Penn State sustainability student Ava Blansfield reflects on how she manages climate anxiety and shares her project focused on the benefits of touching grass.
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Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center
Welcome to Shaver’s Creek
Located in the heart of central Pennsylvania, Shaver’s Creek has been connecting people to people and people to place since 1976. We provide educational and recreational opportunities for families, schools, corporate groups, and Penn State students. Come hike a trail, see live animals up close, learn about conservation, and enjoy our programs.
Shaver’s Creek is committed to extending Penn State’s Outreach mission of instruction, service, and research. Through quality programs, we teach, model, and provide the knowledge, values, skills, experiences, and dedication that enable individuals and communities to achieve and maintain harmony between human activities and the natural systems that support all living species.
Upcoming Events
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- Nature Explorations
- April 20, 2024
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- Herpetarium Program
- April 20, 2024
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- Aviary Program
- April 20, 2024
We heard that it’s a big day for Swifties, and we think we know why…
We have started seeing Chimney Swifts return for the summer! That must be it. These fascinating birds spend nearly their entire lives in the air. They even forage and bathe in flight, almost as if there is an “invisible string” holding them up, only stopping to roost and nest overnight. We have no idea how they “tolerate it”.
Not to be confused with the “All Too Well”-known spring "Robin", Chimney Swifts are small, dark birds with long, sickle-shaped wings. They tend to be seen flying fast in loose flocks.
Some Swifts drop albums (or secret double albums), other swifts drop into chimneys for the night in an incredible whirlwind of birds, often appearing “bigger than the whole sky”! What did swifts do before the chimneys? Well, they used to nest in caves, cliffs, and hollow trees, but now with widespread settlement, “Everything Has Changed”. Chimney Swifts have come “Out Of The Woods” and most commonly take up residence in - you guessed it - chimneys!
Chimney Swifts are common in eastern towns and cities like State College throughout the summer, spanning from Maine down to “Florida!!!”. You’ll be sure to spot them on campus through “august” and into the fall, but once we head “Back to December”, it’s “So Long, London”, as they begin their migration south, flying through many “Midnights” to reach their wintering grounds.
“Long story short”, it would be a “Cruel Summer” without these “Enchanted” little birds. Sending good vibes to all our fellow Swifties today!
#ThisIsMeTrying #ChimneyTaylorSwift #ttpd
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1 CommentComment on Facebook
This gave me a good laugh. Very clever!