Penguin Day

Happy Thursday! This week we are looking at another national day, National Penguin Day. It’s quite fitting because we have been having quite a bit of wintery snowy weather, just what most Penguins love! I love Penguins. They are just so cute and cuddly looking so I am very excited to be celebrating this day.

Take a look at some cool Penguin facts so that you are ready to celebrate the day which is January 20^th.

·         Penguins are aquatic flightless birds.

·         Most penguins reside in the Southern Hemisphere but there is one species that lives North of the Equator, the Galapagos Penguin.

·         Most Penguins are a combination of light (white) and dark (black) shades which helps them in the water. They are countershaded for camouflage.

·         Penguin’s wings are like flippers for swimming in the water.

·         Penguins like to eat krill, squid, different fish, and other sea life.

·         The largest species of Penguin is the Emperor Penguin and the smallest is the Little Blue Penguin.

·         The larger Penguins tend to be found in the colder climates and the smaller ones in the warmer climates.

·         Male Penguins are called cocks, female Penguins ate called hens, and a group of Penguins on land is called a waddle and a group in the water is called raft.

·         The word Penguin originated from the Italian word Pinguinus.

·         There are many Genus’ of Penguins and even more Species.

·         Some Species of Penguins are...King, Emperor, Chinstrap, Little Blue, White Flippered, Galapagos, African, Yellow Eyed, Rockhopper, Royal, and Macaroni Penguin. And that’s not all of them!

·         They are distantly related to the Puffin.

·         They have a thick layer of insulating feathers to keep them warm in the water

·         They can drink salt water because they have glands that filters the excess salt from the bloodstream.

·         Even though the climate is similar to the South Pole, there are no Penguins at the North Pole!

·         Large populations of Penguins can be found in Anglo, Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa.

·         Most Penguins lay two eggs per clutch and all share in the incubation process.

·         Penguins have no fear of humans and often will approach humans with no fear when they come in contact. This is possibly because they have no land enemies in Antarctica.

Also, take a look at some neat Penguin crafts that we found along with a few cards that we have made in the past featuring Penguins!

https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/paper-penguin-craft/

https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/penguin-bookmark/

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/heart-penguin-craft-1253177

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/PATTpasha.html

https://gluesticksblog.com/preschool-penguin-craft/

New Brunswick, Bay of Fundy

We’re in New Brunswick this week exploring the Bay of Fundy so here are some interesting facts...

The Bay of Fundy has some of the world’s highest tides. 

Two times a day, about 160 billion tons of water flow in and out of the Bay of Fundy.

When the tide is low, you can explore the ocean floor that was just recently covered in water! You might be able to find fossils, stones, and sea glass.

It takes six hours and 13 minutes from the Bay to go from high tide to low tide, or from low tide to high tide.

It is considered as one of the Seven Wonders of North America.

The shape of  the bay allows for the tides to reach as high as a five storey building. 

You’ll see breath taking cliffs, sea caves, as well as rock formations and fossils!

Whales and seabirds can be seen if you’re exploring the Bay on boat or from land. Take a Zodiac tour and you might spot Minke, Humpback, Finback, and North Atlantic Right Whales. You may also see dolphins, sharks, seals, puffins, and eagles. 

Lighthouses are always fun to explore and see. The first one ever lit on the Bay of Fundy was on Partridge Island in 1791.

A lot of people’s first thoughts when they think about the Bay of Fundy is surfing. Two times during the day hide tide happens and when high tide happens, a large wave called a tidal bore occurs. It’s a tidal wave that happens on the open ocean and it’s perfect for seasoned surfers to ride. It can come in the form of a single wave with a roller or a smooth wavefront with a bunch of waves afterwards. 

There are many parks that can be explored that surround the Bay as well. Check out Fundy National Park and Cape Chignecto Provincial  Park. 

For some more interesting facts and things to do at the Bay of Fundy take a look at the link below.

https://www.bayoffundy.com/52-reasons-to-visit/

Northwest Territories - Northern Lights

Tomorrow is Canada’s 150^th Birthday so Happy Birthday Canada! We are keeping with the Canadian Province theme and this week we have the Northwest Territories. Our focus is on the Northern Lights. They are a spectacular sight to see if you get the chance to.

Although you can see them in the Yukon, Nunavut, and Alaska as well, some say that the best spot to see them is in the Northwest Territories. They are located in the Northern and Southern hemispheres over each magnetic pole. The Auroras in both hemispheres tend to mirror each other with similar shapes and colours happening at the same time.

The lights are created by electrically charged particles from the sun colliding and entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Something I did not know before was that the lights you see in the North are known as the Aurora Borealis and the lights in the South are the Aurora Australis.  

Take a look at the photos. What colours do you see? Many colours are often present but pale green and pink are the most commonly spotted colours. Other shades you might see are...blue, violet, red, and yellow. They also may take on different looks as well as you can see below. 

The best time of the year to watch the lights is winter because it’s darker more often and there are more frequent clear nights. 

 

Some of the best places to see the lights in the Northwest Territories are...

The Salt Plains – This is so neat. You can walk barefoot on the Salt Plains where “saline minerals leach from an ancient seabed, turning the world white and crystalline.”

Blachford Lake Lodge – For a relaxing rustic stay this is the place to book for your trip to the NWT. It also offers great views of the Northern Lights.

Great Slave Lake – It’s the second largest lake in the NWT and the deepest in North America (the sixth deepest on Earth!) Rent a boat and it would be a very romantic place to watch the lights.

Alexandra Falls – Considered the greatest waterfall in the NWT at 10 stories high.

The Snow Castle – A castle made out of snow each season is a cool adventure for adults and kids and a perfect spot to see the lights.

Wood Buffalo National Park – This is the largest park in Canada (bigger than Switzerland) so there are many great spots to look at the Northern Lights and you’ll see Buffalo.

In an Igloo – An experience you won’t ever forget.

Yellowknife Bay – This is another romantic and cute spot with a floating village and houseboats that you can stay on. A perfect comfortable place to view the lights.

Aurora Village – “A place where traditional Aboriginal culture blends together with modern amenities for  a truly remarkable experience.” This is the world’s epicentre for watching the Northern Lights you can’t stay at a better place for getting the full Northern Light experience.

Houseboat Bay – Go for a kayak ride around the houseboats in the summer. Or even better, stay in them during the winter for a cozy vacation at one of the bed and breakfasts and snuggle up to watch the lights above.

For more info about the Northwest Territories and the Northern Lights look here...

http://auroravillage.com/

https://www.northernlightscentre.ca/northernlights.html

http://spectacularnwt.com/