Natural Conclusions from the Big Thicket

NIGHT LIGHT

Character Principle: Insight

Nature Item: Owl

Grade Level: Middle school

AWESOME FACT! NATURAL CONCLUSION:

Most visitors to the Big Thicket do I can capture enough of God’s

not see much wildlife because the light to live in the darkness of

animals work the night shift! the world.

For example, I can double up on

the light of God’s word, if I both

listen and take notes in church.

I can make the light go further by

reviewing Bible lessons, and by

memorizing key verses.

SCIENTIFIC TERMS

nocturnal Animals that are active at night

binocular Eyesight where the field of vision of one eye overlaps the field of vision of the other eye

THE NATURE STORY

Walks in the Big Thicket are usually very quiet during the day. There aren't many animals moving about. However, at night the Thicket is full of hoots and croaks and chirps. The beam of your flashlight captures yellow, green, and white eyeshine. When it's pitch black beneath the forest canopy, the bright beam of a flashlight is a welcome sight. You can't help but wonder how the nocturnal animals get along in the dark without one.

Actually the nocturnal animals are well designed for night life. The barred owl is a good example. Its eyes are set very close together, which creates binocular vision. Binocular vision means that one field of vision overlaps the other one. Also, the feathers around its eye sockets form a funnel, which collects additional light. And the eye itself has more of the rod type cells, for night vision, rather than the cone type cells, for color vision.

The raccoon is a fur bearing animal with very good night vision. The raccoon's secret is a special layer of reflectorized cells in the back of its eye, which enables the raccoon to use some of its light twice.

A PERSONAL STORY

Cynthia loved everything about camp. She loved the trail rides and canoeing. She especially loved it at night when everyone followed a trail of torches to the council ring. All the campers would gather around, and the camp director would push a small candle stub into a pile of kindling underneath a huge stack of logs. Cynthia loved to watch the tiny flame grow into a bonfire that sent sparks flying above the treetops, to be lost amongst the countless stars in the galaxy.

She would never forget the night the camp director explained the source of the fire's light and heat to the campers: "girls, energy from the sun travels 93,000,000 miles through space at 186,000 miles per second. When it reaches the earth, plants face their leaves to absorb as much of it as they can. When the sun’s energy mixes with water and soil nutrients, a chemical reaction takes place that changes the sun’s electrical energy into chemical energy. That energy is stored in the tree's wood. When you light a match to the wood, the combustion process changes the chemical energy back into electrical energy."

That night was the night that light from heaven entered Cynthia's heart for the first time. The director had explained that our souls are lost in darkness, but God sent light from heaven, and that light was Jesus. With the sparks of the campfire crackling in the background, Cynthia bowed her head: "Lord Jesus, I'm lost in the dark. I need your light. Come into my life, and change me into the kind of person you want me to be."

Before Cynthia left camp, she spent much time soaking up the light of God's word in chapel and in private quiet times, down by the lake. She promised herself that she would continue to absorb as much scripture as she could, after she returned home from camp.

When Cynthia got back home she discovered, that her mom was away from home for a week attending a conference. She had left a long list of chores to attend to: shopping, dishes, laundry, plant watering, and pet care! Cynthia's day quickly filled up to overflowing, and she found it impossible to indulge in private quiet times, like she had enjoyed at camp. Too busy for well thought out prayer, Cynthia blurted out: "Lord, I need light!" Her short prayer received a short answer: "face all of your leaves to Me."

During the rest of Cynthia's busy week, she memorized Bible verses while she waited at checkout counters, listened to cassette messages while she washed dishes, and listened to Christian music while she folded clothes. She quoted verses while she watered house plants and hummed praise choruses, while taking care of pets.

Cynthia (meaning "the moon" suggesting "reflector of light")

NATURE PROJECT

Time Commitment: 1 to 2 hours

Materials:

__ Owl tape recording

__ Flashlights (at least one hi power light)

__ Battery powered Q-beam light (optional)

__ Field guide to birds

__ Large pine cones (longleaf pine in the Big Thicket)

__ Large craft eyes

__ Hot glue

__ Black poster board

__ White fine tip marking pen

Go on an owl prowl! Listen to the recorded sounds of different kinds of owls, and try to imitate the call of a common owl for your area. The barred owl is common in the Big Thicket, and its voice is easy to learn. It says, "Who cooks for you ...who cooks for you...who cooks for y'all." Go 'owling' either after dark or before sun up. Move quietly into the woods. Turn your flashlights off, and sit quietly in the dark. After a while, try to call up an owl. It's possible to get an owl to come within flashlight range and carry on a conversation with you!

Note: Some parks have restrictions on hunting at night with artificial light. Check ahead, and ask about getting a special educational permit, if there is a regulation.

Note: Small parties are best

As an extension of your 'owl prowl,' you might want to make an owl out of a large pine cone and a large pair of fake eyes from a craft shop. Make a stand for the owl out of a piece of black cardboard cut out in the shape of a Bible. Use a white paint pen to print Psalm 119:105 on the stand.

"Your words are a flashlight
to light the path ahead of me,
and keep me from stumbling."

Psalm 119:105
Living Bible