logo for registration materials. A Run orientation/training  program will be held at 6 pm on Monday, June 21.

Want to learn the about the circumpolar stars? …the very stars which help birds sense the compass directions? The Door Peninsula Astronomical Society will  hold a Night Sky Viewing at the StarGarden and Leif Everson Observatory on Friday, June 18. Telescopes will be available and DPAS members  will point out the constellations using green lasers.  If that night is cloudy, the event will take place on Saturday, June 19. The gate (on Utah Street) will open at 9:30 PM and viewing will improve as we approach 10 pm

“Family Games” will be the Father’s Day theme at The Historical Village at The Crossroads. The Village will be open from 1:30 – 3:30 and activities are free.

Those concerned about keeping their families safety will want to attend the Lecture: “More about Door County’s Groundwater Problem!” on Monday, June 21 at 7:00  Dr. Roger Kuhns will present a program on Karst geology and explain how things are going for groundwater on the peninsula. The Door County Environmental Council is presenting this program. Admission is free.

On Tuesday, June  22, 1:30-3:00 the Cross-Generational  class  called  “Critters of Big Creek” will be offered. The idea is that one adult and one youth (age 7-12) learn together.  Cross-Gen classes are free thanks to a grant from the Door County Community Foundation, but Pre-registration is required. Call 746-5895.

Crossroads is a historical and environmental preserve, welcoming learners of all ages for programs in science, history and the environment. Summer hours for the Collins Learning Center are 1:30-3:30 daily and during scheduled activities. The Historical Village at The Crossroads will be open 1:30-3:30 Sunday through Thursday. Trails are always open to the public.

Friday, June 18, 9:30 pm
Night Sky Viewing

The Door Peninsula Astronomical Society invite the public to an evening of nigh sky exploration at the StarGarden and Leif Everson Observatory . Telescopes will be available and DPAS members  will point out the constellations using green lasers.  If that night is cloudy, the event will take place on Saturday, June 19. The gate (on Utah Street) will open at 9:30 PM and viewing will improve as we approach 10:00 PM

Sunday, June 20, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Family Games

The buildings at The Historical Village at The Crossroads will be open to the public.  The special activity will be family games. Bring the family and play like they did in 1900. Free and open to the public

Monday, June 21, 7 pm
“More about Door County’s Groundwater Problem!”

Dr. Roger Kuhns will present a program on Karst geology and explain how things are going for groundwater on the peninsula. The Door County Environmental Council is presenting this program. Admission is free.

Tuesday, June 22, 1:30 – 3 pm
Cross-Generational Program: “Critters of Big Creek”

Designed for one adult and one youth to learn together, this class will include a trip to Big Creek for a capture release activity and follow-up activities in the lab.  The activity is free, but pre-registration is required.  No walk-ins. Call 746-5895, give name, name and age of the youth, and phone number.

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