Wildlife Calendar:
Teach the Value of Wildlife throughout the entire year!

Jan

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

January

Return of the King (salmon that is)

• Discover the Pacific King salmon
• Explore the journey and return of the winter salmon run
• Journal the life and times of an anadromous species

Hibernation—a winter sleep (California black bear)

• Investigate how the animal body functions during hibernation
• The difference between true hibernation and seasonal lethargy
• Discover which California animmals hibernate
• What is estivation? How is it different from hibernation?

Take Action

• Inform others about water conservation— its importance for people and wildlife
• Develop a "It Only Takes A Little Bit" pollution solution campaign

February

Migration—many birds 'winter' in California then travel to a summer place (Pintail duck)

• By air, land, or sea, choose an animal and map their travel route
• Consider needs and obstacles for a migrating animal
• Research international laws that help protect migrating wildlife species.
• Pacific Flyway Map

Take Action

• Build and place nest boxes for cavity dwellers (wood ducks, owls, etc.)
• Build and place a bluebird house
• Write your congressional representative in support of international protection for wildlife

March

The month of wind—Consider this force of nature

• Which plants use the wind to spread their seeds?
• Compare how raptors use the wind; Buteo groups include the Turkey vulture and California condor
• Build a kite—and make inferences about kite flying and wind currents
• Compare a raptor's flight and the flight of the kite

Take Action

• Trees are critical habitat for many bird species. Plant a tree and draw an Arbor Day Poster to show the value of a tree for people and wildlife. Display the poster at a public event or at a Community Center. (In California, Arbor Day is designated March 7-14.)
• Take a hike and write a story about your adventure, ask if you can read it to your class, print it in the school newsletter, or contact the community paper to print your story.
• Design a quilt that represents the natural resources in your area.

April

April showers bring May flowers—and food for wildlife

• Explore food chains and food webs. Follow the energy exchange from producers to consumers.
• Warmer weather brings snakes out on the trail like rattlesnakes. Wear protective clothing when hiking.
• Review the water cycle and other natural cycles.
• Explore the creation of a vernal pool habitat. Study the vernal pool cycle, from winter pool to prolific flower display. See vernal pool learning activity.
• Learn about naturalists like John Muir and Aldo Leopold

Take Action

• Learn about composting and create a composting area in your backyard
• Allow beneficial insects to be the pest patrol of your garden and avoid using insecticides
• Organize a John Muir Day for your school or community (John Muir Day is April 21)

May

Mother's Day—Are You Me? Some immature wildlife look different than the adults

• Compare simple and complete metamorphosis
• Study the life stages of species that go through metamorphosis
• Investigate changes in toads and frogs as they change from an aquatic to a terrestrial animal (Red-legged frog).

Take Action

• Create a habitat for butterflies; include plants that meet the needs of butterflies during all four stages of their life cycle (Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly).
• Make a toad resting—set a clay flower pot on its side in a cold damp vegetated area
• Inform others about beneficial insects; insects that help pollinate plants and insects eat plant pests.
• Visit a local park or wildlife area and get involved in activities. Sources: California Parks, DFG Wildlife Areas, DFG Ecological Reserves, and check out local city and county resources.

June

Summer Vacation "Water" you doing?

• What are the similarities and differences between river and sea otters?
• Investigate the amazing world of the mollusks. Did you know an octopus is a mollusk? The abalone is a mollusk that leaves behind a beautifully colored shell.
• Describe different ways that kelp can be beneficial to humans, wildlife and the environment.
• Explore a tide pool and the marine food web

Take Action

• Plan a weeklong “water world” day camp for the neighborhood. Contact the parks and recreation department, wildlife and water resource agencies to assist with the program.
• Hold a youth fishing event. Check out DFG events on free fishing day
• Volunteer to participate in a coastal clean-up project
• Evaluate the community and explore possibilities for enhancing places where both people and wildlife can live.

July

Independence Day Wildlife as national symbols or as seen on coins and stamps

• Identify wildlife that is used for national symbols throughout the world
• Hypothesize reasons wildlife are used as national symbols
• Research the decline and recovery of the bald eagle

Take Action

• Publish a newsletter exploring how people can assist in recovery projects for threatened or endangered species
• Write letters to elected officials raise their awareness of environmental issues and advocate support of the needs of both wildlife and people.
• Adopt a local endangered species. Educate the community and help stop the conditions that imperil the animal or plant whose existence lies in the balance.

August

Beat the heat with a Riparian Retreat

• Explore an area where water meets the land
• Describe some basic characteristics of a riparian zone (vegetation, humidity, shade)
• Identify organisms that live in riparian areas such as the caddisfly
• Consider the ecological role (niche) of some organisms in riparian areas

Taking Action

• Participate in a Creek Clean–Up or a riparian area restoration project
• Conduct a storm drain stenciling project informing others that storm drains empty directly into waterways that also serve as natural habitats

September

Labor Day symbol of industrious labor

• Investigate the many ways wildlife prepare for winter, some store food, some even change the color of their body covering.
• Many insects live in colonies investigate their social structure
• Can an ant really be a beneficial insect (Black ant)?

Take Action

• Participate in a community clean-up project
• Prepare for spring and summer with a fall planting of native plants
• Have a fall wildlife festival in your community. Develop hands-on learning stations about wildlife’s need for food, water, shelter and space.

October

Take the scare out of the Not-So-Scary Wildlife. Are first impressions valid?

• Learn about the beneficial aspects of brown bats and garden spiders
• Explore myths, misconceptions and superstitions about wildlife species and learn the real facts about the animal.
• Find out the habitat needs of a spider and its common prey and assess the spider’s role in its environment.
• Using geometry theorems construct a web.

Take Action

• Build and install a bat box
• Do a Taking the Scare out of Scary Wildlife Newsletter for students, teachers and parents.
• Conduct a bat poster-making contest. Display posters at school or community events to educate other about bats.

November

Let’s talk turkey

• What are the differences between domestic and wild turkeys. What about other domestic and wild animals?
• Look at how people have historically viewed the wild turkey
• Conduct a debate on the issue of introducing a species into an area
• Research species of plants and animals (include fish) that have been introduced in California

Take Action

• Create a video or a play that illustrates the interdependence of people, wildlife and natural resources. Produce this for a school parent’s night or a community event.
• Conduct a poster contest with a theme about introduced and native wildlife.

December

California reindeer? No Way! Ruminents are split-hooved, large herbivorous mammals (Roosevelt and tule elk)

• Study the adaptations that aid in these animals survival
• Compare horns and antlers.
• How do ruminants obtain complete nutrients from what they eat?
• Explore the communication techniques and social structure

Taking Action

• Make door-hanger advisories for your neighborhood: “Drivers use special caution: deer crossing roads at dawn or dusk”
• Visit an elk preserve and learn about their recovery