Harbingers of Spring Along the Creek!

Mourning Cloak Butterflies!

Lots of these along the Rim Trail at Buttermilk Park this week.  They've spent the winter in their adult form, tucked beneath loose bark on decaying logs, and now have only a few weeks to revive, dine on a little oak sap and complete their amazing vertical courtship flights. 

These insects tend to be territorial, so if you think you've scared one away, just wait a moment... he or she will be back! 

2020 Early Trout Release Sites

Since we had to remove trout from 17 schools, and release them on our own, we've created an online map of "Trout in the Classroom" release sites.  Open this Google map project and click on the trout icons to get site information and links to more video and images.  We encourage students and families can visit their sites.  But if you do, PLEASE follow COVID19 guidelines at all times.   Stay healthy, safe and thoughtful!

Trout in the Classroom Online 2020 in MyMaps

Get Your Word Search On!

Here are two cool word searchs to get you into the spirit of

trout from the warmth of your own home! (Click on images.)

Elementary Version Advanced Version

Activities to do at home

We are putting on our thinking caps to come up with ideas for you to do while you are at home.

In the meantime, here are some websites with lots of ideas for activities you can do to learn more about trout and streams.

Trout Unlimited Stream Explorers:
http://www.streamexplorers.org/get-active

Trout Unlimited for Families at Home:
https://www.tu.org/?p=45290

Groton 4th Grade Think Tank Brook Trout Hatchery II

Live trout "Stream" from Groton Elementary's 4th Grade Think Tank Brook Trout Hatchery II. It's back online!

Releasing Trout at Mulholland WF Preserve, Six Mile Creek, March 2020

COVID19 has forced an early shut down of aquariums at 19 schools in our program.   We're creating online and remote learning tools to help teachers and generate healthy, outdoor education opportunities for families.  In the coming days, we will be posting activitiess, video trout releases and maps to release locations to get you and the kids outdoors, in a safe way. 

From all of us, Stay Well!
Bill Foster, Director
Discover Cayuga Lake
www.DiscoverCayugaLake.org

Groton 4th Grade Think Tank

Live BROOK TROUT at Groton Elementary.   2 month old PARR TROUT!

Big Eyes

 

Our Cornell Biology Service Leaders, Jane and Iman, visited Ms. Anderson's class at BOCES today, and checked in with students raising brown trout.  The students went through feeding and water quality testing practices, and discussed options to resolve a high nitrite level in the water, which is potentially dangerous for the young trout. 

 

We have time for a little up-close observation, also.  Here, you can see the external structure of the eyes on these 6 week old browns.  Notice how the lens of the eyes are round, and extend away from the body on each side of the head.  What type of adaptation might this be?

Trout in the Classroom 2017-2018 is GO!

Floating Classroom staff and volunteers from Trout Unlimited delivered brown trout eggs to 11 schools on October 16 this year.   The program is off and running!  With support from New York DEC, we also had students from South Hill, BJM & Caroline elementary schools tour DEC's Bath NY Fish Hatchery to find out where their eggs come from.

Thanks to Aaron and Chuck, and hatchery manager Ken, for great tours!

Checking out new rainbows!

 

All about Trout, in the hatching building.

 

 

Peeking under the cove to see yearling Lake Trout- they like it dark!
 

Classes are beginning to prepare for spring trout releases, and we'll be visiting to help out. Today, Mariah visited Newfield Middle School 7th graders in Lauren Hamilton's science class, and helped students learn how to evaluate the health of a stream using insects.  We'll be visiting all 17 schools, and over 30 classrooms this month!

 
Our session starts with some review- insect life cycles, stream foodwebs, and
what trout need to survive.

Then, its time to pick through some live stream samples, collected by Bill and Mariah before class...

Students use dichotomous keys to identify as many insects and other invertebrates as they can in their sample

. 
This Izaak Walton League Stream Assessment Rubric creates a score for our stream, based on the insects we find.  (Scores for Lick Brook ranged from 17-23.)

Finally, we verify that these insects and our trout are part of the same food chain.  Always ask for verification!