On the weekend I had a chance meeting with Art Gruenig at Elizabeth Lake. For many years he has taken care of the area at the foot of the embankment off Highway 3 where western painted turtles lay their eggs. This year he reported that the number of baby turtles, which survived the winter, was as low as 20% due to weather conditions, including a cool, damp spring with unusually high water levels.

Today we thought about how Elizabeth Lake is like some common household objects that our teacher brought to class. After some discussion and sharing of ideas, we tried putting our thoughts into words. Here are some examples of our writing:

Elizabeth Lake is like Cinnamon Toast Crunch because a deer can find weeds and grass to eat. (Caleb)

Elizabeth Lake is like my bed because the ground is soft and squishy. (Emily)

Elizabeth Lake is like ice cream because a bear can eat a ground squirrel. (Ariana)

Elizabeth Lake is like a strainer because water flows out of the bottom. (Julian)

Elizabeth Lake is like a backpack because it holds lots of supplies like food, water, shelter and lots more to keep animals safe. (Ethan)

Elizabeth Lake is like a strainer because water flows through Elizabeth Lake. (Demi)

Elizabeth Lake is like a backpack because a chipmunk holds food in its mouth. (Olivia)

Elizabeth Lake is like a pizza because porcupines can eat bugs and other insects. (Sam)

Elizabeth Lake is like my bed because it is soft just like the water. (Jaycen)

The hat is like Elizabeth Lake because it looks like a nest that was made by a red-winged blackbird. (Maggie)

My bed is like Elizabeth Lake because skunks sleep on flowers or grass. (Chloe)

Elizabeth Lake is like a backpack because there is food and water for the animals and a backpack holds food and water. (Hailee)

Elizabeth Lake is like an egg whisk because it's like a deer's mouth mashing or chewing on grass. (Greg)

My backpack is like Elizabeth Lake because it has pockets. The pockets are little islands. (Isaiah)

My bed is like Elizabeth Lake because the grass is soft like my bed. (Nick)

Elizabeth Lake is like a whisk because on a windy day the wind whips up the water like a whisk. (Paul)

Elizabeth Lake is like my bed because a baby duck could use it for shelter. (Zach)

Elizabeth Lake is like a cap because the trees block you from the sun like a cap. (Josie)

Elizabeth Lake is like crackers because frogs can catch flies. (James)

A cap is like Elizabeth Lake because trees can give shade to things like a cap. (Jerrid)

Elizabeth Lake is like my bed because the yellow-headed blackbird sleeps high up in the trees. (Carter)

Elizabeth Lake is like an egg carton because bald eagles lay eggs and sit on them and keep them warm. (Desirae)

Elizabeth Lake is like my bed because it has many good spots for all animals to sleep. (Seth)

Elizabeth Lake is like an egg whisk because when the wind blows it makes waves sometimes.
It is also like a storm drain because it swirls around like a whirlpool. (Liam)

Today we went to Elizabeth Lake to explore the world of the water insects and bugs. We had great fun catching, then identifying the various creatures we discovered. Some of us renamed the "predacious beetle" and called it the "ferocious beetle."

We happened to meet up with a class from another school, who were on a nature walk. We got a chance to tell them about some of the bugs we had in our tubs. Everyone was amazed at how many different kinds of insects and bugs live in Elizabeth Lake.

Two of our primary classes have been watching the development of painted lady butterflies in their classrooms from larva, to chrysalis, to butterflies. Earlier this week both batches were released, one at Elizabeth Lake, and the other in our native garden.

Today I was sitting in our staffroom at the start of lunchtime, when I spotted a bald eagle through the window silhoutted against the mountains in the direction of Elizabeth Lake. Within a few minutes I had walked to the lake, where I watched the eagle rise slowly on an upcurrent. Although there was a stiff breeze blowing from the south at ground level, the eagle appeared to glide into the wind with barely a movement of its wings for the next minute, until it had reached the far end of the lake. Then it wheeled and made its way north before taking much the same flight path as before. Suddenly it dived before levelling off several meters above the lake. Next it circled the southern end of the lake. I lost sight of it for a few moments, but shortly after a patch of white caught my attention, and there it was perched high on a conifer on my side of the lake. It was still there when I left to return to school.

During a ride to Marysville on Rails to Trails yesterday, I spotted an osprey on its nest close to the foot/bike bridge over the St. Mary River.



Today I watched an osprey circle Elizabeth Lake. It's the first time I remember seeing one at the lake.

As I crossed Prairie Bridge near to where Joseph Creek flows into St. Mary River, I stopped to take a picture of the view towards the Rockies. While I was clambering about under the bridge, I heard what I thought was the birdsong of the water ouzel. After a few moments I discovered it standing on a ledge under the bridge beside its mossy nest.

I've been reading excerpts from an ecological mystery by Jean Craighead George to the class called "Hook a Fish, Catch a Mountain". It can be found in Cranbrook Public Library under "The Case of the Missing Cutthroat". In one section Spinner's cousin Al tells her, "Where dippers dip, trout nip." The water ouzel is often referred to as a dipper. It's an amazing bird because it can walk and swim underwater, as it catches water bugs and insects, which are "trout food".



Since my last visit to the St. Eugene Mission on May 15, it looks like the herons have had their young, judging by the noise (of hungry, demanding babies) and the picture I took of one of the nests close to the St. Mary River.

Today I rode from above the reservoir (Phillips Reservoir) off Gold Creek Road down Joseph Creek to Idlewild Park, where I walked around the lake. This used to be Cranbrook's reservoir until the mid 1970s. I spotted these two Western painted turtles on a log near the shore.

Interestingly, when I continued my ride into town and over to Elizabeth Lake, there were no turtles visible at the usual spots in mid afternoon when the temperature was close to 25 degrees Celsius.