Signs of Spring

Nature and Science Corner

Despite today’s snowstorm, spring is coming! The vernal (spring) equinox is on Saturday, March 20th this year. At 11:32 AM, Mountain Daylight Time, the sun will cross directly over the equator, giving us equal daylight and dark on this day across the world (equinox literally translated means equal night).
Plants and animals are waking up and returning to their summer areas. With the warm temperatures of the past week, this activity has picked up even more. What are some signs of spring you have seen?

Have you seen birds returning to the area? Red-tailed hawks, year-round residents, have been flying in pairs lately, indicating mating season and the start of new broods. Our winter residents are on the move as well. A few lucky first and second graders saw an adult and immature bald eagle fly low over Big T while taking out the recycling last month! Check ponds and lakes for returning and migratory water birds. If it’s not a mallard, it may be back for the summer, or just passing through! Now is also a good time to put out bird feeders (if you don’t have an outdoor cat). Birds will become dependent on food sources through the winter but in the summer they are less likely to need the food you provide to survive, so putting out feeders is a good way to attract birds for easing viewing in your backyard. Unless you are dedicated to feeding them plenty and consistently through the winter, put your feeders away when fall comes.

Have you noticed the buds forming on the tips of the bare tree branches? Go outside and look at a deciduous tree (a tree that “decides” to lose it’s leaves, also called a broad-leafed or hardwood tree). Can you find the small tough scales that end in a point on the twigs? Inside are the new plant parts—tiny leaves, stems and even flowers—waiting to emerge as the days grow warmer and longer. The sap, the lifeblood of the tree, has been rising from the roots on these warm days to bring nutrients to the buds so they can grow into new tree parts. Check out the tiered flower garden near the stairs in our courtyard the next time you’re at Big T. The iris leaves are back in full force and will probably enjoy the moisture from the snow as long as they don’t get too cold!

Take advantage of the snow to look for animal signs. Scat (the scientific word for animal poop ☺), may be harder to find, but tracks should be abundant. Which animals are hanging out around Big T? Which ones are around your house?

Enjoy the longer days by playing outside and going for walks or hikes as a family. And definitely get outside during spring break to see what’s going on with the change of seasons in your neighborhood!



(The week's Nature and Science Corner)

Starry Nights

Tuesday, March 2nd we had “Starry Nights” here at Big T. Over 300 people came through to learn about the phases of the moon, make Star Wheels (make your own at http://www.skyandtelescope.com/letsgo/familyfun/Make_a_Star_Wheel.html) discover constellations inside the Star Lab, and go outside to the upper playground with the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society (NCAS) to find the constellations and look through their telescopes to see the Orion Nebula in Orion’s sword and Mars. If you did make it to Starry Nights, see if your family can remember how to find the constellations you learned. If you didn’t get a chance to come out (or a review would help), here is a little information to help your family enjoy the night sky!

The constellation of Orion the Hunter is nearing the end of his annual visit to our night sky. Orion can be found in the southern sky from twilight until after midnight as we near the spring equinox. See if your family can find the three bright stars making up his belt. The bright red star above and to the left of the belt (his right shoulder) is called Betelgeuse (“BEH-tull-juice”). It is the second brightest star in Orion. Betelgeuse is a red supergiant that will be visible even during the day when it finally becomes a supernova and explodes! Rigel, the blue supergiant that is diagonally down to the right, is the brightest.

Draw an imaginary line through Orion’s belt and follow it down to the left until you find a very bright star. This is called Sirius, the Dog Star (and Ms. Amber’s favorite star because of the way it appears to twinkle all the colors), and is the nose of the constellation Canis Major. Look further down the line to find a triangle that makes up the dog’s hindquarters. Sirius is actually a binary star (Sirius A and Sirius B), which is two stars orbiting around a central point. It is the brightest star in our night sky!

The moon is currently a waning gibbous, moving from full to 3rd quarter. Find more links and information on our blog at: bigtgreent.blogspot.com Happy stargazing!

(This week's Nature and Science Corner)