Hawk vs. Chickens

During 7th period a biological event of avian proportions played out in the Back 40. Coach Moore noticed a Red tailed hawk perched on the chicken tractor. Mr. Brooks students were next on the scene. I noticed the hullaballoo outside my window as Dirk and some of his classmates were trying their best to protect the chickens. I grabbed my trusty digital and captured these images.

He (she?) patiently waited for another chance at the chickens. It was an amazing site as he would glide from tree branch to post to light fixture and back again. Except when Dirk flailed his arms, the hawk (quickly tagged Tony) seemed oblivious to the excited human spectators. I got within five feet- close enough.

 Journalism/photography teacher, Ms. Weber, noticed the commotion and came running. She shared these two great photos.

In the end two chickens suffered minor injuries, the hawk settled for a mockingbird, and a couple of dozen humans got a rare up close view of a top predator pursuing prey.

A Semester's Difference

Our Green Tech electives are semester long. In a mere 16 weeks students in Mr. Brooks's classes have made a huge impact on our campus.  

Chickens

Underused picnic tables were relocated to the front of the schools. This left an empty concrete pad in a protected alcove close to water and electricity. Mr. Brooks reclaimed this area and relocated the Frisby coop to offer better lodging for our layers. Next semester should see the debut of ChickenCam.

Notice the resemblance?

Vermiculture

Working with Keep Austin Beautiful students began an indoor composting station that employs red wigglers to break down food scraps and strips of discarded newsprint. Students have learned that reducing waste is not enough. We have to find ways to harvest the nutrients in the waste that we still generate.

Expansion of Food Production

Another collaborative effort doubled the capacity of our raised vegetable gardens. Students also improved the structure of the protective cold frames. Already students have munched on chard, kale, spinach, parsley, and cilantro. Modeling local organic food production is not just targeted for our students, but the community as well.

 Sheet Mulching

The former site of the chicken enclosure is being revitalizes with cardboard, leaf mold and leftover soils from this semester's projects. Students bravely battled gusting winds often chasing flatted boxes across the back courtyard. The Frisby chicken tractors are still getting a lot of use.

 Herb Spiral 

Another collaborative effort combined surplus soils with Lake Travis driftwood, cemetery stones, and leftover building materials in a coiled bed for growing herbs.

Cafeteria Composting

Mr. Brooks's student collect cafeteria waste daily. They are using several composting methods including a compost tumbler, a compost tea maker, and wooden bins made by Mr. Scott's students.

As we wind down the Fall semester, we are gearing up for plenty of  green activity in the spring.

Walking in the Wild

We have been gardening with native plants on campus since the spring of 2000. This has afforded us  countless cool encounters with wildlife. But, heading out on our nearby woodlands trail always seems to provide a little extra magic. Today during 8th period was no exception.
Ostensibly we were searching for invasive species, but we also noticed a variety of seed types we have been studying. We identified the fiercely invasive Chinaberry by its clusters of yellow drupes before we even reached the trailhead.  Once on the trail, fortunately, we did not find any more.

April showed her classmates how to recognize (and harvest) wild onions. She found these where the trail crosses Williamson Creek.

On our return trip taking a different trail spur, Ashley asked me why the prickly pear was white and bumpy. I had walked right past it. We backtracked and had a teachable moment. The white bumps are a colony of cochineal (Dactylopius coccus). The eggs and bodies contain carminic acid which was used by Mayans and Aztecs as a crimson dye for textiles and food coloring. It is sometimes used as a food additive today.

Yet another natural wonder awaited us near the back bike racks on campus. What murdered the mockingbird, and why did it leave the wings hanging in a Bois d'Arc sapling? 

Speculations included an eagle, hawk, dog(?), and an owl. The general consensus was an owl. Students also surmised that since the wings were still moveable, it was a recent kill. They noted a spray of feathers on the ground as well. Could it have flown into the tree? Where is the body? the head?

Moral of the lesson: There's a lot of cool stuff outside.

Thanksgiving Trees Year Two

With the wind chill near freezing, Native Plants and Animals students planted it forward. They added three trees to our Small Forest. Between the six environmental science classes I teach, we are planting 18 trees on our campus. Last Friday's inch of rain made our task much easier.

Last year Small students planted a dozen trees at Westcave Preserve and thus initiated Thanksgiving Trees, a tradition we hope will adopted by others. The idea is simple. Plant a tree or few around the end of November, reflect on gratitude, and do something positive for the environment.

By 5th period it had warmed up, and we had more trees to plant. This time we added three retamas to the southern end of the Small Forest.

One prominent characteristic of retamas is the long thorns along the trunk and branches. These spikes are perfect for a sated bird to stash a tasty dragonfly for a later meal.

Towards Tree Literacy

Are you tree literate?

Ever spend time up in a tree, been in a real treehouse?
Have you ever planted a tree, taken care of it?
Are you up on your tree anatomy?
Could you explain to someone else the value of native trees?
Do you know the common names of 20 or more local trees?
Could you use a dichotomous key to figure out the names of the ones you don't?

By the time my Taste of Science students have completed the course, they should be able to answer yes to most of these questions. As far as the treehouse goes, they are on their own.

Seeds of Succession

Recent wildfires have grabbed our attention. First, the Oak Hill fire directly affected some of our students and their families. Then subsequent fires in Spicewood, Steiner Ranch, and Bastrop County have triggered concern and prompted many of my students to ask what happens to wildlife when their habitat burns.

In Taste of Science classes this week we have been studying the role fire plays in an ecosystem. As a culminating activity, students combined native wildflower and grass seeds with clay and compost to create seedballs. 

You don't have to make seedballs to sow wildflower and grass seed, but it does improve germination results. Loose scattered seed can blow or wash away. Seeds can also be eaten by wildlife. The clay hardens, but when exposed to sufficient rain, partially dissolves. This keeps the seed in place.

These seedballs will be used in the Lost Pines area to jump start the recovery of the land. Getting native producers established prevents further erosion and is critical for recovering animal populations.

Initially a few students were reluctant to get their hands into the mushy mixtures, but thanks to some intrepid classmates, it didn't take long for everyone else to join in the fun. See for yourself:

Thanks to Meg Inglis for getting Small involved and delivering the seed kits.

Pictures by PhotoGraef.

One Blustery Fall Wednesday

With temperatures in the 40's and 50's and buffeted by wind gusts up to 30 mph, all of the environmental science classes were out in force today. Mr. Brooks's classes tended to the chickens and vegetables, composted, and worked on their new spiral herb bed. Mr. Rosenberg's classes paced out acres by calibrating their strides around the football field and later tending the front flower beds. My classes worked in the gardens, identified trees using a dichotomous key, and hiked down to Williamson Creek to investigate erosion and collect soil samples.  

 

Having just completed their study of monarch butterflies, Native Plants and Animals class prepares their garden area for the winter.

 

We harvested a few suckers and young oaks and put them in the greenhouse. There was a lot to weed and deadhead. Earlier in the week, we collected acorns from white, bur, vase, live, and chinqapin oaks. We will germinate them in shallow, soil filled trays in the greenhouse.

More photos of winterizing our campus:

Thanks to Keep Austin Beautiful for hooking us up with some quality mulch.

 As part of our study of soil, Green Growing students hiked to Williamson Creek.

We journaled focusing on the wind and looked for signs of rill erosion.

Students collected two samples from the creek bed and three from the banks. Next week we will test the soils for pH, friability, and ability to clump.

It was a perfect day for a hike. Many students collected broken glass, flood detritus, and other litter.
See more photos:

Photos by Aylin's Eyes and SouperPix Studios

October Showers, October Flowers

We measured 1 1/2 inches of rain on the weekend of October 9-10. 

The gardens responded.