Session 4a – Muddy Buddies are Pond Detectives

Free for Families - Register - Sponsored by Nature Kids BC!

Saturday, May 23, 1 :00- 4:30 pm

The edge of Blackburn Lake is rich with critters of all sorts – an amazing place to encounter pond life and enthrall participants with its biodiversity. Armed with buckets, nets, turkey basters and collecting jars we will first approach the wetland cautiously, seeking to discover who will be there sunning themselves? A turtle? A garter snake? A red-winged blackbird? Then, prodding the pond bottom with sticks, looking on and under plants, rocks and logs the search will begin for the tiny creatures hiding in the shadows - those amazing invertebrates and larvae of a multitude of fabulous creatures such as dragon flies and mayflies.

Will we get wet pond dipping? You bet! Will we find eggs? Pond skaters, tadpoles? Voracious diving beetle larvae! We hope so!

As we conclude our study we will carefully select a mixture of critters to view up in the lab at the Conservancy where experts with dissecting scopes and other magnifiers will be waiting for us. Then, more fun as we see in detail appendages, mouth parts and crazy adaptations. Maybe, just maybe we’ll find something so tiny Dr. Elaine Humphrey will put the Scanning Electron microscope to use!

What to wear and bring: boots or water type shoes, a hat, sunscreen, water and a snack.

Leaders: Reed Osler and Kathleen Maser.