My kids, usually enthusiastic about potty humor, weren’t impressed with Figure 22 of Olaus J. Murie’s A Field Guide to Animal Tracks, illustrating weasel scats. This incident highlighted the challenges of homeschooling during a pandemic and the need for personal space. But this book, recommended by a colleague after a mink sighting, reignited my curiosity about the natural world. It’s a reminder that even when confined, exploration and discovery are possible.
A Field Guide to Animal Tracks, featuring detailed drawings of mink tracks and scats, sparked an interest in local wildlife. This fascination extended to other field guides, particularly those with maps pinpointing species’ presence in Kansas.
Minks in Kansas? Discoveries like this, fueled by field guides, sustained me throughout the year. Here are some notable Kansas field guides and personal highlights:
Birds of Kansas: A Local Avian Adventure
Birds of Kansas reveals the surprising avian diversity near Lawrence. Pelicans, ospreys, and painted buntings are all within reach. To engage my children, we turned birdwatching into a game, classifying species by rarity, mirroring the hierarchy in the game Roblox. This approach, combined with the citizen science app eBird (from Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society), transformed our outings into exciting quests. The “legendary” greater roadrunner, last sighted in Douglas County in 1998-99, became our ultimate challenge.
Fishes in Kansas: Underwater Wonders and Unsolved Mysteries
Rediscovering fishing as a socially distant activity, I needed a reliable resource when I misidentified my son’s catch. Fishes in Kansas provided fascinating insights. It revealed the presence of paddlefish, chestnut lamprey, and American eel in Douglas County. The American eel entry was particularly captivating. The book detailed that these eels travel over 3000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to Kansas streams, a journey shrouded in mystery. This led me to The Book of Eels, a memoir exploring the enigmatic life cycle of eels, reminiscent of Helen MacDonald’s H is for Hawk.
An American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), the largest caught in Kansas weighed 144 pounds and measured 54 1/4 inches.
Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines in Kansas: A Botanical Odyssey
Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines in Kansas, revised by Craig C. Freeman and Michael John Haddock, is a comprehensive guide to Kansas flora. Originally authored by Homer A. “Steve” Stephens, who spent a decade collecting 90,000 plant specimens across the Great Plains. While my attempts to get my kids to identify trees were met with resistance, I used it to find paw paw trees and make pudding, despite their reluctance to eat it. The book even warned about the potential gastrointestinal effects of the fruit.
A Paw Paw Tree with fruits, known for its custard-like flavor but potential gastrointestinal effects.
Finding Solace and Discovery in a Shrinking World
Despite the challenges of homeschooling and a shrinking world, I believe my children have learned a valuable lesson. They understand that even in confinement, the natural world can be explored through books and direct observation. The bird, the fish, the gem between the leaves – solace and discovery await. A Field Guide to Animal Tracks Olaus Murie is a perfect tool to help with this discovery.
