Delsy Daly    6-3

The Sandpiper 

       The Sandpiper's scientific name is Actitis hypoleucos. These birds live on the sandy coast, river banks, and sometimes they can even go up to the mountains. The domain is Eukarya, the kingdom is Animalia, the phylum is Chordata, the class is Aves, the order is Charadriiformers, the family is Scolopacidae, the genus is Actitis, and the species is Hypoleucos. Some of their adaptations is that both parents keep the eggs warm for at least three weeks, some of the birds will throw their wings as a warning, and the male will also guard the female, the nest, and the territory. Sandpipers are brown, they have a little white-yellow line near the eyes, and they have a white stomach. The female is the only that can build the nest, breeding starts around May and June, around twenty-one days until the eggs hatch, and these birds are also a heterotrophic. They can eat a lot of things like insects, crustaceans, and much more. Crustaceans means lobsters, crabs, shrimp, small fish, etc.

Mud Crab

The scientific name for the Mud Crab is Scylla serrata. The domain it is in Eukarya, the kingdom is Animalia, the phylum is Arthropoda, the class is Malacostraca, the order is Decapoda, the family is Portunidae, the genus is Scylla, and the species is Serrata. Mud Crabs live in the salt marsh estuary. They are heterotrophic, meaning, that they eat other organisms to gain energy. Mud Crabs eat molluscs, smaller crabs, and worms. Some of their predators are turtles and rays. A behavioral adaptation for the Mud Crab is that they hide in the mud. When they hide in the mud, they are camouflaging themselves so that their predators and prey won’t see them. A structural adaptation is their exoskeleton. The exoskeleton protects the crab from harmful predators and dangers that will harm it. A functional adaptation are its gills. The crabs use the gill to breathe underwater so that they won’t run out of air. Mud Crabs have bilateral symmetry, and are exothermic ( cold-blooded ).

Score Oyster Marine Project: Getting Down and Dirty!

When we went to the DNR we were ready to get down and dirty and work up a sweat. When we arrived they taught us how to bag oysters. The purpose of this field trip was to recycle oysters.  When oysters are recycled you are giving live to a new batch of oysters. In the spring, we will go back and place the oyster shells on the shore of the estuary of the marsh. This will allow their lives to regenerate. Basically, we are allowing oysters to be sustainable. 

We ended up bagging 633 oysters. I am so proud of my group, we bagged the most oysters. This was more than any other previous groups.  I can’t wait to go back in the spring and see the lives of the oysters regenerated.

Delsy Daly     6-3

The Kayaking Trip

        I have never kayaked before, this was the day I shine. When sixth grade reached our destination, we first put our book bags and others bags on the benches. Then, we were handed a life vest to keep us safe, next we went down the stairs where all of the kayaks were. Right after that, we were taught how to steer it and how to paddle correctly. All of the excitement rushed through me. Since I had longer legs than Summer, it was my job to steer the kayak. We both headed towards the docks, one by one people started to get in. Finally it was our turn, I pushed the right peddle and paddled the left side. At first it was fun then it got real tiring. My arms couldn't take it anymore even though I took breaks. Everyone had to park the kayak in the spartina grass, we talked, then we all moved on. Summer and I paddled under docks, bridges, and sort of raced with other people. The trip was a memory that I will never forget!

Laughing gull

(Larus atricilla)

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:  Laridae
Genus: Larus
Species:	Articilla

The Laughing Gull is a coastal bird found from Nova Scotia to Venezuela. (Peterson, 1998) Except around the Salton Sea, the Laughing Gull is rarely found inland. Laughing Gulls prefer nesting on barrier beaches and estuarine islands with moderate to dense vegetation. A laughing gull has a bilateral symmetry, which means if I were to split it in half then if I folded it together then it would match up equally. The Laughing Gull has a complete tail band, gray wash on the nape, dark brown wings, and a brown head and body. During its first winter, the Laughing Gull acquires a slate gray color on its back and sides, but keeps all other characteristics. Laughing Gulls are noisy, aggressive, quarrelsome birds. They also feed on the eggs and young of other birds, including those of their own kind. The Laughing Gull is also a very sociable bird that migrates, rests, hunts, and scavenges with other Laughing Gulls. The Laughing Gull is the largest of the dark-hooded gulls. It is apparently named, as its extended, "ha-ha-ha" call resembles laughter. It is a carnivore as well as a scavenger. In the wild, it will eat insects, fish, shellfish, and crabs. The laughing gull is heterotrophic , it also happens to be endothermic.www.imagesgoogle.com

Delsy Daly     6-3

American White Ibis

     The scientific name for this bird is Eudocimus albus. This bird lives on the East coast during summer and winter. The domain is Eukarya, the kingdom is Animalia, the phylum is chordata, the class is Aves, the order is Ciconiiformers, the family is Threshiornithidae, the genus is Eudocimus, and the species is albus. Some interesting facts about the White Ibis is that they have five stages during breeding season, when there are colonies, there can be up to 1,500 birds. Swarming over your head. These birds breed once a year, last but not least, they are heterotrophic. Heterotrophic means they rely on other organisms. Not producing their own like plants. Some of their predators that they need to watch out for is a White Crow, raccoons, alligators, rat snakes, Virginia opossums, and much more. The American White Ibis stay quiet when they catch their prey but they can make a honking noise. They use their long beaks to find food through the pluff mud and other places. When a bird needs help to get away from a predator, every bird comes together and tries to scare it away. This bird has a white body, a long orange beak then to black, the face is red, and the feet are red.

Delsy Daly      6-3

Bags of Oyster Field Trip!

    The whole sixth grade went on a field trip. We were shoveling up dead oysters from a big pile , putting them in mesh, then tying a knot at the end of the mesh. Mesh is this kind of net to hold all the oysters and others as well. We were instructed on how to do this. After all of us knew what to do, we started. There was two or three people in each group. Each group would have at least one bucket to collect the oysters, we would also get this tube.(I forgot what it was called)Once you filled the bucket with oysters, fill the tube with them and don't forget to put the mesh on first! We kept doing this and it was so awesome. My partners were Maddison and Quinn. Not only was it fun but we were saving the world. Oysters filter the water, they prevent erosion, they are a food source, and they provide a habitats for other organisms. This year, sixth grade had made more bags then last year, that was such a big accomplishment! This was one of the best field trips so far that I have had. Everyone did great!