Looking for a fun indoor adventure? Visit the Visitor Center and try our new I Wonder Nature Challenge! This interactive experience encourages you to follow clues and uncover answers about the birds featured in our taxidermy displays. Ever wondered about the difference between dabbling and diving birds you might see on Lake Galena? Come explore, learn, and let your curiosity take flight at Peace Valley Nature Center!

  • Did you ever wonder about the ducks and geese that visit Peace Valley Park? Learn more about them with this I Wonder Nature Challenge! 

 

  • Find all 10 species (12 total birds) of dabblers and divers hidden inside the Visitor Center! 

 

  • Easy Challenge: Use the Dabblers & Divers Matching Sheet and a marker to write the number 1-12 that matches each taxidermy bird with the I Wonder symbol.


  • More Difficult Challenge: Use the Dabblers & Divers half-sheet and a pencil to write the matching number and the common name for each taxidermy bird marked with the I Wonder symbol. Need a hint? Use the laminated Guide to Dabblers & Divers sheet to help identify the ducks! 

 

  • Current topic: Dabblers & Divers of PVNC

 

Two Ways to Feed, One Lake to Share 

  • Peace Valley Nature Center is home to many duck species, each adapted to find food in its own unique way. As a designated Important Bird Area (IBA), PVNC provides vital habitat for both resident and migratory waterfowl. This rich, protected environment offers the food, shelter, and resting space birds need throughout the year—and especially during long seasonal migrations. By watching how they feed, you can discover which ducks skim the surface and which ones dive below.


Dabbling Ducks 

  • Dabblers—like Mallards and Wood Ducks—feed at the surface. They “tip up,” stretching their heads underwater while their tails stick up in the air. Dabblers graze on plants, seeds, and insects found in shallow water and along the shoreline.


Diving Ducks 

  • Divers—such as Common Mergansers, Cormorants, and Common Loons—plunge beneath the surface to search for food. With powerful legs and compact bodies, they swim underwater to reach fish, snails, and deeper aquatic plants. 


 

Your Rewards 

  • Earn a sticker, small magnifying glass, piece of candy, and your own factsheet about dabblers and divers to take home!