Summer at the Library
By: Bridget McIlquham
Are you looking for a fun way to spend your summer break? Well, look no further! If you’re in grades 7-12, you can sign up for Summer at the Library. You can sign up for the reading log and set your goals to complete, do many activities, and even earn prizes. Additionally, the library has many fun events planned for teens during these summer months. For more information or questions, please refer to the website or stop in and check out the program from June 1 through August 15.
Photograph by Ryan Chrouser
Spring Bird Migration
By: Isiah Chrouser
Every spring, thousands of birds take flight from their tropical winter residences, embarking on journeys sometimes thousands of miles long. Some, such as the Palm Warbler, arrive in spring and leave before summer begins, continuing to their breeding territory further north. This charismatic bird has a bold chestnut cap, a dark eyeline with a yellow eyebrow, and a similarly colored belly. It is most often found near the ground around water and in marshes. A unique behavior that helps to distinguish them from other birds is the fact they constantly bob their tails.
Many other species of birds such as the Eastern Towhee stay for the summer. It is a member of the sparrow family and a Wisconsin summer resident bird. It usually arrives from the south in mid-April. The male has a black back (females are brownish), rufous sides, a long, mostly black tail with white corners, and a very distinct, “Drink-your-tea!” song. If they are not singing, they may be found in their preferred habitat, forest edges, where they can be seen rummaging in the leaves looking for insects.
Another summer resident of the Eau Claire area is the elusive Scarlet Tanager. This incredibly striking bird appears to glow red in the sunlight, creating sharp contrast with its stark black wings. Although obvious once located, this tanager is not found without effort. The habitats it prefers are secluded forests far from the blaring sounds of the city. Areas nearby that they are regularly seen include the Augusta Wildlife Area and the Coon Fork County Park trails.
As always, if you want to learn more about or need help identifying birds, you can go to eBird.org or check out the Birds of Wisconsin Field Guide by Stan Tekiela from the library.
Fishy Arguments
Part V by: Wyatt Ahrens
Ad: Fred Haring’s Seafood Diner – Our fish is delish, it’s the best of the lot! Give it a try and then prove that it’s not!
Fisherman: You’re against sport fishing! So you want me to chuck my tackle box in the lake, snap my rods, and sell my boat? What a ridiculous argument!
This month I’d like to discuss a new group of logical fallacies called red herrings, named for the detectives’ term for a clue that seems to be important but actually leads you in the wrong direction. These fallacies do the same – leading you away from the topic at hand by deceptively changing the subject.
For example, in Fred Haring’s ad, he deflects the topic in two ways; the first is shifting the burden of proof to you. The burden of proof requires the person making a claim to prove it. No one should force you to prove their point. He also uses a fallacy called Appeal to Ignorance, which assumes that because something cannot be disproved, it’s therefore true. Unfortunately, it’s often impossible to prove something false. By shifting the burden of proof, an Appeal to Ignorance usually rests this impossible task on the viewer and avoids answering the real question.
The fisherman’s argument uses a different tactic: he exaggerates his opponent’s argument to the point of ridiculousness and then topples it easily. This fallacy is called Straw Man, because it’s easier to tackle a scarecrow than a real person. The fisherman’s opponent certainly wouldn’t have suggested that the fisherman abandon his equipment – it’s more likely he’s concerned about fish populations and thinks that sport fishing should be more regulated. By making it seem like his opponent’s stance is so harsh, though, the fisherman will have an easier time convincing his audience to agree. A fishy argument indeed.
Comic by Wyatt Ahrens
Mulan by Natalie Ahrens
Looking Back
By: Anonymous
As a senior in High School, I have been going to the Eau Claire Library for years and it has been a huge part of my life. As a kid I was described as a “voracious” reader and would often return from the library with a stack of books that I would read cover to cover. I was sucked into the worlds described in the texts, enthralled by the twists and turns and always wondering what would happen next.
Now as a Senior about to go on to college, I look back and see the library as the wonderful resource it is, a source of almost infinite knowledge and entertainment that the entire community can connect in. My life has been powerfully affected and enriched by the library to an extent that truly altered my path in life significantly, and I am happy to know that there are many more kids that like me can also be fueled and inspired by the library’s resources.
The library is more than a building that stores books, it is a cornerstone of the Eau Claire community and a powerful force in shaping the lives of ALL that live in our community. So, a huge thank you to the staff and everyone here at the library who work tirelessly to make this resource available to us all.
The Teen Advisory Board of the Library is made up of a variety of teens aged 12-18 that meet once a month to discuss all things library. They develop events and curate different displays for the teen lounge. To learn more about TAB information and an application form can be found on the Library website. Visit the Teen Advisory Board application page.
