Giant Swallowtail

The Bambino has a huge interest and fascination with wild life.  His favourite show is Wild Kratts, he watches it four times a day if not more.  And it seems they never have an unending supply of new material.  He soaks it up and is constantly drilling us with information.  I love it.  One of the things I love about homeschooling is that children learn best when they self-teach themselves.  In other words, they choose the subject, and put as much time and energy into it as they want.  And since it is a lesson they chose for themselves, you are guaranteed interest, and with interest comes learning.  A child (or adult) learns best when they are sincerely interested.  They become a sponge.

Sometimes I fear that his lessons are far too much tv oriented so I will take him to the library where he consumes as much books and info on wildlife as he can.  But the best part of learning is always found right in his own backyard.  One of the wonderful thing about Wild Kratts is they just don't focus on the big impressive animals like lions, elephants, or giraffes, but also on the smallest lizard or insect.

Yesterday we had a visit from a a beautiful black and yellow butterfly with spots on it's back that looked like it was smiling.  It's belly was even more impressive displaying a bright golden underside.  We had no idea what type it was so took to the computer to find out.  Before Wild Kratts, the Bambino would have paid no attention tot he butterfly and would have passed it off as just another butterfly.  But the show has triggered his interest in all creatures and his desire to learn more about them.  So it was to the world wide web we went to discover this beauty is called Papilio Cresphontes, aka the Giant Swallowtail.  Canada's largest butterfly with a wingspan of 83 to 113 mm.  She is also super friendly and had no fear of us humans.