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THE FLOWER HUNTER
Item #1: Canoe
Dugout canoes were probably one of the first types of boats ever built. Native Americans across North and South America made dugout canoes. The canoes were used for transportation and fishing and hunting. Dugout canoes were typically made from a single log. Controlled fires were used to hollow out these logs combined with scraping out the burned wood with wood, shell or stone tools, giving the canoes a flat bottom with straight sides. Paddles or poles were used to propel the canoe depending on the nature of the water.
The Seminole Indians used the dugout canoe for transportation traveling from their homes in the Everglades to trading posts on the coast. Cypress was plentiful in swamps and rot resistant and was the wood of choice for building a dugout. The canoe was built in two sizes: one size for carrying a single person and a larger one to accommodate an entire family and their household belongings. The canoe was propelled with a pole. The larger canoe could be fitted with a sail to increase speed.
Item #2: Jay Feather
Blue jays are easily recognized birds because of their bright blue, black and white markings and because of their very noisy and vocal calls. Blue jays' habitat includes southern Canada and in the United States, east of the Rock Mountains. These migratory birds move south in the winter. Blue jays can be found in forests, parks, residential areas and especially anywhere there are oak trees since acorns are their favorite food. Blue jays are omnivorous, which means they eat plants and animals. In addition to their favorite food of acorns, blue jays also eat fruit, nuts, seeds, insects, mice, frogs, small birds, eggs, beechnuts, and caterpillars.
The adult blue jay is between 9 and 12 inches long. It is bright blue on top and white to gray on its throat, chest and belly. It has a gray-blue crest on its head and black and white bars on its wings and tail. Its bill, legs and feet are black. It also has a black "necklace" on its lower throat.
The blue jay builds its nest from sticks and twigs and lined with grass. The nests are located in trees and shrubs. The female blue jay usually lays four to six eggs at a time and incubates the eggs, with occasional help from the male. The eggs incubate for about 17 days. Both parents bring the chicks food.
These aggressive, territorial birds often attack intruders and predators and other birds away from bird feeders. In addition to the distinctive blue jays also l growl, whistle and chatter.
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