"After lunch, we head deeper into the woods
where it's boggy and wet. I see several downed
logs in the clearing. "Can we roll one?" I ask.
"Sure!" says Ranger Kai. "But be careful. We
need to respect the animals that live there."
We gently roll over a log. Sowbugs, ground
spiders, and carpenter ants scurry for cover.
A few earthworms and a centipede linger."
What better way to learn about the wildlife that inhabits a park than to spend a day with the naturalists whose job it is to guide and inform visitors. Gabriel and his cousin Ava have a vested interest in nature and its many creatures. Gabriel loves insects and knows a lot about them, while Ava is passionate about birds. Gabriel's dad has signed the two up for the first Bioblitz at Spring Meadow Park, where he is one of the park rangers.
Divided into teams, one on each, they are off to find and list all the critters they see. The competition is intense and most enjoyable as they move together in their groups. Gabriel's job is to list the species his team sees. Meeting up for lunch with Ava's team, Gabriel and his team have listed 46 different sightings. The two compare their lists and discuss what they have seen. They even add to each list while they are together. After lunch, they are off to make more discoveries.
Gabriel's first-person voice allows him to share how much he knows about the insects he so loves, and to learn along with him what Ranger Kai shares. It's a great day. As the sun begins to set, they take note of the creatures that favor that time of day. A final meeting happens at the gazebo where a light shines on a white sheet and attracts all the night insects. In the end, both teams have placed more than 80 species on their lists.
"Well, each team saw some animals the other one
didn't," says Dad. "Together we saw a grand total of
100 species!"
Back matter includes Gabriel's complete bioblitz list with species placed in their separate categories (vertebrates and invertebrates), acknowledgements, Gabriel's 'Did You Know ... ? Facts, and an author's note. Digital illustrations are filled with park scenes, keep an up-to-date sidebar of creatures spotted, and provide much for young readers to experience in a natural park setting.
What a fun day of learning for all!
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