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Home » Blog » Springo!

Springo!

April 11, 2023 Explore Nature

Springo! (Bilingual)

This is a great way to connect and experience nature with family or friends. And with spring in full swing, nature is teeming with interesting things to find — once you start looking more closely. See how many things you can find with this printable Springo challenge because there’s plenty of ways to experience the natural world right in your own backyard.

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elkhartcountyparks

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#elkhartcountyparks #bonneyvillemill #cobuscreekcountypark #oxbowcountypark #riverpreservecountypark #defriesgarden #elkhartcountyhistory

Interested in the constellations and the night sky Interested in the constellations and the night sky?  Join a naturalist for an evening of constellation history, telescope viewing (weather permitting) and snacks.  This will also be a great opportunity to see the Perseids meteor shower. 

Get registered here - https://elkhartcountyparks.org/events/summer-astronomy-8-15-25/
Curious about birds? Join our free guided hike at Curious about birds? Join our free guided hike at Boot Lake Nature Preserve tomorrow morning starting at 8. Here's a few of the birds we're likely to encounter (captions below).🌻🌾🪺
Event Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/937753365008412

✨🪺 BIRDS OF BOOT LAKE🌻✨
⬥ PIC 1: Song Sparrow (Melospiza Melodia). One of our most abundant sparrows that live here year-round. Look for blotchy triangular chin markings, a streaky belly, and watch for the way it pumps its tail in flight to spot this sparrow. 

⬥ PIC 2: Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius). While mature males are deep orange, females and young birds are lemon yellow. Our Wed. Bird Walk group saw this fledgling a couple years back at Boot Lake. The mother flew in to offer it a praying mantis, but it seems this baby was a bit of a picky eater and preferred to play with it's food, rather than eat it. 

⬥ PIC 3: Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis). Known for their epic migrations, we're lucky enough to see this state-protected bird year-round at Boot Lake NP.

⬥ PIC 4: Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii). You'll often hear this secretive sparrow long before you see it. Listen for soft hiccups and look for a sun-bleached sparrow with dashed streaks perched far out in the prairie. Their songs carry some distance, so spotting scopes will be handy to aid in seeing and better appreciating this state-endangered bird.
 
⬥ PIC 5: Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas). Listen for their distinctive "Witchity-witchity-witchity" song and alert calls that sound just like a rubber band snapping.

⬥ PIC 6: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). While we're used to seeing hummers in our yards and gardens, prairie edges are another fantastic place to spot them. 

⬥ PIC 7: Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla). Follow the sound of the bouncing ball to find this petite sparrow. It's trilled song rises and falls in exactly the same pattern as a ping pong ball dropped.

⬥ PIC 8: Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris). Tiny, but mighty, this compact wren packs a punch when it sings. Its loud rapid-fire chatter sounds a bit like a machine gun going off.
We still have spaces open for our Forest Bathing c We still have spaces open for our Forest Bathing class this Saturday morning. 

Get signed up here - https://elkhartcountyparks.org/events/forest-bathing-8-9-25/
Ever tried a chocolate-covered cricket or mealworm Ever tried a chocolate-covered cricket or mealworm cookie?  If not, give one a try at Bug Night tomorrow evening at Cobus Creek County Park. 
6:30-8:30pm....only $5/vehicle.

#BugNight
🐝🪱🐛🦋🐞🐜🪰🪲🦟🦗🕷
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Who We Are

Inspiring connections with culture and nature.

Upcoming Events
Forest Bathing
8.09.2025 @ 10:00 AM River Preserve
Sweet Cycle Ride
8.09.2025 @ 6:00 PM Springo!
Tree ID Hike
8.14.2025 @ 5:00 PM River Preserve
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