April 20, 2012
Kind News Story: Create Your Own Field Guide
Keep a record of the wild animals you see!
While taking a hike, exploring the park, or just looking out your kitchen window, focus!
Look closely for any wild animals flying, hopping, slithering, or crawling into view. Record what you see. Keeping a record will help you later identify what species you saw.
Here are a few tips to get you on your way to becoming a wildlife expert:
Do not disturb. Sit quietly in a safe place where you can observe the animals. Try not to make any noise or sudden movements. Be patient. Let the animals become comfortable with your presence.
Be observant. Watch carefully and take notes. Write down the animal’s size, appearance, sounds, and behavior.
Get a little sketchy. Make drawings or take photographs. You can use them later to identify the animal in a published field guide or online.
Be timely. Note the date and weather conditions. These will be useful when comparing animal behavior at different seasons of the year.
What You'll Need
A few field guide pages and a pencil are all you really need. If you have a camera, binoculars, or a magnifying glass, bring those along, too. Happy wildlife watching!