The Outside; inside and stuffed

Today we headed out to a local nature center to see what we could see. It was a taxidermists dream. Fortunately my kids all seem to be future taxidermists. They had all of the birds we've seen in our back yard, plus their nests and in some cases their eggs. There were also stuffed gulls, a Great Horned Owl and lots of other things that should normally be flying or creeping.

Along with all of the things the kids couldn't touch, there was plenty they could. Apparently when animals die, people bring them to the nature center. So there were bird wings, feathers, dead lizards (ewww) and all kinds of things to discover.

Since the nature center is by a lagoon, there is also a path partway around where you can see pretty much nothing! The reeds are so high it's a little like being in a corn maze. We were able to watch a little bird jumping around in some mud eating some "most delicious bugs. Yum, yum." That was fun. And the kids saw a couple of ducks as we were driving out.

We had a good, low-key time. The kids did like seeing all of the animals and feeling what they could, but they also had a lot of fun squeezing all of the stuffed birds so they could hear the sounds they make. This doesn't really explain it. Maybe this will help: http://www.seattleaudubon.org/natureshop.cfm?catID=366 . They were toys, not the real birds--we got a mourning dove because they were the first birds we identified when we got the feeder.

This post is getting long. It was just a fun, easy time. There was no pressure to have fun and they could all enjoy themselves at what ever level they are at. Next time you visit, we'll take you there. (All of you. I promise. If you visit, I'll take you all over the place!)