Let's take a look at a few of the many animals
that make their homes here. When you provide a habitat which includes food,
shelter, water and space the animals will come. They DO come! Here are
a few we have seen!
The falling flower I saw drift back to the branch Was a butterfly.
Black
Swallowtail http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/ia/895.htm This wonderful butterfly will find the parsley and dill
in our garden. Last year we had several larvae eating away and bending
over the stems of the dill. As the larvae matures it sheds its skin and
grows big. It puts off a terrible scent when touched. We enjoy watching
the adult fly from flower to flower in the butterfly garden. We hope to
see them back again this year.
Cabbage
White http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/ia/778.htm We watched the Cabbage White flitter to and fro and finally
followed it to a sitting spot in the sun. The larvae feeds on mustard and
as an adult feeds on the daisy in our iris garden. We know many consider
these butterflies a pest eating the cabbages in their gardens, but we enjoy
having them around.
Monarch http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/ia/92.htm As we were adding woodchips to our butterfly garden in
late May we discovered a large monarch larvae crawling on a goldenrod plant.
It must have been looking for a spot to make its chrysalis, because one
expects monarchs to feed on the swamp milkweed, butterflyweed, or common
milkweed in our butterfly garden and the prairie.
When July came we found tiny, tiny larvae and eggs on
the milkweeds in the prairie. We were delighted that the adult trusted
their eggs to our milkweeds. It didn't take long for those eighth inch
babies to grow. Wow! They are amazing eaters!
As August and September arrive the adults are everywhere,
on the purple coneflower, the New England aster, the Mexican sunflower,
to name a few, but as September winds down the monarch feeds ferousiously
to prepare for the long migration south to winter in Mexico. We watch for
the grouping of many on the flowers and in the trees at night. We send
them on their journey south with energy from the nectar of our flowers.
Our monarch celebration is somewhat sad, but we are hope they will have
a safe long journey to greet our friends in Mexico and return to the U.S
next spring.
Painted
Lady http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/ia/225.htm You will probably find many painted lady butterflies
in our gardens in the fall, even though we don't have any thistle or heliotrope,
the favorite foods of the painted lady larvae and adult. Our second graders
take care of painted lady larvae and then turn their new friends loose
in a flight ceremony after they are adults. That is a great site to see!
(See painted lady above)
Polyphemus Moth
What a surprise we had this fine morning in August! When Joe opened the
door a beautiful polyphemus moth was clutched to the frame. He and Andrew
were all excited to research and find out what it was besides just a BIG
moth. After using the ruler to measure its 5 inch wing span and to flip
through the Zim book of Butterflies and Mothsthey decided it was
a polyphemus moth...with "eyes" that are so awesome on its lower wings.
Yes, it was oh so soft when Joe gently touched it and when they nudged
it with a leaf it just jumped-like away.
Cardinal http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/ncard.htm The cardinal comes to the feeder on Mrs. Ellinger's window.
Having seen the male and female in the small oak tree outside their window
quite frequently, the class began to wonder if the pair had a nest in the
juniper bush next to their window. The janitor checked. Sure enough! There
was the nest with 4 eggs. We heard the cardinal's beautiful song, a "what-cheer,
what-cheer," singing its praises. What great fun to know there were baby
cardinals here even though we never saw them.
Housefinch http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/housefinch.htm We were pleasantly surprised to find the house finch
at our feeder one day. They seemed to enjoy their eating even though we
watched from our seats. We have not seen them often, but their beautiful
plumage was a delight on a spring day.
Robin http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/robin.htm The robin has a nest close by, but we are not sure where.
It can't be far, because she sure does spend a lot of time pulling up worms
in our gardens and the prairie. She is always in the wood chips...bounce,
bounce, bouncing along. Then away she flies with a worm from her beak.
She likes to sing in the oak tree in front of the school. It is great having
her around.
Sparrow
The common sparrow has built a nest in the blue spruce
tree in front of the school, just right for us to look in. The sparrow
spends a lot of time at our window and eats the seed of the goldenrod in
the fall. We watched the goldenrod stalk sway as the bird feasted away.
Cottontail
Rabbit http://ngp.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/bunny.html
Don't be too surprised if a rabbit leaps out of the prairie when you walk
by. Each time we have walked in there, that cottontail rabbit has run away.
It is wonderful fun to watch him go, white tail and all. We hope we aren't
disturbing a nest of babies. We can't seem to find one, but that is ok.
If there is one next fall we will have many others.
Mystery Animal...Chipmunk or Ground Squirrel?
This animal is very fast and continues to escape our
eyes. We know he is there by the hole in the ground near the building behind
the sunflowers. Just recently someone watched him chase an insect on the
cement and gobble it up. Does that sound like a chipmunk or a ground squirrel?
We are trying to gather enough information to identify this Mystery Animal.
What do you think it might be?
Ants
Ants are everywhere. We see them behind the plants near the building.
We know their home is there, we can see the dirt pilings near the hole.
It doesn't make any difference where we look, they are... climbing up the
tall sunflower stems, in the tulip bases, and over the flowers of the baptisia,
helping to polinate each plant. We are glad you are here.
Earthworm
Wow! Do you know what can stop the action in the garden? You guessed
it. This wonderful animal is a delight to many of us and to others it is
something to squeal about. Too slimy! Afraid to touch? Just dig slightly
below the surface and the squeals will be heard as earthworms are discovered.
We know the importance of this animal in helping decomposition, so we handle
it carefully and put it back.
Garden spider
Watch for this glorious yellow and black spider that loves to build
its nest in and around the tomatoes. Actually he not dangerous, but a sight
to see among the green of the garden.
Ladybugs
Do you know what I just saw in our prairie? The ladybug was sitting
at the top of the drooping coneflower stalk, so I watched. As I tried to
snap a photo it kept circling the stalk. I felt myself go around and around.
Then I stopped to investigate the situation. I looked to see why it was
circling. I saw the aphids lined up in a row it was eating. So much for
a Thanksgiving meal in June.
What a surprise we had this fine morning in August! When Joe opened the
door a beautiful polyphemus moth was clutched to the frame. He and Andrew
were all excited to research and find out what it was besides just a BIG
moth. After using the ruler to measure its 5 inch wing span and to flip
through the Zim book of Butterflies and Mothsthey decided it was
a polyphemus moth...with "eyes" that are so awesome on its lower wings.
Yes, it was oh so soft when Joe gently touched it and when they nudged
it with a leaf it just jumped-like away.
Cardinal
Don't be too surprised if a rabbit leaps out of the prairie when you walk
by. Each time we have walked in there, that cottontail rabbit has run away.
It is wonderful fun to watch him go, white tail and all. We hope we aren't
disturbing a nest of babies. We can't seem to find one, but that is ok.
If there is one next fall we will have many others.
Ladybugs
