We share this world with some truly amazing creatures. From bald eagles to black bears to brook trout, New Hampshire is home to many feathered, furry, and fishy friends. Sadly, many animals have been negatively impacted by thoughtless human behaviors, but luckily there’s an army of animal allies who have dedicated their lives to protecting and advocating for their protection. In this project, we will meet with local professionals, visit museums and aquariums, and get hands-on experience volunteering to help local non-profit agencies to learn about and interact with our animal friends.
Day 1:
We welcomed the Squam Lakes Science Center animal ambassadors and naturalist Eric D'Aleo to talk about wildlife that is commonly found in the state of New Hampshire. We learned about Wood Turtles, Broad-winged Hawks, as well as an Opossum. In the afternoon, we looked for tracks and traces during a hike to the Blood Property on campus. On the way, we found bear and bobcat prints, as well as evidence of some hungry squirrels. One animal-fun-fact we learned today is that the sex of turtles is determined by temperature during gestation - with the exception of Wood Turtles whose sex is determined by their DNA.
Day 2
For our second day of Project Week, we visited the New Hampton Fish and Game fish hatchery. We learned that they have approximately 1 Million fish and fish eggs, mostly Brook Trout and landlocked Atlantic Salmon. Later, we built birdhouses with Bruce and the facilities team at the school. These birdhouses are suitable for wrens, chickadees, and warblers. Today's animal fun fact is that hatchery fish have a higher inbreeding risk in the wild, so biologists need to be conscious of this factor.
Day 3
For Day 3, we took a trip to the Audubon Center in Concord, New Hampshire where we saw a Spotted Salamander, Red-Tailed Hawk, Box Turtle, Ball Python, and Painted Turtle. After the program, we explored the rest of the raptor exhibit, which housed a Bald Eagle (America's national bird) and Barred Owls. After a lovely lunch at Dos Amigo's, we returned to campus to make bird nesting caches. Today's fun facts are all about Timber Rattlesnakes: the Timber Rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in New Hampshire (don't worry, there's only about four individuals in the state!) and the sound they make with their tails is made by the individual keratin segments hitting together as they shake like a kokiriko.
Day 4
We went to Boston to visit the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium. At the Museum of Science, we had a chance to see unique insects like Stick Bugs, Diving Beetles, and Jungle Nymphs, and we also learned more about human biology. After lunch at Faneuil Hall, we made our way to the aquarium where we saw Sea Turtles, African and Rock Hopper Penguins, Sea Lions, Stingrays, Octopus, and Piranhas. Though many of these animals are not native to New England, it was still fun and entertaining! Today's animal fun fact is Rock Hopper Penguins can jump the length of their own height.
Day 5
Today we started off we an electric dog show, when students from another project week (who let the dogs out) showed us their tricks. Then we came back as a group and discussed what we were going to put on our symposium. We regathered at one o'clock and painted our bird house's we created that with the facility team yesterday.
Fun fact: The preach that sticks outside the bird house always is'nt helpful and allows predators to climb in and danger the birds.