On Sunday, May 23, we held the #Nature "Mystery Creature Investigation Team" event [Takeshiba Research Institute—Elementary School Class]!

https://www.canvas.ws/kenkyujo/report/2021523.php


We are pleased to welcome Captain Hiroshi Sasaki, a professional naturalist, as our special guest lecturer.

This time, we left the venue in Takeshiba and gathered at “Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park.”
Led by Captain Sasaki, we set off on our adventure!

■There Are Lots of “Mystery Creatures” All Around Us
“Are turtles related to frogs? Or snakes?”
“Why are water striders called ‘amenbo’?”“Is it true they smell sweet?!” “What are those shells at the bottom of the park’s stream?” “Wait! Are those the shijimi clams we know from miso soup?!”
“Houttuynia flowers are yellow.” “The white parts aren’t petals after all!” “Believe it or not, slugs are attracted to beer!” “A gecko’s tail grows back if it’s cut off, but there’s something unique to the original tail—what could it be?!” “Here’s a hint: it’s the one that feels hard when you touch it.”

As you enjoy the surprising quizzes posed by Captain Sasaki, you’ll find yourself drawn into the charm of familiar creatures—ones you thought you knew but actually didn’t.

It’s a place that makes you forget you’re in Tokyo.
Amid the dappled sunlight,
the cool sounds of streams and waterfalls fill the air,
while male Japanese white-eyes chirp “chupi-chupi” in their courtship calls
and young great tits make “chit-chit-chit” sounds as they seek attention from their parents.
The low, deep “Moo~~” of the bullfrog echoes through the air.

The kids were completely captivated by Captain Sasaki’s sheer excitement when he discovered the cow stink bug.

■ Observation with a Smartphone Microscope: Observing plants and living creatures with Taiwan’s “μ” (Mu) Handy Smartphone Microscope.

“Take a look at the gecko’s belly and eyes.” “It looks just like a crocodile!!!” “I found a baby mantis!” “It’s only about 2 cm long, but its face already looks just like an adult mantis’s!” “Let’s take a look at the slug’s horns!” “If you look closely, there are little dots! I wonder if those are sensors?”

Both kids and adults are hooked.

■It’s already the rainy season, and come summer…
I spotted a cicada exoskeleton stuck to a leaf.
That’s right—this is an area where lots of cicadas emerge in the summer.
“Come here around 7:00 p.m. sometime between late July and early August.”
What mysterious creatures will I encounter this summer?

Finally, here’s a mystery creature quiz. “Bees love a certain side dish found in bento boxes.” What could it be? I’m sure all you kid researchers can figure this one out.

See you next month!