Finally Fall: Decomposers

Wild is the music of the autumnal winds amongst the faded woods.

William Wordsworth

Fall is a perfect time to get outside and we hope that our November articles will inspire your next open-air explorations and prompt your further investigations.  This is a busy time for nature, and we will highlight just a few of the happenings that occur above our heads, on ground level, and even beneath our feet as the displays of color, beauty and activities contribute to the concert of autumnal abundance.

Migrating birds can fly thousands of miles - the most extreme example is the arctic tern, which flies almost 50,00 miles each year. If birds had frequent flier miles, the arctic tern would take the cake more than any other migratory bird! This is just one of the many draw-dropping facts behind bird migration. Learners will delve even deeper into the seasonal miracle behind bird migration and how science has shaped our understanding of the phenomena.

When you think of fall, what comes to mind is probably the beautiful colors, foggy mornings, cups of hot cocoa or tea, and maybe even the crunch of leaves beneath your feet.  But one aspect of fall that most people don't spend a lot of time thinking about is the ooey-gooey part - the reason why those leaves don't stay crunchy, why you might pass by a park and smell the scent of decomposition. Sure, the decomposing matter might not be the most pleasant topic of dinner conversation, but it's vital to your life and the life of all creatures on this planet. How does this process all start? Well, let's begin with the function of leaves on a tree...

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This resource was created by Von Scully and Kate Reilly.