*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ NATURE NOTEBOOK ----Issue 19 The Newsletter written for parents with kids in mind. April 27, 2000 Linda M. Watson, lmwatson@naturely.com *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Welcome to Nature Notebook. This newsletter is by subscription only. If this edition was forwarded to you by a friend, see the bottom of the newsletter to receive your own, personal subscription or visit our website at http://www.naturely.com
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Index: 1. Sponsorship 2. Feature Activity 3. Nature in the news 4. The Spotlight 5. Q & A 6. Guest Column 7. Classified Ads 8. How to be featured as our guest columnist 9. Subscribe/unsubscribe information
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 1. Sponsorship Notice *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ for Kids Naturely and Nature Notebook is owned and sponsored by T. L. Creations http://www.tlcreations.com
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ Changes to the web site *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ If you haven't visited us lately, please stop by and say "hello". And I do mean "say". During the past few weeks we have updated the sight to include such innovative items as "HumanClick", as software program that tells you when the Nature Lady is available to chat. When I'm not available, the e-mail is active.
We have also posted all the newsletters. Some new subscribers have asked for back copies - just click on the archives button.
Speaking of archives, one of our subscribers suggested listing the activities by age-level. Well, you have it.
And, it you're in need of a postcard, you can now -e-mail cards to your friends and relatives from the sight.
We also changed the format of this newsletter to focus on one topic instead of several. Tell us how you like it. Is this better or do you prefer the variety of the previous newsletters. Send your comments to feedback@naturely.com.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 2. Feature Activity *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Turkey Transformation
The wild turkey is an interesting bird to observe. But how will you know one if you see one?
This activity is designed for turkey lovers of all ages. With a few items that can be found in virtually any home, you can turn "anyone" into a turkey. While you are making the transformation, the participants are learning the characteristics of this bird.
Keep your camera handy. This is one picture you won't want to miss!
For a full description of Turkey Transformation click on http://www.naturely.com/turkey.htm?id=nn
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 3. Nature in the News *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
The Return of the Wild Turkey
In the not-so-distant past, seeing a wild turkey was a rarity in most parts of this country. Today there are over 5,000,000 wild turkeys in the United States. In fact, wild turkeys are in every state but Alaska.
Habitat destruction and unregulated exploitation nearly brought an end to this bird. Thanks to the dedicated conservationist, the wild turkey is back with us.
Organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Department of Natural Resources have measures in place to ensure the continued existence of the wild turkey. Wild turkeys have been reintroduced to areas where they use to live. Some were even introduced to new area of the country where they are surviving and reproducing.
For more information about the services that the NWTF can provide for your school or youth group, check out www.nwtf.org.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 4. The Spotlight *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
The Wild Turkey
Wild turkeys were important to most Native Americans. The bird was a source of meat. Its feathers were used to make prayer sticks, masks, and headdresses. Some believed that the feathers brought rain, provided protection, and battled evil spirits. Many tribes imitated the turkey's motions during ceremonies. There were some tribes, though, that would not eat turkey because they thought it would make them cowardly.
A wild turkey male can grow up to 4 feet tall and weigh more than 20 pounds. The females may grow as tall but will only weigh between 8 and 12 pounds.
They have keen eyesite and excellent hearing but a poor sense of smell. The young turkey chicks or poults feed primarily on insects. The adult bird prefers mast (nuts and fruit), seeds, greens, and insects. They need water almost daily. Hens will rarely nest more than a quarter mile from a reliable source of water.
Their life expectancy is short when compared to other birds. It's between 18 and 24 months whether they are hunted or not!
Oh yes, about Ben Franklin. He may have been onto something since the turkey's heard will turn - red, white and blue!
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5. Questions and Answers *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
If you have a nature question, mailto: question@naturely.com We will answer the questions in the next issue of Nature Notebook.
Q. Where do frogs go during the winter?
A. Frogs will bury themselves in the bottoms of lakes and ponds for the winter. These bottoms do not freeze. They do not hibernate as such, but their metabolism slows down considerably.
**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 6. Guest Column *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
If you have information to share that would be of interest to our subscribers, consider writing an article for our Guest Column.
See 8. How to be featured as our guest columnist
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 7. Classified *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
*** We reserve the right to limit sponsors to five per issue on a first come, first serve basis upon approval of the editorial staff.
All ads must be family and nature friendly.***
For more information mailto: advertising@naturely.com
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 8. How to be featured as our guest columnist *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Nature Notebook is always looking for articles pertaining to nature, activities that adults and children can participate in together and ways that we can work together to sustain the balance of nature.
Articles should be no more than 700 words long. Submit to editor@naturely.com. No attachments please. The article should be part of the body of the e-mail.
Articles should not be advertisements disguised as information.
Do not query. Submitted articles will be reviewed and responded to within 2 working days.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 9. Subscribe/unsubscribe information *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Send a blank e-mail to one of the following addressed:
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