Christmas Vacation Week Family Fun Hike: Winter Shelters December 29, 2010

Winter is a great time to be outside exploring the natural world, so stretch your legs and join us for one or more of these winter explorations. - - Predator Party: Tuesday, December 28 - Predators such as the eastern coyote can't go to the market for groceries, so how do they get their food? We'll spend some time indoors learning about the different predators in Massachusetts, including how they hunt and how they stay warm to survive the cold winter months. Then we'll take a walk to look for fishers, river otters, foxes, hawks, and owls. Tracks, chews, scat, pellets, and bones will show us where predators have partied. - - Winter Shelters: Wednesday, December 29 - What is happening underneath the layer of snow that covers the ground in winter? Find out about mice, voles, and shrews that may be busy and cozy right beneath your feet. We will make our own winter shelters out of snow and branches to see how warm we can make them. - - Feathered Friends: Thursday, December 30 - Not all birds have gone south. Join us during this peaceful season as we venture along the sanctuary trails in search of birds that overwinter in our area, including the ever-curious chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, and more. Using nuts, seedpods, and other natural foods, we will decorate a tree for them. Bring binoculars, or we will provide them if you do not have your own. Registration is required. Call 978-887-9264 for details. See http://www.massaudubon.org/catalog/listing.php?program_code=1195-IP10FA2 for more information.