The Goldfinch Classroom in Our Nature School!
While Nature School students spend 99% of their school days in our Outdoor Classrooms and out on the trails, when there is unsafe weather they head inside to our lovely indoor classrooms to continue learning and exploring. Featured here is our Goldfinch classroom, which is also home to Kermit the hognose snake and Tatyana the Russian tortoise!
Accepting applications now for the 2025/26 school year.
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/nature-school/nature-preschool/for-prospective-families/
#natureschool #naturebasedlearning #schlitzaudubon
Music is Magic at our Nature School!
Music is magic! It’s a joyful and engaging experience for children while also accelerating their brain development, especially in the areas of language acquisition and information retention. At our Nature School, music is an integral part of each day.
#naturebasedlearning #musicinschools #natureschool #forestschool
Habitats of the Peregrine Falcon!
Happy Talon Tuesday! Peregrine Falcons can be found on every continent but Antarctica and are the largest native falcon species to Wisconsin. They prefer open habitats where they can easily hunt for other birds. These habitats often include urban areas, like Milwaukee! Cities provide many tall buildings and ledges for them to nest on, as well as well as an array of prey options.
Learn about Otis, our Peregrine Falcon:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/raptor/otis/
Which of Our Raptors Does This Plumage Belong to?
Happy Talon Tuesday! Can you guess which of our fifteen raptor ambassadors this stunning plumage belongs to? If you guessed Athena the Barn Owl, you are correct! While males and females of this species can look very similar, females often have more spots on their chest than males. Their light coloring camouflages well with the open habitats they like to hunt in, such as prairies and farmlands.
Learn more about Athena:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/raptor/athena/
Perseus, our Barred Owl, Displays Her Excellent Sense of Hearing!
Happy Talon Tuesday! Barred Owls, like Perseus, often prefer forest habitats with a water source like a marsh, stream, or swamp. While they hunt a wide range of animals, amphibians and crayfish are frequently on the menu, and they will even pounce into shallow water to catch them! Here, Perseus is utilizing her excellent sense of hearing which helps with hunting. Watch as she swivels her head and facial disc around to collect sound.
Learn more about Perseus:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/raptor/perseus/
Falcons and Their Tomial Tooth!
Happy Talon Tuesday! Falcons have many adaptations that allow them to be fast and efficient specialists when it comes to preying on other birds. Although birds have beaks instead of teeth, falcons have a special notch on their top mandible known as a tomial tooth. A collision with its prey at 200mph, combined with biting down with this special tooth, usually nets the falcon a meal.
Learn about Otis, our Peregrine Falcon:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/raptor/otis/
Guess Which Of Our Birds Displays This Beautiful Plumage!
Happy Talon Tuesday! Can you guess who this beautiful plumage belongs to? While the dark coloration in these feathers is due to a pigment called melanin, the iridescence results from the structure of the feather itself. The way light refracts off each microscopic feather barbule creates the shimmering colors that dazzle our eyes. This gives even the darkest colored birds, like crows, ravens, and vultures, some extra depth and glow when the sun is shining!
Learn more about Loki:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/raptor/loki/
Perseus, Our Barred Owl, Taking a Bath!
Happy Talon Tuesday! Feathers are a bird’s lifeline - they insulate, waterproof, and of course, provide the power of flight. Bathing is just one way for birds to keep their feathers in top condition, allowing them to be more agile fliers. Enjoy a few cute moments of Perseus, our Barred Owl, taking a bath!
Learn more about Perseus:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/raptor/perseus/
Loki, Our American Crow, Puzzling Over His Enrichment Activity!
Happy Talon Tuesday! Crows are in the family known as Corvidae, as are ravens, jays, and magpies. As social, opportunistic, and highly adaptable birds, their intelligence is some of the most impressive in the animal kingdom. In the wild, crows have been observed using tools, solving multi-step puzzles, and working communally to acquire food or confront threats. Watch as Loki, our own American Crow, works his way through some puzzling enrichment!
Learn more about Loki:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/raptor/loki/
Nicco, our Broad-winged Hawk, Vocalizing His "Kee-eer" Whistle!
Happy Talon Tuesday! Broad-winged Hawks are long distance migrants that leave Wisconsin early in the fall and return late in the spring, when the air is warm and circulating. Often migrating in large numbers, these birds rely on warm air thermals to help them conserve energy on their long journey to Central and South America. If you are hiking through the woods in late spring, listen for the high pitched "kee-eer" whistle sounding like Nicco’s vocalization!
Learn more about Nicco:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/raptor/nicco/
Sky Walker, our Adaptable Red-tailed Hawk, Enjoying Enrichment!
Happy Talon Tuesday! Red-tailed Hawks are often described as a "jack-of-all-trades" due to their adaptability to a variety of habitats and prey. They even readily adapt to human altered landscapes and urban areas, frequently perching on telephone poles, road signs, and buildings. Watch as Sky Walker, our 25-year-old female Red-tailed Hawk, thoroughly enjoys some enrichment as nesting season draws near!
Learn more about Sky Walker:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/raptor/sky-walker/
Zari, Our Great Horned Owl, Recently Laid Two Eggs!
Happy Talon Tuesday! Our Great Horned Owl, Zari, recently laid two eggs and is already proving to be a very dedicated parent. Each of our raptor ambassadors are housed alone, meaning the eggs are unfertilized and will not hatch. Zari will likely incubate for about 30 days, until she decides to no longer watch them. Nesting season is also here for wild owls. Keep your ears open for the guttural calls of chicks in April and May!
Learn more about Zari:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/raptor/zari/