Not Just for Kids

Bluebird and Coyote
This is a story told by the Pima Tribe of Native Americans

A long time ago, Bluebird's feathers were a dull, ugly color. It lived near a lake with waters of the most delicate blue that never changed because no stream flowed in or out. Because the bird admired the blue water, it bathed in the lake four times every morning for four days, and every morning it sang:

There's a blue water.
It lies there.
I went in.
I am all blue.

On the fourth morning it shed all its feathers and came out in its bare skin. But on the fifth morning it came out with blue feathers.

All the while, Coyote had been watching the bird. He wanted to jump in and catch it for his dinner, but he was afraid of the blue water. But on the fifth morning he said to Bluebird: "How is it that all your ugly color has come out of your feathers, and now you are all blue and sprightly and beautiful? You are more beautiful than anything that flies in the air. I want to be blue, too."

"I went in only four times," replied Bluebird. It then taught Coyote the song it had sung.

And so Coyote steeled his courage and jumped into the lake. For four mornings he did this, singing the song Bluebird had taught him, and on the fifth day he turned as blue as the bird.

That made Coyote feel very proud. He was so proud to be a blue coyote that when he walked along he looked about on every side to see if anyone was noticing how fine and blue he was.

Then he started running along very fast, looking at his shadow to see if it also was blue. He was not watching the road, and he ran into a stump so hard that it threw him down upon the ground and he became dust-colored all over. And to this day all coyotes are the color of dusty earth.

If you build it, they may come …
Bluebirds like nothing better than a new house. If Mother Nature gives them plenty of bugs in summer and berries in winter, all they need to thrive is a good house secure from vandals. Here’s how to build a house bluebirds will love:

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Kids’ Stuff This Week

Saturday, August 23
Survive in the Wild
Kids ages 6-9: Learn which plants you can eat and which plants to avoid if you had to survive in the wild. 10am @ King’s Landing Park, King’s Landing Rd., Huntingtown. $1 w/discounts; rsvp: 410/535-5327.

Monday, August 25
Nature Hour
Kids ages 3-5 join Ranger Lisa as she explains nature and wildlife in the park. A guardian or teacher must come along, too. 11am @ Kinder Farm Park, Kinder Farm Park Rd., Millersville. free; rsvp: 410/222-6115 • www.kinderfarmpark.org.

Tuesday, August 26
Baby Social Hour
Babies and toddlers up to 2 learn to socialize with other infants. Parents hear Dr. Deborah Wood discussing how babies like to sleep. 10:30-11:30am @ Chesapeake Children’s Museum, Silopanna Rd., Annapolis. free w/museum admission: 410/990-1993 • www.theccm.org.

Thursday, August 28
Peter Pan at Aviation Museum
Kids ages 3-5 with an adult learn about aviation thru stories, crafts and games. 10:30am-noon @ College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Dr., College Park. $2 w/age discounts: 301/864-6029 • www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com.

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