Hunting for Caterpillars with Ms. Farber

The End of the Trip!

2008-11-07T11:38:00.004-05:00

It's hard to believe the trip is already over. I met so many great people, and learned so much. I feel honored to have participated in this fellowship and experience and I thank HSBC, Earthwatch and my school community for supporting this trip. Thanks also to my students who enjoyed this unique experience fully, and for the enthusiastic welcome home. You had lots of great questions, and was happy to share this experience with you. We will use the research methods, and ecology I learned during our spring service learning unit, so stay tuned!

Thanks for reading!

Cypress Trees Have Knees-

2008-11-04T06:15:00.002-05:00

Take a look at these cypress knees. Aren't they neat? We found these in a swamp in the Honey Island Swamp. There are many theories about what they are for. They most certainly provide support and structure for the tree because the soil in the swamp is so wet and malleable. Some scientists think they act as little snorkels, providing oxygen for the tree. The knees are hollow at the tip, and often snakes can live in them.

I'm off to New Orleans today. It's general election day! How exciting. I can't wait to see all of you on Thursday to discuss the results, your studies and my trip!

Maybe I'll see the Park View ghost after all. Do you think he or she is a Democrat or Republican?

Kayaking , and Caterpillar Zoo-

2008-11-02T21:02:00.003-05:00

Today I went kayaking again on the river to our new plot site. It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny.

The river here is the color of mud, and the trees are dripping with Spanish moss. Who can tell me what Spanish moss was historically used for? Research it and post a comment, or write about it in your writing notebook.

The mud at the shoreline was thick and sucked my feet in. It was a real workout to pull the kayak on shore and walk 3 feet.

Here is a cool caterpillar that we found. It's in the Geometrid family. What do you think is it's main adaptation for survival? We've been working on the "zoo" (taking care of all the caterpillars), and I have had the opportunity to see many interesting caterpillars.

Talk to you tomorrow!

Happy Halloween from New Orleans-

2008-11-02T10:23:00.004-05:00

I know you are all dying for a ghost story! I stayed at the Parkview Hotel, which apparently has a resident ghost in room 4. I am sorry to disappoint, but I did not see any ghostly happenings! I did pay attention, too.

But did you realize that the Ghost Hunter TV show will be filmed at the Park View soon? So there is a documented case of haunting, and the owners will be interviewed. I do have one more opportunity, though, Tuesday night when we stay there again before we leave.

Can you find me in the picture? The Happy Halloween sign is what we did at the bunkhouse before we left for a day off.

"Big Easy" is a nick-name for New Orleans. One reason is because there is a kind of laid back attitude here - people like to kick back and enjoy themselves!
One big festival they have right before lent starts in spring is called Mardis Gras, but next to Mardi Gras, Halloween is the biggest celebration of the year! Everyone gets really into it - we saw lots of houses with really cool decorations.

On the streetcar on the way to the French Quarter, there were so many people in costume!

We went to the French Quarter, where there are lots of clubs and music, and the whole street was like one big party. People here take wearing Halloween costumes very seriously!

I will conference with you tomorrow. I hope it works!

I miss you all.

Ms. Farber

Fall Web Worm (one of our finds!)-

2008-10-30T21:40:00.002-04:00

Here's a furry friend we've found a good bit. They are great because they are easy to see and furry (and not stinging). Some of the ones we find are small, but not this one. It's about an inch and the length of the fur varies widely.

Tomorrow or this weekend I'll have spooky tales to share from New Orleans- stay posted!

Caterpillar or Tube of Poo?

2008-10-30T21:03:00.004-04:00

I've found that I need to use my observation skills in new ways here. Lots of patience, and careful looking. Science takes a lot of looking.

In this video I am doing what we call "zoo". I'm emptying out the bags (cleaning out the poo, also called "fras"), checking to see if the caterpillars are alive, parasitized (eaten by wasps or flies from the inside out), or if they have expired (died), or if they had pupated (turned into a pupae, getting ready to be an adult moth or butterfly).

All of these will tell the researchers important information. They are gathering all the information about the caterpillars and plants that they can, so they can see the overall trends in relation to global warming and the hurricane.

So, while my video is in jest, every single observation is valuable and progresses the project.

Looking carefully is a life skill. I'm still learning. As you all know, I am a bit spazzy :) and have to remind myself to SLOW DOWN and look at everything.

Please list the 3 new vocabulary words with pictures in your science notebooks. It will count as a homework score for science. And every one of you whose parents post a comment will get a point extra credit. Please show your parents all the hard work and real science I have been doing (plus all the ways I'm sharing it with you).

I will post again soon with more pictures. This video posted really quickly which makes me happy (usually it takes hours!). I had a great conference with Miss Robitaille's class and look forward to our on Monday.

PS- So, where we are staying tomorrow night, the folks from the TV show the Ghost Hunter has visited. Apparently, on the third floor, is a ghost who levitated (that means lifted) a bed with a couple in it awhile ago. Also, a cup and saucer have moved on their own (!) in the dining room. The man from the Ghost Hunter sensed the ghost's presence, and they will film a show there soon. I don't think I believe it, but I will be looking around, using my observation skills on Halloween night when I sleep there!!

Exploring Plot 218!

2008-10-29T08:38:00.003-04:00

We kayaked up the Pearl River today, in search of new land to survey. It was exciting because the land had river been surveyed before. I could really see how the forest was damaged from Katrina. The trees were all cut off on top, and very young. And they had lots of thorny bushes and poison ivy. I saw houses along the river ruined, and many that were fixed up.

The river is the color of mud, and it is very active with birds (kingfishers, bald eagle,blue herons, owls and woodpeckers, all of which we heard or saw).

I found a stinging caterpillar called a Limacodidae (I like to call it lime aid). It is white and fuzzy with iridescent green on it. I will try to find a picture to show you. It didn't sting me, thankfully! I was happy to find it.

We spent 3 or 4 hours in a 10 by 10 plot, turning over every single leaf. It was daunting, and overwhelming, but once we got going it was easier (and exciting- I had no idea what we would find).

Then we paddled back, into the sunset, with the caterpillars in bags in my lap. I got back around 6pm, tired and hungry, but feeling like we had accomplished something.

More later, my friends. I miss you and I hope you are having a good week.

Inspiration-

2008-10-28T23:41:00.003-04:00

Take a look at Tymanny Parish, in Slidell, Louisiana. All these people are lined up for early voting. When I drove by to hike and survey yesterday they were lined up. When we drove back, they were still lined up. The line snaked around the parking lot. There were tons of cars everywhere. A volunteer that was parking cars said he had never seen the lines this long.

People are voting. More than ever. And that is amazing. Everyone is equal, and everyone counts.

Talk to you tomorrow!

Sooo Much to Share!

2008-10-27T21:42:00.006-04:00

Okay, first things first. Your questions.

I'm on the bottom bunk. It's got a big spring that sticks in my back, but I don't really care. I fell asleep last night with all the lights on and others still talking!

There are 2 PhD students (research scientists) and a research assistant leading, teaching and helping us on the trip, and seven teachers (including me). The teachers are from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. We are helping Rebecca Hazen with her dissertation research project, which involves surveying plants, caterpillars, and parasatoids (that feed on and harm the caterpillars).

The racks we hung up will be where we hang the caterpillars. We'll need to feed them, clean their bags, identify them and log data about them on the computer.

Today we learned how to collect caterpillars, how to identify them and collect enough food for them, and what data to write down.

We hiked out into the bottomland hardwood tupelo forest (look up what this is!)and survey a 10 meter by 10 meter plot of the forest. We surveyed every inch! And every leaf. It took many hours, but it was fun. I learned how to estimate the total leaves on a tree, and how to estimate the amount of leaves that have been eaten by caterpillars and insects. I also learned how to enter the data in a spread sheet in a palm pilot. There is so much to learn! I learned to identify sweet gum trees, illax desciduous, and holly trees. We were starving when we got back to the bunkhouse.

Tomorrow I will kayak ALL DAY to plots only reachable by water. I will be a water level with water moccasins (dangerous snakes), alligators, maybe feral hogs (I guess they can be mean, especially mamas!). I expect to be just a little nervous and a whole lot excited. I love to kayak, and this area wild and beautiful. It reminds we of prehistoric times.

Scary things? Ready for it, here's a list:

*Chiggers: (they burrow in your skin and stay for two weeks). None yet, thankfully!
*Stinging Caterpillars: Many are pretty and colorful, but will sting you like a sudden burn if you touch them. Yikes! I have to be careful when turning over leaves searching
*Biting Snakes: these are why we wear big rubber boots (I'll bring mine in and show up), so if we step on one, they won't bite our ankles. We've seen none yet.
*Feral hogs: like I mentioned above

I a bit nervous about these things, but not too much. I just have to pay attention and dress in a protective way (long sleeves, pants, boots). Do you think Miss Robitaille would like this trip :)!

Okay: a challenge. Who can tell me 4 parts of a caterpillar? Please write it in your journal and post a comment with your answer.

And, we did so much math today, you sixth graders. We estimated total reachable leaves by counting the leaves on a branch, then estimating total branches, then the whole tree. Then we estimated how much of the tree had been defoliated by caterpillars and insects. So, how do you think we did that?

If I counted 50 leaves on a branch, and about 7 of the leaves were eaten total (including some partials and whole leaves), about what percentage of the leaves are remaining? Try to figure it out in your math journals. I can post and help if you need it.

I'm having trouble uploading video. I'll try again later!

love,

Ms. Farber

The Pearl River (and other questions answered)-

2008-10-27T12:51:00.003-04:00

Hey awesome students! Thanks for all your comments- I was so excited to see that you had written. I've been taking pictures this morning and some video to share with you. Above is the Pearl River, where I will be kayaking tomorrow on my first caterpillar hunt.

Austin asked if I have seen damage from hurricane Katrina. Yes, I have seen many boarded up houses, plots of land for sale, and houses under construction (all in New Orleans). I've not yet seen the forest damage, but I know I will.

My taxi driver lost everything in the storm, her home and all her belongings. Most of her family has not returned to the area. It was moving talking to her.

Here is my first video! It's short, but is of us setting up.

More later!

We're Here!

2008-10-27T00:49:00.005-04:00

Good morning, class. It's 12:48 am here in Slidell, Louisana, and I am so very tired. We met up at the research assistant's apartment, then headed out to dinner. New Orleans feels downright tropical. There are huge oak trees lining the city streets, and spanish moss dripping from most of them.

It's humid and about 70 degrees right now. We drove up here to the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area, but I couldn't see much since it is dark. We are sleeping in bunk beds, it's kind of like a teacher camp.

Check it out--

Everyone is really nice, and I know I will learn a great deal.

A few questions I'd like you to answer in your personal journal today (or your writing journal-- your choice).

1. What will you do to help Mrs. Grande learn about our class today?

2. What lake is just north of New Orleans, and what rivers are nearby?

I will take more pictures for tomorrow, but now I am off to sleep in my creaky bunk. Oh! And I will tell you a story in the next few days about our haunted hotel we will be staying in (Ashleigh I think you will like this-).

Be good, kids. I expect it of you. I miss you already!

over and out,

Ms. Farber

PS- Sierra, I have your writing journal somehow! Don't fret. I think I mistakenly picked it up at the end of the conference. Kurt said he would bring it by school.

PSS- Joe, how is your shoulder? Did you get stitches?

I'm Off! See you in the Swamp-

2008-10-25T23:01:00.003-04:00

It's late and I am wondering if I have everything. My flight is tomorrow morning. I'm so excited to share all of this with you. You should see how full my duffle bag is! And I've triple checked that I have all my tech gear, Mr. Hedler. Now let's just hope it works.

I'll write next from New Orleans!

My New Camera!

2008-10-03T11:16:00.003-04:00

I'm practicing with my brand new camera for the trip. Here are a few of my happy students. The LCD viewfinder is big and clear. Next I'll try video!

Rumney 5/6, What do you want to know?

2008-10-01T08:39:00.002-04:00

Here you go class, this is the link to the webpage that tells you all about my expedition.

Hunting for Caterpillars

Look at Where I will Be!

So, what is one of the goals of this expedition?

Do you have any questions about this trip?

Getting Ready!

2008-09-09T11:57:00.003-04:00

I've bought my plane tickets and am eagerly awaiting my departure for New Orleans. Between starting school, renovating our house, and prepping for this adventure, I have been very busy!

It will be hard to be gone during the presidential election, but I will certainly vote beforehand by absentee ballot. I hope I can follow the results closely and that on the trip will be several political minded folks so we can follow the news.

I've also been a bit worried about the effects of Hurricane Gustav on the areas we will be studying. Hopefully the impact wasn't too severe, and the caterpillars were largely unaffected. We'll have to see!

Stay tuned--