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Ballooning Spiderlings

Animals· Arachnids· Minibeasts· Nature Journaling· Nature Study· Seasons· Spring

14 Dec

My son LOVES!! fishing and he’s constantly plotting a plan to convince me to take him to his favourite spots. He knows he can persuade me with the promise of a nature ramble, journal entries and opportunities for discovery. He may speculate, ‘I wonder what we would find today?’ Well, that’s enough pondering to satisfy my curiosity. Fishing we will go.

It was a beautiful day for fishing. A refreshing, cool breeze wafted passed while the sun drenched us with its warmth. Just as we settled into a day of restful fishing I felt something crawling on me. It was a spiderling and attached to it a long silk thread. I promptly brushed it off, of course.

It wasn’t long at all before the children were noticing more spiderlings raining on them too. As we gazed up we spotted hundreds of ballooning spiderlings. They were crawling all over the beach as well. I must admit, I was tempted to return home as it was a tad unpleasant, but I did stick it out for the whole day while my son worked hard at trying to catch a mulloway.

Spiderlings balloon or parachute when the competition for food becomes intense. They’re known to eat each other and to survive they relocate by crawling to their highest point and positioning their spinnerets towards the sky, they shoot out silk unto there’s enough to catch a breeze. Spiderlings have been known to travel up to 100kms this way.

We didn’t to go searching for something to study as the spiderlings kept us busy. Since our fishing jaunt I’ve relocated two massive banded huntsman spiders, and I’m convinced they hitched a ride home with us.

The expedition provided us with an opportunity to enter ballooning spiderlings into our nature journals. We also included a sketch of a spider’s life cycle.

It was interesting to learn of recent events where spiderlings rained from the sky to such an extent a carpet of web rested on the ground. Have you seen these reports?

Have you noticed ballooning spiderlings lately?

Does your family enjoy fishing?

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About Marie

Homeschooling is a gentle amble for me since four of my five children have graduated. I share my joy with things beautiful, good and lovely with my grandchildren where I live contently with hubby in rural South Australia.

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We have outdoor expeditions to undertake and adventures to embark upon. We’ll explore the outdoors together, side by side, and uncover miraculous mysteries, and secrets. We’ll wander, and wonder in amazement as we become familiar with the Australian fauna and flora.

I desire to come alongside you in the muddle, making nature study the joy it’s meant to be.  Outdoor adventures will become a regular part of your life as you make connections to the natural world with a sense of awe.

Testimonials

Sarah

Absolutely love the activity books my whole family can learn together and it’s Australia based. Highly recommend
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:52:01+10:30
Absolutely love the activity books my whole family can learn together and it’s Australia based. Highly recommend
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/sarah/

Rachel

We began our homeschool journey this year keen to explore all that nature study entails. I had searched the web for weeks to research what we would use as our framework. I cannot describe the elation I felt when I came across an AUSTRALIAN nature study guide! Marie has done all the hard work and put together a wonderfully elaborate resource for all ages. You can dip your toe in or dive right into all the ideas and links. There’s so much here we could spend all week doing nature study, and often we do.
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:53:11+10:30
We began our homeschool journey this year keen to explore all that nature study entails. I had searched the web for weeks to research what we would use as our framework. I cannot describe the elation I felt when I came across an AUSTRALIAN nature study guide! Marie has done all the hard work and put together a wonderfully elaborate resource for all ages. You can dip your toe in or dive right into all the ideas and links. There’s so much here we could spend all week doing nature study, and often we do.
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/rachel/

Cheryl

We didn’t find out about the program until about half way through term, so we played catch up most of the time. I love how open ended the lessons are, but with enough structure to work well for those children needing such a program. We have been able to cover much of the required curriculum whilst enjoying the activities we love. Your program has been such a blessing to us, because we needed a change to our homeschooling lessons which would still cover curriculum, but would enable us to relax and enjoy “school” together. Thank you.
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:50:47+10:30
We didn’t find out about the program until about half way through term, so we played catch up most of the time. I love how open ended the lessons are, but with enough structure to work well for those children needing such a program. We have been able to cover much of the required curriculum whilst enjoying the activities we love. Your program has been such a blessing to us, because we needed a change to our homeschooling lessons which would still cover curriculum, but would enable us to relax and enjoy “school” together. Thank you.
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/cheryl/

Sally

We have really enjoyed the program this term. We have gotten outside more often and the children are definitely taking more notice of things when we are out. Having a place to share what we have done and seen has been an encouragement to keep it up. I sometimes felt like we could spend longer on some topics as they were so interesting but that is probably just my obsessive "we must cover everything now" problem. 
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:48:30+10:30
We have really enjoyed the program this term. We have gotten outside more often and the children are definitely taking more notice of things when we are out. Having a place to share what we have done and seen has been an encouragement to keep it up. I sometimes felt like we could spend longer on some topics as they were so interesting but that is probably just my obsessive "we must cover everything now" problem. 
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/sally/

Jessie

I looked high and low online for an Australian nature based curriculum and when I found Australian Nature study Guide on Instagram I was so excited to have finally found something that my family can relate to. My favourite thing about this guide is that Marie is so hands on and involved with her customers. I have never felt alone in the journey, she is there to guide and encourage us every step of the way in the Facebook group. Thanks Marie for welcoming us to your nature study family 🙂
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:52:36+10:30
I looked high and low online for an Australian nature based curriculum and when I found Australian Nature study Guide on Instagram I was so excited to have finally found something that my family can relate to. My favourite thing about this guide is that Marie is so hands on and involved with her customers. I have never felt alone in the journey, she is there to guide and encourage us every step of the way in the Facebook group. Thanks Marie for welcoming us to your nature study family 🙂
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/jessie/

Valerie

I totally enjoy using the Nature study guide. The children enjoy learning about the different animals and plants.
Nature Study Australia
2018-05-25T15:51:39+10:30
I totally enjoy using the Nature study guide. The children enjoy learning about the different animals and plants.
https://naturestudyaustralia.com.au/testimonials/valerie/
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