Birds on the brain...

Those crazy coots have really set us onto a "bird-brained" track...

We've been reading a book about BIRDS, and tomorrow we plan to go on a bird-sighting hike! There are really quite a lot of different water fowl out here on the lake - and the swans have returned! The swans returning has spawned a bunch of questions, all unknowns to the parental units in this household...Where do swans GO? How far do they go? We have heard they mate for life, but then again we've heard that's a myth, and they are only faithful to their partner for one seasons eggs/babies? We do know that a male swan is a COB, a female is a PEN and the babies are CYGNETS... We're in search of more answers, and will share as we find!

Although the temperatures are still in the chilly late-winter 50ish range, spring is definitely in the air - and the local birds are real proof of it! Lots and lots of paired off Canada geese around...and often we'll see a threesome - two boys doing their best to show their girl who will make the dandiest mate! Here is a fun kids page about Canada geese.

Incidentally, the Wisconsin DNR's kids webpages are really neat. Check 'em out!

Illinois' is not as easily navigated, but we did find these fun downloadable activities

And this very informative site - where you can enter the birds you spot in your state to their data log!
We are hoping to have gobs of photos from tomorrows birding! Look for them soon!