Spring Activities for Nature Journaling
Spring activities can fill your days with things to do, observe and journal.
Spring is a time of high activity. So much is happening it can be overwhelming. In spring I learned to be choosy. I like to decide early in the season what to focus on for nature study.
Last year I noticed the beauty of tree blossoms and began to photograph them. I will do a more in-depth study of tree blossoms in the coming year. I decide to focus on cloud formations and patterns and predicting weather.
So, to help you chose what to study in your nature journal, I have divided the list into topics. These nature activities and journal prompts are suitable for a wide range of ages. Choose one topic area or several.
Journal Prompts
Weather and Ecosystems - Is it really rainy? How many rainy days are there?
- If there is a vernal (spring) pond near you, record the changes and happenings there.
- If you travel in spring notice where spring has started and what is happening in places away form your home.
- Keep track of the lengthening days. what time does the sun rise and set?
Plants - Draw or photograph the new buds on trees.
- Keep a nature calendar of spring blooming flowers. Learn about blooming sequences and phenology.
- How many wind pollinated trees are in your neighborhood?
- Draw the parts and structure of flowers.
Animals - Keep an eye out for roadkills. Roadkills can tell you what animals share your home area with you.
- Keep a list and draw the spring butterflies. When do they emerge? Study their life cycles using butterfly identification and natural history guides.
- What insects emerge first?
- Listen for the first chorus of frogs
- Learn the differences between bumblebees, honey bees and other bees and wasps.
Birds - Keep track of which migrating spring birds arrive first.
- Listen for the start of bird song. Try to learn the songs of two or three species.
- Take notice of the shrubs and trees where birds build their nests and establish territory.
- Watch birds has they go about their life cycle of migration, courtship and raising young.
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