2023 Winter Birding Nature Experienceship

On Saturday, February 4th, 20 brave birders embarked on a chilly journey with birding expert Merrill Webb in pursuit of the American icon Haliaeetus leucocephalus, commonly known as the Bald Eagle. Utah is a favorite wintering spot for the majestic birds, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) hosts special events for birders and eagle enthusiasts throughout the month of February.

Our first stop was the Fountain Green State Fish Hatchery, where the DWR had hot chocolate and collectible pins to celebrate “Utah Bald Eagle Day”.

From there, the group heading to the “Eagle Tree”, a large dead tree that has hosted 100s of eagles over the years! Our group spotted 4 that day.

Pictured: birders at their scopes, looking toward the eagle tree. 

Total for Fountain Green: 3 (Bald Eagle, Eurasian Collared-dove, Black-billed Magpie)

Our next destination was Salem Pond, in Salem, Utah. We saw an abundance of waterfowl, as well as another Bald Eagle, regally perched in a tree near the road.

Pictured: Bald Eagle, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser.

Total for Salem Pond: 10 (Canada Goose, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, American Coot, Bald Eagle, Northern Flicker, Pied-Billed Grebe, Stellar’s Jay)

Our final stop was the East Bay Golf Course. We skipped the green, but teed up our scopes and binoculars to spot more waterfowl. What we found was not par for the course! Golf puns aside, this location hosted two Great Blue Herons, a Northern Pintail, and mostly impressively, a Black-crowned Night-heron.

Pictured: Northern Pintail, Great Blue Heron, and Merrill Webb in his natural habitat.

Total for East Bay Golf Course: 7 (American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, American Coot, Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-heron)

Total number of species spotted for the entire trip: 20

We are grateful to Merrill Webb for leading out this adventure, and to the birds for providing such wonderful amusement on a cold morning.

Sylvia Duke, educator

Understanding Covid-19 and Change the Climate

Disco lights. Artwork. Cookies. Crowds. The upper floor of the Bean Museum was not the serious setting one would expect when thinking of museums. On January 23rd, after years of work, two new exhibits entered the scene, exhibits with a particular focus on the world we currently find ourselves in.

 

The first of these exhibits, Understanding COVID-19, explores the history and science behind the virus and subsequent vaccines, with a variety of interactive displays. The second, Change the Climate, delves into the changing world around us—the causes, effects, and solutions of climate change, shown in video, art, and personal examples. Both exhibits shed light on topics relevant to us today and to our future, dispelling misconceptions and encouraging responsibility and stewardship for the earth we live on. Also featured were the unique contributions of local artists, with artwork themed around the exhibits, ranging from masked watercolor animals to origami cranes to stunning art made of recycled trash.

At the opening night, members of the campus and community crowded upstairs to explore the new attractions, grab a sweet treat, and talk with the behind-the-scenes crew responsible for bringing the exhibits to life, a celebration of the museum’s continuing mission to inspire wonder, understanding, and reverence for our evolving planet.

Sage, museum educator

2022 Clue Date Night Recap

 30 couples got out their magnifying glasses and donned their trench coats for the Bean Life Science Museum’s Clue Date Night on November 12, 2022. The night started as many romantic evenings do: delicious food, mood music, and rumors being spread by the maids. The rumors on this particular night? “Who are these six strange characters invited by Monte L. Bean? And where has he gone?” Tragically, Mr. Bean would never arrive to his own banquet, as it was soon discovered that he had be murdered - in his own museum!

After a quick briefing, the 30 pairs of detectives set to work, faced with a task of utmost consequence: determine the location and weapon used in the murder, and ultimately rout out Mr. Bean’s killer. These quick-thinking sleuths had to parse riddles, use reason and logic, and deduce the truth from the six whose motives were anything but honest.

Miss Scarlet and Mr Green assisting our detectives in determining who could have possibly committed this unthinkable act.

One of the maids – in the face of unparalleled horror – bravely helping detectives as they examine the possible murder weapons.

After arduous examination, two extraordinarily clever detectives determined the facts of the evening: Mr. Bean was murdered on the patio, with the hippo tusk, by none other than hunting master, Colonel Mustard. The seemingly daft old-timer concocted a villainous plot as revenge against Mr. Bean for failing to tell his guests that the Colonel had trophied most of what was on display (medical professionals later determined that the Colonel is a pathological liar. He is also probably not a military-designated Colonel). After a daring pursuit by Mr. Bean’s employed, the criminal was caught. Justice and cake were served.

The team of winning sleuths, with Mr. Bean’s six strange acquaintances. 

The face of a guilty man.

Halloween at the Bean 2022

The Monday night before Halloween was all tricks and no treats here at the Bean Museum! For three hours, hundreds of patrons and families came in to celebrate their favorite spooky holiday, many of them in their costumes! Dinosaurs and princesses and cats (oh my!) and many more made an appearance to everyone’s delight.

Upon arriving, everybody got a bingo sheet showing all the fun things available to do at the museum! There was a photo booth where patrons could pose with real bones and skulls and claws, resulting in some rather unique family photos. Afterwards, they could wander the museum looking for the skulls and pumpkins that were hidden throughout the exhibits.

They were also invited to visit our craft room and curiosity carts, where either Candace and Vanessa helped them to make spooky scary fridge magnets to take home with them or Radagast the Brown taught them about spiders and owls and other frightful animals that sometimes go bump in the dark! The curiosity cart also showcased a live tarantula and a real black widow, who luckily didn’t lose any more husbands that night.

Anyone listening during the event could also hear the announcements about our spooky spectacular shows being held down in the basement auditorium. During one of three times, patrons could go down and learn about the most terrifyingly awesome animals there are in nature, featuring another one of the Bean Museum’s very own tarantulas! Screams and a good time were to be had by anyone who enjoys an adrenaline rush.

Once someone got a bingo, they could take it to the prize table. There, they could spin the prize wheel and earn sea shells, small animal toys, or reusable shopping bags. No matter what they won, everyone left with a smile and we can’t wait to see them again next year! 

Arissa, student educator

Wild Edibles Nature Experienceship - 2022 Report

Foraging for food seems to be a thing of the past, well more specifically the ancient past. On Saturday, September 24, 2022, Dr. Tom Smith showed us that foraging for food can be a fun hobby! Friends and families alike joined us on our foraging adventure around BYU campus.

We stopped off at many trees and bushes and discussed nutritional value and palatable value, in other words; is it tasty or not? Each guest was given a baggie that they could fill with wild edibles and learned how they could use it. 

We all sojourned to a campus cafe where we got to indulge in homemade chocolate, bread, jams and jellies, cookies, and cheesecake. These treats were all made with ingredients we had been able to forage, just around campus, with a few exceptions!

If I learned anything, as a starving college student, it's that I have free and delicious food all around me!

Sarah Shelley, Museum Educator

2022 Insects with Shawn Clark Report

Let’s be honest, the creepy-crawly insects that live their lives alongside us aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But for some, those glossy exoskeletons and waving antennae spark joy, and it’s those intrepid insect enthusiasts that we found this weekend at the Bean Life Science Museum.

The Bean Museum kicked off the semester with a special insect outing, the first of their “Nature Experienceship” series, where participants have the chance to spend the morning with one of the museum experts. In this case we were joined by Dr Shawn Clark, our insect collections manager, who was quick to share his wealth of insect expertise gained from a lifetime of study.

Participants loaded into vans to take a trip up Provo Canyon to Big Springs Park, where they were supplied with catching equipment, and given free reign to catch as they pleased. When we regrouped after over an hour, specimens ranged from the littlest of flies to praying mantises to butterflies, and smiles were especially abundant. Everyone returned home with their new finds to add to their collections, and a deepened appreciation for these numerous buggy friends that surround us.

Sage, museum educator

FREE Public Biome Programs

 Have you had the chance to attend one of our free, public biome programs?

We have 8 different programs, each focused on a specific biome and its inhabitants. These programs are given year round in the auditorium every weekday at 7:30PM (and 6:30PM on Mondays), and weekends at 1:00PM and 3:00PM. Over the summer, we have additional biome programs on weekdays at 1:00PM and 4:00PM. Every time you attend a biome program, you’ll receive a bio-card. The programs rotate weekly, so visit each week for a new program and bio-card. Collect a bio-card from every biome program, and show it to the educator in the Citizen Science Center to receive a prize!