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The Snowy Egret’s Secret

Activity

Yellow Feet in Action

Visit Hines Lake or the Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff Prairie and look for a fairly large white bird with black legs and bright yellow feet called a snowy egret. Then imagine what those yellow feet could be used for! What adaptation do these birds have that make their yellow feet so useful?

Science Seed

Snowy egrets have a very interesting adaptation for where they live! They walk through muddy water in wetlands, on the coast and in freshwater habitats. They wiggle their bright yellow toes underwater, which look like worms wriggling in the mud. Fish are attracted to the “worms” and come to take a bite. But instead of getting a meal, they are snapped up by the beak of the egret who has been fishing with its toes as bait! Can you imagine fishing with your toes as bait?

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore the Memorial Park Conservancy

The mission of Memorial Park Conservancy is to preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

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