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Day 1
It’s time for our friend, Estelle the Eastern Meadowlark, to head north into Southwestern Ontario for the summer.
Sadly, the space she used to call home is no longer suitable to support her dream of raising a family, so she’s in search of a new meadow.
As she flies along Lake Erie, she spots a large grassland beside a forest. From above, she thinks it looks like the perfect open space to call home, and she’s excited to check it out!
But when she flies in closer, she notices that there aren’t many other creatures around. There are no meadow plants for nesting and no insects in sight. Slightly defeated, Estelle decides to keep looking.
She spots other birds flying towards the water and decides to follow them. They settle in a smaller meadow just to the south that is full of delicious insects and native plants for nesting, which many others were already enjoying.
She decides that this meadow will do for this summer, but hopes that the small space will still be able to support her and her family next year.
How many native species can you spot in the meadow (excluding plants)?
Day 2
After settling into the small meadow, Estelle overhears some voices. She flies over and spots two humans walking along a trail in a forest, just tucked away from the meadow.
They describe a garden, with lots of plants and bugs! But she has work to do to prepare her new home in the smaller meadow, though she hops she can visit a garden someday soon.
By the end of summer, Estelle's chicks have left the nest, but she still doesn't feel fully settled. She dreams of her perfect home.
She worries that next year there will be even more wildlife seeking shelter here, and it won't be able to support her needs anymore.
As she starts heading south for the winter, she spots the garden and decides to grab a snack to fuel up for her long flight down south.
She spots some humans wearing "Thames Talbot Land Trust" shirts tending to the garden.
The garden was filled with many native flowers and even more tasty bugs!
The people eagerly chatted as they planted more native wildflowers in the community garden.
Word is spreading that there will be a new meadow nearby! Estelle overhears and starts to daydream about all the possibilities as she starts her journey south.
Option A. Increases food sources for native pollinators and birds
Option B. Demonstrates native gardening and provides seeds to share with the community
Option C. Helps keep Nature Nearby!
Option D. All of the above
Day 3
After a long winter, Estelle arrives back in Southwestern Ontario.
She plans to settle in the small meadow from last year, but dreams of a spacious, lush space with a surplus of resources that she can return to each summer.
Just before she arrives to the familiar site, a truck that reads “Thames Talbot Land Trust” passes by. Although the memory is foggy, she recalls what she overheard last year in the Auzins Community Wildflower Garden.
Something about... TTLT restoring… a large... meadow! So, she decides to take a hopeful look around before settling in her previous home.
She suddenly comes across the large, previously sparse meadow she explored last year. It’s now full of thriving native wildflowers and grasses! Many of her pals from the small meadow and other new critters have made this their new home, and there’s still plenty of space and resources to go around!
Estelle feels relieved that this meadow space has been restored so her and her family will have enough food, space, and nest materials to settle comfortably in.
After settling in, she explores the meadow and finds a log to rest on. She casts her eye on a handsome male Eastern Meadowlark, named Easton, who is perched on a Black-eyed Susan. Her heart flutters.
Can you spot Estelle's new crush in the meadow?
Day 4
It was love at first song. It called to her like the first day of spring!
Estelle and Easton decide to grow a family of baby birds for the summer in their new beautiful home!
The happy couple spends the summer taking care of their new chicks.
Although the large meadow has just recently been restored, Estelle feels assured knowing it will grow to be more secure and mature with each passing summer, providing her and her loved ones a reliable home for this summer, and many more to come.
One summer day, Estelle spots the TTLT truck rolling past the large meadow.
With gratitude, Easton lets out a song to say "Thank you!" for the wok that everyone involved with TTLT does to keep nature nearby forever.
Interactive Activity Answers!
Species featured include the Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Savannah Sparrow, Monarch Butterfly, Tiger Swallowtail, Red Fox, Eastern Cottonwood, and Black and Gold Bumblebee.
Community wildflower gardens serve as a public demonstration site for native gardening, provide food sources for native pollinators and birds, act as a source of native seeds to share with communities, and help keep nature nearby in our community!
Easton was tucked behind a daisy among the lush native wildflower meadow landscape!