Published January 19, 2006

“When a turkey vulture feels threatened, he’ll projectile vomit on the predator.”
“Eeeyoo, how gross!!” respond the students on Mara Unger’s nature walk. Reminding the kids of what the bird has been eating, she asks, “Would you want that stinky goo all over you?” The children are engaged. They’ll surely remember this effective defense weapon.
Mara trained in 1991 and guided alongside the famed naturalist, “Mrs. T.” Today Mara guides youngsters in Spring Lake Park under the auspices of Wild Care, the Terwilliger Nature Education and Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

The outings help children experience nature in a different way. Example: boys start throwing rocks. Mara asks the group to close their eyes, picture themselves in their bedroom. “All is quiet. Do you sleep with something? Do you hear any sounds? Maybe the wind blowing?

“All of a sudden the roof comes off your house and something huge is poking at you, maybe grabbing at your legs or flicking your face. Can you imagine that’s what’s happening for creatures living in that puddle?” An interactive discussion of predators and how they all fit into the circle of life might follow.

“Pick an animal.” Mara encourages thinking small. “What if you were a tick? Or a butterfly? If you think you’re small and insignificant, you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito!”

She asks how each is affected by the other animals in the circle. Then a provocative question, “Who do you eat?” or “How will your world be different when one of you disappears?”

Children come to Spring Lake each Wednesday morning. “Once kids get a taste of lively nature education,” Mara smiles, “they become quite addicted.”

You can be trained to foster this healthy addiction. Requirements are a small materials fee and a commitment to guide at least twice a month over the next school year. You’ll be so richly rewarded. Call Alison at (415) 453-1000, ext. 21 or visit WildCare at www.wildcarebayarea.org.

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