Banding Demo for Kids Last Friday
For the past 6 years I have had the opportunity to participate in Allegany State Park’s Great Outdoors Day with the Recreation Department. This year due to the scheduling conflicts . . . . I was only able to banding during the Friday Class Sessions. But I still had the opportunity to interact with over 200 children from numerous school districts.
Blackburnian Warbler
The Great Outdoors Day program had 9 different presenters that would discuss oil spills, recycling, starts, fish stocking, insects, ect . . . . and my station was focused on bird banding. I would give a 20 minute/ group explanation on what bird banding is, who does bird banding and how a bird bander bands a bird.
Common Yellowthroat
I had 4 classes before lunch and then 3 classes after lunch to dazzle the kids with songbirds. With only 20 minutes allowed . . . I would show each group 2 birds being banded and then watched the birds being released.
Red-eyed Vireo
The children always enjoy that I would release the birds off the teachers head . . . ! Some teachers don’t love this part of the banding but I get great smiles from the kiddies! The kids are always having fun at my station, which results in having the loudest station!! Although the kids are having fun . . . we are still learning about science and how banding helps ornithologist learn more about bird conservation. The best part is the kids have an opportunity to see birds up close.
Yellow Warbler
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This is so terrific. It is great that kids are having so much fun and yet learning to appreciate the wonders of birding.
My son is just getting started on his life list and studying about them at college. He wanted me to ask you if you knew his much respected teacher, Kevin Berner.
7 June 2009 at 2:29 pm
This is great that you can participate in such a project Mon@rch. Kids really need men in their lives teaching them since there are so many absentee Fathers in the world. I bet those poor birds don’t come near any ballyhooing children in the near future. ha..
7 June 2009 at 2:42 pm
You look so cute with all those kids!
Teaching the public about banding is SO important. There are those out there who still say “Oh, you shouldn’t be bothering that poor bird! Shame on you!”
🙂
I wouldn’t even begin to know how to handle such a tiny thing. I deal with big pointy birds. 😉
7 June 2009 at 3:28 pm
What a great program for the kids. I know what an impact it had on me when I saw my first banding just last year and got to see the birds up close. The birds suddenly had personalities and you marvel had how beautiful they are. You also care what happens to them afterward. It’s wonderful you are involved with them.
7 June 2009 at 3:53 pm
What a fabulous program! How would I find out if they do something like this in the Atlanta area? Are there any national groups involved in outreach?
7 June 2009 at 4:05 pm
This is so cool, Tom! Glad there’s so many children interested!! They’ll never forget you and your lessons!
7 June 2009 at 6:37 pm
Tom–you are the envy of many readers, including me. Getting to band birds, do good, AND have 200 adoring children around you.
Were I the teacher, I would LOVE to have you release the birds from my head.
7 June 2009 at 7:42 pm
Beautiful bird images as always Tom, I feel as if there about ready to fly out of my computer monitor. I especially like the red eye of the red-eyed vireo.
Tom
7 June 2009 at 8:15 pm
You kind of remind me of the Pied Piper in that first pic. 🙂
7 June 2009 at 10:06 pm
What a thrill it must be to see all those shining faces soaking in the information you are giving. :c)
8 June 2009 at 6:43 am
I bet the kids loved it–what gorgeous birds they saw. You are doing us all a great favor by inspiring the kids.
8 June 2009 at 11:17 am
Awesome! You are the best the children love you!!
8 June 2009 at 11:40 am
Gorgeous and enthusiastic children, beautiful day and great birds. What a day! How wonderful that you are teaching these little ones.
8 June 2009 at 4:13 pm
I’m sure you’re teaching the kids way more than you realize! Wonderful work and photos, Tom!
8 June 2009 at 4:19 pm
This is wonderful you do this with the kids!
8 June 2009 at 8:41 pm
Hey Tommy – I looked at the first picture again and realized – those are MY kids! So good to see their happy faces again. I’ll always be grateful to you for giving all of us the thrill of seeing birds close up!
LOB
8 June 2009 at 9:35 pm
I remember all of those great programs at Allegany. They were the highlight of many trips.
8 June 2009 at 10:35 pm