Bird of the Week - ll Sept. 27th, 2010

This week's "Bird of the Week is the Blue jay. This is a very common back yard bird here in Reading and a frequent visitor to feeders. This large, showy, noisy, blue bird has a crest with white spots in the wings and tail. The upper parts of the the bird are various shades of blue. The male and female birds look alike.

While many Blue jays migrate, others live year-round in our area. Some people don't like Blue jays because they are loud and aggressive and occasionally eat the eggs and nestlings of other birds. Blue jays can mimic the calls of certain hawks.

Bird of the Week - l September 20, 2010

"Chicka-dee-dee-dee. Chicka-dee-dee-dee." This is the call of the Massachusetts state bird, the Black capped chickadee. This little bird is a back yard favorite and is easily recognized. It has a small, short bill with a black cap, black bib, and white cheeks.

The Chickadee lives in Reading all year round. They nest in cavities (holes) in trees and will also nest in nest boxes. They feed on insects, seeds, and berries. They love to come to back yard feeders, often hanging upside down to feed. In the winter, they will often gather in small flocks travelling around the neighbor hood looking for feeders and natural foods.
To learn more about the Black-capped chickadee and to hear it song and call, click on this link:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-capped_Chickadee.html#fig1

Element of the Day! - Friday, June 11, 2010

Who am I? I am a colorless, inert gas that, while common in the universe, I am rather rare on Earth. I am used in advertising signs and lights.

E-mail me with your answer.
dwilliams@reading.k12.ma.us
Include the element's chemical symbol.
Image from: global-b2b-network.com

Element of the Day - Thursday, June 10, 2010

Who am I? I am a silver-gray metal. I have the highest atomic weight of the naturally occurring elements. When I am bombarded with slow neutrons, much heat can be generated and used for power and a source of material for nuclear weapons.

E-mail me with your answer at dwilliams@reading.k12.ma.us
Include the element's chemical symbol.
Image taken from: sustainablog.org

Element of the day - Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Who am I? I am a colorless, oderles, non-toxic that is gas much lighter than air. I am the second most abundant and second lightest element in the known universe and am one of the elements believed to have been created in the Big Bang. I am used in balloons and blimps.

E-mail with your answer at dwilliams@reading.k12.ma.us
Include the element's chemical symbol.
Image taken from: abbmoonwalks.com

Element of the Day - Tuesday, June 8th

Who am I? I am a lustrous, sliver-colored metal that is very malleable. I am used in coins, photography, jewelry, and tableware. I am an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. E-mail me with your answer at:
dwilliams@reading.k12.ma.us
 Include the element's chemical symbol.

Image taken from: monex.com

Element of the Day - Friday June 4th

Who am I? Under regular conditions I am a dark-purple/dark-brown solid. I am primarily used in medicines to clean and disinfect wounds, photography, and in dyes. Table salt is often fortified with me. I am rare in the solar system and Earth's crust, however, compounds with me in them are very soluble in water and I am concentrated in seawater. I am necessary for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland in the human body.

E-mail me with your answer at dwilliams@reading.k12.ma.us
Include the element's chemical symbol in your answer.
Image taken from: http://www.bridgat.com/food_additives-b803_8.html