ANIMAL EVIDENCE. What am I? Burrow (Hole) Tracks. Feather. Nibbled Acorn. Scat (Droppings) Web. Shells. Nest CORE NATURAL CULTURAL RECREATION SERVICE

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1 7 CORE NATURAL CULTURAL RECREATION SERVICE ANIMAL EVIDENCE Name Date Park When you visit a park you are visiting the homes of hundreds of other animals. You might not always see the animals, however they sometimes leave evidence or clues behind which show they are here. Look in the park for the animal clues shown below. Draw a line from the picture of each clue to its name and then describe where the clue was found. An example has been done for you! Be sure to look up high in the sky and trees and down low on the ground or near the water s edge. What am I? Burrow (Hole) Tracks Feather Nibbled Acorn Scat (Droppings) Web Shells Nest

2 NATURAL RESOURCES ACTIVITY ANIMAL EVIDENCE Fill in the blanks below to tell us where you found animal evidence. Use the bottom of the page to include other evidence you find. Where did you find me? Burrow (Hole) Tracks Feather Nibbled Acorn Scat (Droppings) Web Shed Skin Nest Draw other evidence you found What is it? Where did you find it?

3 CORE NATURAL CULTURAL RECREATION SERVICE 8 BIRDS AND BILLS Name Date Park When you look at a bird, notice how the shape of its bill is designed. This makes it easier for the bird to find its particular type of food and is called adaptation. Other parts of birds like their legs, feet and wings are also adapted to help them survive. Match the bird s bill to the way it finds its food. Draw a line from the picture of the bird to the description of how it feeds. THE SPEARER: This wading bird hunts in shallow ponds, marshes and mud flats. It slowly walks in shallow water and uses its spear-like bill to pierce fish. THE CRACKER: This songbird eats seeds so it needs a thick, cone-shaped bill to pick up seeds and easily crack them. THE FLESH-EATER: This large bird of prey uses its powerful hooked bill to tear apart the animals which are the mainstay of its diet. THE STRAINER: This wading bird feeds by moving its bill from side to side along the bottom of rivers, ponds and marsh lagoons to find small fish, shrimp and other crustaceans. THE PROBER: This tiny bird uses its long narrow bill to probe deep into flowers to feed on nectar. Ruby-throated Hummingbird American Bald Eagle Northern Cardinal Roseate Spoonbill Great Blue Heron

4 NATURAL RESOURCES ACTIVITY BIRDS AND BILLS Record the details of a bird you saw today, then draw the bird in the environment below. Use these notes to help you research what kind of bird it is and find out how it uses its bill to eat! 1. Size of the Bird: 2. Colors of the Bird: 3. Shape of the Bird s Beak: 4. Actions of the Bird: 5. Other Notes: OBSERVATION NOTES:

5 9 CORE NATURAL CULTURAL RECREATION SERVICE FRIENDLY FLAMES Name Date Park The plants and animals living in Florida s upland habitats have adapted over many thousands of years to live with frequent natural lighting fires. As those habitats have been altered over time, fire cannot spread as it once did. This has made prescribed burning necessary. So, just like your doctor prescribes medicine to keep you healthy, Park Rangers prescribe fire to keep habitats healthy. Park Rangers are trained to diagnose the specific needs of habitats and use scientific techniques mimicing natural fire to improve the habitat s health. There are many different benefits of using prescribed fire: It prevents dense shrubs and trees from taking over increasing visibility and making room for animals to live. It stimulates healthy plant growth. It prevents the buildup of heavy, woody fuels which limits wildfires. If an unhealthy habitat is not treated, it can develop serious conditions: It will become too crowded with plants which can limit a diverse population of wildlife. Plants will compete with one another for sunlight and nutrients and eventually some will be eliminated. There is a greater danger of uncontrolled wildfire. An unplanned fire can be a deadly force and can destroy lives and property. Just as only your doctor can prescribe you medicine, only a trained Park Ranger can prescribe a fire in a Florida State Park. Both go through years of training, learning how and when to treat their patients.

6 NATURAL RESOURCES ACTIVITY FRIENDLY FLAMES The pictures below show an overgrown habitat which has been neglected and a habitat which is maintained with prescribed fire. Circle and count the animals you find, then answer the questions about the habitat below. Overgrown Maintained This habitat has not been properly maintained with fire. Wildlife has been crowded out and smaller plants have no room to grow. This habitat is thriving with diverse wildlife and native plants thanks to prescribed fire. Number of Animals Number of Animals Which habitat is healthier? Why? Do you see evidence of a recent prescribed fire at the park you are visiting? Read the words below. Circle the signs of prescribed fire you see and write down any other evidence in the blanks. Bare Ground New Growth Ash Smoke Charred Tree Trunks Brown Leaves on Trees

7 10 CORE NATURAL CULTURAL RECREATION SERVICE PROBLEM PLANTS Name Date Park Air Potato Did you know plants have been moving their seeds for thousands of years? Some seeds travel by drifting in the wind, floating in the water or riding inside the stomachs or on the outside of animals. Even people help move plants and seeds from one place to another. Seed dispersal is the name given to the different ways seeds travel. Plants growing in Florida long before people discovered this land are called native plants. Plants brought by animals or people to Florida, which did not already grow here naturally, are called exotic plants. Some exotic plants try to live in the same place as the native plants. They compete with native plants for the same food, water and space to grow. The place they are fighting over is a habitat. When these exotic plants invade the habitat, they crowd out the native plants. There may not then be enough room or favorite foods for the wildlife living in the habitat. The native plants and animals must find a different place to live if they want to survive. We try to protect the native plants and wildlife in the Florida State Parks. As a Junior Ranger, you can help us by teaching others that planting exotic plants can hurt our native plants and animals. The air potato is an example of an invasive exotic plant. It grows quickly and its climbing vines can smother native plants in Florida s state parks and natural areas. There are many different ways trained park staff and volunteers try to control and stop invasive plants, such as removal by hand and safe chemical treatments.

8 NATURAL RESOURCES ACTIVITY PROBLEM PLANTS On the previous page you read about problem plants. Did you notice the words in bold? Use them to complete the crossword puzzle DOWN 2. The way seeds travel is called seed. 3. When exotic plants invade an area, they can destroy the. 4. Plants which did not already naturally grow here before are called. 7. Seeds travel by wind, on animals or float in the. ACROSS 1. In our parks, we protect plants and animals native to the state of. 5. Exotic plants the habitats of native plants. 6. Exotic plants with native plants for the same habitat. 7. Habitats are places where plants and live. 8. Plants which were here before people discovered Florida are called plants. 9. A Junior can help teach others about the dangers of exotic plants.

9 CORE NATURAL CULTURAL RECREATION SERVICE 11 SEARCH WITH SENSES Name Date Park Florida State Parks are full of natural treasures. Use your senses of sight, hearing, smell and touch to discover the treasures in this park. Below are clues for treasures to find. Explore the park and write what you discover. Remember to never touch anything you are not sure is safe. Ask an adult for help first and always leave what you find where you found it. Use your to look for these clues. Something red Something older than you Something which does not belong Use your to listen for these clues. A nature sound A human-made sound Something which flies

10 NATURAL RESOURCES ACTIVITY SEARCH WITH SENSES People have five senses. For this activity you are only using four. What sense are you not using? Use your to smell for these clues. Something in the air Something on the ground Something in bloom Use your to feel for these clues. Ask parent or guardian first if something is safe to touch. Something soft Something rough Something round Treasures you sensed today could be harmed if they are not protected by Park Rangers. Which of the items you sensed needs to be protected? How did you sense it? How can you help Park Rangers protect the parks treasures?