Originally Posted by
crashdive123
The voting is open. Here is a recap of the choices with a little more detail than in the poll.
1. Find, and identify five native birds in your area. Seasonal fowl are fine. Give a description for each, long or short. The description could simply be sight and sound identification, but I encourage descriptors on just what the bird can tell you about the environment. "Boots in the field" is a must, and a "google-fu" supplement is welcome.
This trip I saw a Swallow Tailed kite and a Black Vulture soaring together. I tried to video tape it and have the extremely poor results. I saw a whole group of Black Vultures sitting on fence posts and eating a cow. I saw Sandhill Cranes in groups and I usually see them in pairs (that video came out decent). Redwing Black birds did their thing. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrits, Cattle Egrits, Ibises including a gang load of juveniles, Limpkins, Red Shouldered and Red Tailed Hawks, Barred owls, Eastern Medowlarks, cattle Egret, Northern Bob White and Quail, Ground Dove and Wood Storks.
2. Take your existing BOB from wherever you store it OR pack a bag from any of the lists you see here or on the net and add 2 quarts of water to carry. Drive to the closest wooded park with trails and hike out 2.5 miles. Use your kit to make a fire with materials found at your site. Make a shelter with the materials you have plus materials found locally. Boil 2 cups of water and cook a meal on your fire. (camping overnight optional) Tear down your campsite and leave no trace. Hike back to your vehicle. Report back on what changes you would make to your kit.
We made fire after a monsoon and cooked on it.
3. Identify 5 edible plants in your area. I would say that you should try them as well. Pictures or it didn't happen.
I have video of walking through camp. Nothing to them . Spanish Needles, Poke Salet, Guava, Papaya, Hog Plum, Ceasar Weed, Sour Orange, Lime, Grape Fruit, Ficus berries, Saw Palmetto hearts and berries, Cabbage palm hearts and berries, Simpson stopper, Water hyacinth, water lettuce, saw grass, cattails...
4. Make a fire three different ways.
Nothing specific. You can use what you would normally carry or find in your area.
Matches, lighter, friction, magnifying glass, battery and steel wool, fero rod, etc.
You can use lint, petroleum cotton, Char cloth, Mayan dust, etc.
You can use a knife, saw, hatchet, machete, axe,...
It's more of a self challenge. List what you tried. Was it successful? What you would do different.
For example: I used a fero rod with char cloth. I used the char cloth in a bird nest of dried grass and jute twine to make a flame.
We made a fire from ALL wet material using PJ balls and a ferrocium rod that now belongs to my nephew.
5. Collect one cup of water by any means other than tap,stream,lake etc. Treat it to make it safe to drink.
Collecting one cup of water this weekend would have been a joke, The grape vines which would not require treating that are large enough to give a good deal of water I usually pass on. Why cut resources you may need. This weekend you could scoop the rainwater off of the ground or catch it. We had 3" in a matter of less than an hour.
6. make a small fishing kit, get the boots in the field with the kit, catch fish, cook it in the field and use a edible wild plant as a side dish.
7. Instead of going out and doing something on your own, the challenge is to TEACH someone at least one skill, preferably someone who has no experience in bushcraft, survival, or any type of outdoor living. You pick the person and the skill(s) and report back.
Lots of lessons taught to my nephews this weekend.
8. I Use to teach rope and knots in the rescue squad and you would be surprised how many ways there are to tie a double half hitch. This is one of the most used knots I think there is. Now I know there will be those that will argue with me but explore the many ways to tie them and you will I think you will agree with me. The winner would be the one with the most ways.
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