Botany: beech trees
Self-tutoring about trees in Canada: the tutor mentions beech. As a kid in the Maritimes, I often saw beech trees – American beech – which are included the Acadian forest. They can grow large: you might walk by one’s trunk …
Author: Jack
Biology: catadromous
Self-tutoring about fish: the tutor mentions the term catadromous. Catadromous fish are born (or hatch) in the sea, migrate into freshwater to mature, then return to saltwater to breed. The American eel is catadromous. Source: nctc.fws.gov
Biology: anadromous
Self-tutoring about fish biology: the tutor mentions anadromous. Anadromous fish mature in the ocean but return to fresh water to spawn. Locally, salmon is a good example. Source: nctc.fws.gov
Bird watching: northern gannet
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a chance sighting of a northern gannet. Northern gannets are handsome birds, with very distinct eye, beak, and head. They also have black wing tips. If you notice one from shore, it’s easy to …
Philosophy: litter
Self-tutoring about a concept kids are taught early: litter. The tutor tells a story. Often I brought the kids into the woods when they were young. Any non-school day I did so (unless we went somewhere else), because I didn’t …
Canadian geography: Alberta is rat-free.
Self-tutoring about Canada and Alberta: the tutor shares an interesting find. Alberta is rat-free. Moreover, it’s even illegal to have a pet rat there. Alberta has managed to be rat-free through public education and the vigilance of a rat detection …
Canadian geography: roadside scrub
Self-tutoring about Canadian trees and nature patterns: the tutor shares some thoughts about roadside scrub. I’ve lived in a few places where land was cheap and/or the terrain was rugged. In such places, the roadside often was let to grow …
Botany: double-toothed leaf
Self-tutoring about tree identification: the tutor looks into the meaning of double-toothed leaf. Often in my reading a tree’s leaves are described as double-toothed – meaning what? Single-toothed simply means the edge of the leaf is like a saw blade …
Nature: spider identification: woodlouse hunter
Self-tutoring about spiders one might encounter in the back yard: the tutor mentions the woodlouse hunter. Woodlouse hunter’s scientific name is Dysdera crocata. It’s got a red chest and head with a pale brown abdomen. I saw one yesterday around …
Bird watching: cedar waxwing
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor recalls a remarkable sighting. Although they live here, I haven’t seen a cedar waxwing out west. They’re yellow with a black mask across the eyes. I was aware of cedar waxwings as a kid and …