Antelope Island and Farmington Bay with Merrill Webb

Saturday, September 19, 2009

We had a group of 13 people join us on this Nature Experienceship. We went to Antelope Island and then spent a few minutes at Farmington Bay on our way home. The detour was worth the stop as we saw some beautiful American White Pelicans and Snowy Egrets. We are always grateful for Mr. Webb's willingness and expertise.

We saw the following birds (29 total):

Canada Goose
Gadwall
Northern Shoveler
Eared Grebe
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
White-faced Ibis
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
American Coot
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Forster's Tern
Mourning Dove
American Crow
Common Raven
Barn Swallow
Western Meadowlark

Here are some pictures from the event:

Saturday Safari Report -August 8, 2009

On Saturday August 8th, those of us at Saturday had a fine time as Michael taught us about a bug we don't usually think about-- ants! We toured the underground world of an ant hill, and thought about lifting ten times our weight like an ant does. We ended the party with a viewing of A Bugs Life and treats. Thanks, Michael, for such a fun time with ants!



Lauren, Museum Educator

TIMP CAVE - WILDLIFE ADVENTURES

This week for Wildlife Adventures we climbed up to Timpanogos Cave. Not only was it a great workout for our calves but we learned a lot about the Cave too! Timpanogos Cave is actually made up of chambers and they are Hansen Cave, Middle Cave, and Timpanogos Cave. Our guide showed us all the different mineral flows that are found inside the cave. There were some that looked like Popcorn, Straws, Bacon and even a Camel! At the end of the tour we stopped at a spot and we were told the Legend of Timpanogos Cave. The Legend says that a long time ago a girl was sacrificed and she formed the Mountain and that you can see her heart in the Cave! Of course this is all a legend that was written for the Timpanogos Story Telling Festival and none of it is true.

Sterling, Museum Educator

Saturday Safari Report -August 1, 2009

Elephants, Blue Whales, Ostriches, and yes...even Dinosaurs! What do they all have in common? THEY ARE BIG! This week Lauren guided us through the world of big and tall animals. Did you know that an full grown elephant weighs as much as a blue whale's tongue? That was one of the many facts we learned at this week's Saturday Safari. We had the opportunity to learn a lot about our favorite big and tall animals. We took a tour around the museum to check out the real large animals found in today's world. We saw giraffes...we saw rhinos...we saw hippos...we even saw a HUGE ELEPHANT! We also had the opportunity to watch the Magic School Bus show titled 'Busasaurus'. It is always a treat to have Ms. Frizzle guiding us through the majestic prehistoric world. All in all, we all came away from Saturday Safari with a tremendous knowledge of our big and tall friends in the animal world and better yet...we all had a BLAST! Thank you Lauren and thank you Bean Museum!

Michael, museum educator

Saturday Safari Report - July 25, 2009

On Saturday, July 25th, learning swooped down and caught our Saturday Safari goers by surprise. Michael taught us all about birds of prey, beginning with the riddle: “What flies and eats meat?” While the kids contemplated the answer, they were allowed to pet owls, hawks, and even the wing of a golden eagle.

Even with technical difficulties, Michael was able to tell us all about these soaring predators including his own encounter with a bald eagle (the eagle was as tall as his chest! Standing!). We learned how owl’s fly so silently, and why they can turn their heads all the way around (did you know Owl’s eyes are so big they can’t move them around in their eye-sockets?).

Finishing off with a game of bird-related hangman, and our very own contest to determine which bird had the ugliest face, (The winner? The king vulture! Isn’t he horrid?) This Saturday Safari satisfied even the most curious adventurer.

Lauren, museum educator

Saturday Safari Report - July 18, 2009

Who needs legs? Apparently not snakes...This past week's Saturday Safari was tons of fun! We had the opportunity to learn a lot about snakes and the traits and qualities that make them great. Lauren taught us how closely related snakes and lizards are. She even fooled us with pictures of lizards that look just like snakes. We had the play with real live snakes. The consensus between the children involved was that Cuddles (the Ball Python) was the coolest. Being the biggest snake not only helps to ensure your survival, it also makes you cool in the eyes of children...at least this was the case with Cuddles. All in all, we owe Lauren a debt of gratitude for helping us to appreciate snakes. Overall, she taught us that snakes are our friends and not our enemies!

Michael, Museum Educator

Nature Experienceship - Reptiles with Megan Fuller

In the month of July the Bean Museum had its first ever Reptile and Amphibian Nature Experienceship. A field trip was planned to catch reptiles in Diamond Fork Canyon. Each person got a packet of information about reptiles we wouldn’t be seeing that day, a short guide to the reptiles and amphibians found in that area, and the use of the Museum’s reptile catching equipment. Earlier in the week of our experienceship the sun had been shinning everyday, but that morning the sky was cloudy and cold. Even though the weather wasn’t ideal for reptile hunting we still ended up catching three fence lizards and saw two others. We also got to come back to the museum for a short tour of the Herpetology collection and to see some of the museum’s live reptiles. It was a lot of fun.

Megan Fuller, Education Assistant