CRESTONE – On Oct. 5, the Baca Grande Library hosted a Science Open House.  

The open house featured new scientific kits that were purchased with a grant for the library. Library users will be able to check the kits in and out of the library. 

Shelly Hill, a Park Ranger from the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, had an interesting skeletal animal touch table for people at the open house. 

Biologist Karen Caddis gave a talk on how to identify and protect local birds.  

Uma Jolicoeur, the Acquisitions and Children’s Programming Director of the Baca Grande Library, said, “During the summer I applied for a grant with SciStarter to do a screening of a documentary called ‘Flyways.’ We were awarded the grant that I applied for through SciStarter and, that allowed us to buy a new screen and projector for today’s screening, and to purchase the Citizen’s Science Kits.”  

Jolicoeur said that the Citizen’s Science Kits were an exciting edition to the library. 

“There is one on measuring light at night. It has a little light meter, a planisphere for looking at the stars. There is one on observing biodiversity, which has some clip-on lenses for an iPhone and there are binoculars. The kit also explains how to use I Naturalists which is an app that helps you take pictures, and then figure out what you are seeing in those pictures and keep a running log. There is a community field book in there too so people can write notes to each other as they do it, and share. There is also an observe a bird kit. That is a National Geographic set of DVDs and a textbook. There are also a couple of guides to birds in Colorado. This kit also has binoculars. People can check that out if they want to familiarize themselves with birds in the area and bird watching. We have three kits available here, and there will also be one kit at the Saguache Library Branch too.” 

Jolicoeur talked about the documentary screening. 

“Many birds migrate and move around. We are doing the screening of this movie today. After the movie we will have biologist Karen Caddis also do a talk about birds for everyone,” she said.  

“Flyways,” according to Scistarter.org, talks about shore birds, and their ability to migrate thousands of miles. The documentary talks about more than 200 species of migratory birds, and how they travel from their feeding grounds during the migration. The movie is centered around the movement of these birds and how scientists are mobilizing to the challenge of understanding and saving these birds. 

Jolicoeur said they are considering hosting a Science Field Day at the Saguache County Library as well.