Become a Nature Detective!

Want to learn a little about nature, a lot about creatures and have a great adventure outdoors?

Become a Nature Detective!

Get outside with family, with friends, or on your own to investigate the mysteries of nature.  Below are several mysteries, clues, and resources complete with activity sheets, bird checklists, and more.

Take some fun photos about each Investigation and email them to dlewis@clarkcountyparks.org. The pictures and comments will be posted on our Facebook page.

Take a school backpack or bag with the following supplies:

  • Field guide (Downloadable guides found on www.wildlife.ohiodnr.gov (under Wildlife Resources, then Birding Resources.)
  • Binoculars if possible
  • Notebook
  • Pencil
  • Small magnifying glass
  • Camera or phone
  • Hand wipes

NOTE: It’s very important to observe the animals found instead of touching them. Just as we are practicing safe distancing from others at this time, please practice a safe distance with animals, too. We don’t want to scare them or harm them in any way.

Get outside and have fun investigating!

Donna Lewis
Program/Volunteer Coordinator (and wildlife geek!)

Investigation #1: The Case of the Frolicking Frogs

Estel Wenrick Wetlands or your own backyard!

What frogs live in the Estel Wenrick Wetland? Now’s the time to search for frogs and find out! Frogs are on the lookout for wet places to find mates and lay eggs so you can be on the lookout too. Be prepared to get wet – maybe even a little muddy! Please DO NOT touch the frogs. At this time, scientists do not know what animals can get COVID-19, so please help keep our wildlife safe. Observing frogs is the best way to see how they act naturally, so please observe them in their natural surroundings instead of catching them.

  1. Listen for frogs calling for mates. (Check out our Frog Call Sheet under Activities.)
  2. Check for eggs and tadpoles in water. Do you see any jelly-like masses?
  3. A headlamp or flashlight will help you find frogs at night, when many are most active. (You can do this in your backyard!)
  4. Use a frog field guide to help you ID the frogs you find!  
  5. Become a citizen scientist by joining FrogWatch USA! By keeping track of the frogs in your area and sharing your information, you can help frog scientists figure out how different species are doing across the country.

Tips:

Investigation #2: The Case of the Quiet Spring Beauties

George Rogers Clark Park or Mad River Gorge & Nature Preserve.

Marsh Marigold

 

This is the search for Ohio’s wildflowers. Walk along the trails and look at the forest floor. What do you see? Sometimes it’s just a small green stem emerging from the soil.  In some areas, the leaf is out just ready to open and in others the flower is out, ready to be seen. Investigate where these flowers live and see how many different species (varieties) can be found.

Note: Do not pick the flowers! These flowers are important for the pollinators for food, for shelter, and for others to enjoy.

  1. What colors did you observe in the different kinds of flowers?
  2. How many petals does each have?
  3. Are there any insects using these plants?
  4. How many of each can you find in each area? Are they crowded? Spaced apart?
  5. Draw the different shapes of the flowers.
Investigation #3: The Case of the Winged Travelers

George Rogers Clark Park, Mad River Gorge & Nature Preserve, Estel Wenrick Wetlands OR Leadingham Prairie Preserve

Pick one park, or visit all 4!

Did you know that many of the birds seen in the spring and summer are migratory birds? That means that these birds travel as far south as South America for the winter to feed and come back up to the states in the spring to breed and nest. Hummingbirds alone travel thousands of miles in their migration, with about 500 miles being over open ocean!

Different birds are found in different habitats. Red-winged Blackbirds live in the prairie and Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers abound at the wetland. Take binoculars if possible to see the birds up close to be able to observe their behavior.

  1. In what location did you investigate? How many different kinds of birds can you find? (It’s okay if you don’t know the species; just write down your observations.)
  2. What type of behavior is the bird exhibiting? Chasing each other, building a nest, feeding, singing?
  3. In what type of habitat are they living in? Open field, forest, in trees, on the ground, near water?
  4. Notice the different sounds the birds make. Why do you think they make these sounds?
  5. Look at the bird lists for George Rogers Clark Park and the Estel Wenrick Wetlands under resources.
  6. Go to www.ebird.com to see how you can enter in the birds that you see!
Investigation #4: The Case of the Resourceful Rodents

George Rogers Clark Park

This is the case of Ohio’s squirrels. Ohio has 4 types of squirrels; the red squirrel, fox squirrel, flying squirrel and the most common, the gray squirrel.

Have you ever observed a squirrel? These very resourceful animals that have learned to live near humans. They nest in attics, take food from the bird feeders and sometimes use our chair stuffing for nests! They would prefer to live in trees and that’s where they’re found at the park. Look up in the trees and on the forest floor to try to figure out what they are up to.

 

  1. Observe the squirrel’s behavior. What is it doing? Chasing another squirrel, eating, hiding food?
  2. Look for walnuts on the forest floor. Look for chew marks. This can help determine what species of squirrel was there.
  • Gray Squirrel – walnut chewed in half
  • Flying Squirrel – 2 small holes on each side of walnut
  • Red Squirrel – 1 large hole on each side
Investigation #5: The Case of the Muddy Print

George Rogers Clark Park

Animals often stay out of sight when we are on the trails looking for them. Many of them are good at being unseen. They camouflage so they can be protected from predators or sneak up on their prey. When walking along the trails, there’s wildlife in their burrows, under leaves, under bark or logs, in the brush, the trees, and in the streams that run through the forest.

One of the best ways to find wildlife, especially mammals, is to search for their prints.

  1. Do you see any prints as you walk along the trail?
  2. Notice the characteristics of each print. Is the print large (like a dog), medium (like a raccoon) or small (like a squirrel)?
  3. In what type of area did you find the print? Near the lake? On a trail? The location will help determine what animal print has been found.
  4. Animal print worksheets can be found on Pinterest and in the list of resources provided.
Investigation #6: The Case of the Hidden Nests

George Rogers Clark Park or your own backyard!

Wildlife hide their nests to keep their young safe from predators. Some animals make their nests in the branches or holes of trees, underground, on gravel, under a rock, or they make their own paper nest. Look around the park to see what nests you can find. Use the resources from our list to help.

  1. Look in the trees to see if you can find a leaf nest. It will be about 15 feet or higher and looks like a big mass of leaves. Who do you think makes this nest? (Hint: bushy tail and loves nuts)
  2. Do you see any large holes in the tree? What type of animal would live in these nests? (Hint: These birds peck on trees looking for larvae.)
  3. The American Crow makes a large stick nest in the trees. Great Horned Owls will often steal these nests and use them to raise their young. Try to spot some of these nests.
  4. What about animals that make their nest near the ground or in the ground? Search for holes in the ground near the stream. There are also animals that live under logs, in logs or under leaves. See what you can find.
  5. Can you find any insect nests? The bald-faced hornets make a huge oval shaped nest which is made by stripping off pieces of wood with their mouth. They usually make them pretty high in the trees. There is one near the lake. Can you find it?
Investigation #7: The Mystery of the Function of Flowers

George Rogers Clark Park, Mad River Gorge, Leadingham Prairie, or Your Own Backyard!

How do flowers attract insects? Insects such as bees and butterflies prefer some plants to others. For instance, the Monarch prefers to feed on Common Milkweed, Swamp Milkweed and Butterfly Weed.

This investigation involves 3 different parts: 1) Discover how plants attract pollinators through color, scent and shape.
  • What do you look for in a new toy?
  • What do you like and don’t like about a toy?
  • Why would you spend money on one toy but not the other?
  • Compare your shopping for that cool toy, to an insect looking for food.
  • What makes an insect choose one flower over another?
2) Compare 3 flowers that you can find in your yard or a patch of forest.
  • What are the differences? What are the similarities?
  • Watch a cluster of flowers for a few minutes to see who visits them.
3) Discover the diversity of the plant kingdom.
  • Compare plants that are growing in the same area and discuss why they are there together. Did they grow there naturally? Did the birds plant them (nature)? Did your mom plant them?
  • What do those plants growing together have in common?
  • Find a cluster of plants or leaves and see how many things you can find that are different.
  • Compare plants growing in 3 different habitats; mom’s flower garden, a wet area, a dry area, in the woods, etc. What are the characteristics of that habitat?
Let’s Learn Some More! Download this guide from the Ohio Division of Wildlife: https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr-core/documents/wildlife-documents/spring-wildflowers-ohio
Investigation #8: The Case of the Pretty Pollinators

Leadingham Prairie, or Your Own Backyard!

What insects come to mind when you think of pollinators? Butterflies are one of the most beautiful pollinators in Ohio.

  1. What are the colors of the butterflies found? Can you identify them?
  2. What flowers do the butterflies prefer to feed from?
  3. What do you think attracts the butterfly to the flower?
  4. When the butterflies are fluttering nearby each other, it seems they are dancing. What do you think they are really doing?
  5. Observe the behavior of the butterflies as they interact with each other, with other insects and the types of ways they are different from each other.
Nectar plants of Ohio’s 6 most common butterflies:
  • Viceroy: Asters, Joe-Pye Weed, Golden Rod, Phlox (To tell the difference between a Monarch and Viceroy, look for a black line crossing the back hind wing. If it has a line, it is a Viceroy, not a Monarch.)
  • Painted Lady: Joe-Pye Weed, Blazing Star, Bee Balm, Goldenrod, Phlox, Asters
  • Spicebush Swallowtail: Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Purple Coneflower, Joe-Pye Weed
  • Eastern Black Swallowtail: Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Phlox
  • Eastern Tiger Swallowtail: Butterfly Weed, Bee Balm, Phlox, Milkweed, Blazing Star
  • Monarch: Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Joe-Pye Weed, Goldenrod, Asters, Blazing Star
Investigation #9: The Case of the Bustling Busy Honeybees

Leadingham Prairie, or Your Own Backyard!

Have you ever watched a bee flying from flower to flower? Honeybees are busy, busy, busy, working constantly to bring food back to the hive.  One bee has to fly about 90,000 miles (3 times around the globe) and gather nectar from 2 million flowers, to make one pound of honey. The honey bee is the only insect that produces food eaten by man. They are also the reason for much of the flowers and fruits that we enjoy. (During this investigation, you’ll be getting close to and observing bees. There shouldn’t be any problems, if you remain quiet and courteous.)
  1. A honey bee visits 50 to 100 flowers during a collection trip. Try to find a bee feeding on flowers in a prairie, the yard, or a flower garden. Watch their behavior. Do they prefer one flower over the other? What are the differences in the flowers; color, shape, size? What do they do at each flower?
  2. Observe the bee closely as it’s flying around. Notice the yellow bags on their legs. Do you know what these are? (Honeybees collect the pollen in little “baskets” on their legs.)
  3. The bees’ buzz is the sound made by their wings which beat 11,400 times per minute. Sit outside, near where some bees are working. Close your eyes and listen. Can you hear the buzzing sound?
  4. When a bee finds a good source of nectar it flies back to the hive and shows its friends where the nectar source is by doing a dance which positions the flower in relation to the sun and hive. This is known as the ‘waggle dance.’ What kind of dance do you like to do? See if you can come up with a dance to tell your mom or dad something (like a dance with charades!).
  5. The bee’s brain is oval in shape and about the size of a sesame seed, yet it has a remarkable capacity to learn and remember things. For example, it is able to make complex calculations on distance travelled and foraging efficiency. What kinds of things do you remember and how do you retain (hold onto) that information?
  6. Honey has always been highly regarded as a medicine. It is thought to help with everything from sore throats, stomach issues, skin problems and hay fever. Throughout history, honey was used as a dressing for wounds and a first aid treatment for burns and cuts. Have you ever taken honey to help with a cough or sore throat? Remember that local honey is the best!
Look for Bee Activity Sheets under Activities. Download this guide from the Ohio Division of Wildlife: https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr-core/documents/wildlife-documents/bees-wasps-ohio  Other Honeybee Facts:
  • A colony of bees consists of 20,000-60,000 honey bees and one queen. Worker honey bees are female, live for about 6 weeks and do all the work.
  • The queen bee can live up to 5 years and is the only bee that lays eggs. She is the busiest in the summer months, when the hive needs to be at its maximum strength, and lays up to 2500 eggs per day.
Investigation #10: The Case of Ohio’s Predatory Dragons
George Rogers Clark Park, in a field or near water.

Ohio has 164 species of dragonflies! Go outside near a pond, stream, river, or even a wet yard in the summer and you may see dragonflies. One of the most common dragonflies is the Green Darner. It’s one of the larger dragonflies, growing up to about 7 or 8 cm in length.

  1. Have you ever seen a dragonfly flying high over your house and wondered what they are doing? Sometimes, you may see a Green Darner dragonfly that is migrating, or traveling south, and they may be stopping for some yummy bugs in your yard. The Common Green Darner dragonfly is one of a dozen of dragonflies that migrate north in early spring and south in the fall.
  2. Eggs are laid in aquatic habitats, and hatch after at least 6 or 7 days. They hatch as nymphs, and undergo 9 to 13 nymphal instars, or stages.
  3. As they reach the end of the nymphal stage, the nymphs climb out of the water and search for a place to emerge from their exoskeletons. Common Green Darners can actually travel quite far from the water before climbing a vertical surface, such as a plant stem. After which, the nymphal skin splits and they emerge. The wings unfurl as the wings and body expands. Try to find a dragonfly emerging from its exoskeleton on plants by the lake or try to find an empty exoskeleton.
  4. Using the ID Sheet or Division of Wildlife guide, see how many dragonflies can be found on your search.
Look for Dragonfly ID Sheets and craft under Activities. Download this guide from the Ohio Division of Wildlife: https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr-core/documents/wildlife-documents/dragonflies-ohio-fg
Investigation #11: The Case of the Sneaky Spiders
Anywhere!

Spiders can freak us out with their 8 legs, many eyes, hairy bodies and their sticky webs. These arachnids are very important to the environment (and to your yard) because they eat a lot of pesky insects. They also make one of the strongest materials in the world, their silky web!

  1. Look around your house (and yard) and see where different webs are located. What do they look like and how are they different?
  2. See if you can find any spiders. How are they the same and how are they different?
  3. What types of spiders catch food in their web? Which ones do you think actually hunt their food? Compare an orb weaver to a jumping spider.
  4. Go on a spider hunt: Look for spiders in your backyard at night. Take a flashlight and hold it right beside your face, along the temple with the light shining out. Be sure to line it up with your eyes. Shine the light out onto the grass and look for small bright lights. These should be the spider’s eye shine. Walk up slowly to wear you saw the lights and find the spider.
Look for Spider Activity Sheets under Activities.  Go to the Ohio Division of Wildlife at odnr.org to look at the Common Spiders of Ohio guide. Just search for it on their site.
Resources