This week I started teaching ‘Citizen Science’ at my local elementary school. The idea is pretty simple: each week I introduce the kids to a new citizen science project and at the end of the four-week course, if the kids are into it, we’ll choose one to work on together.
Yesterday we talked about the Great Backyard Bird Count. This nationwide project, administered by National Audubon Society, encourages birders of all ages and abilities to get outside and count birds. It is simple (click the link to see how simple) and a great way to pump interest into a long and cold winter.
The fifteen third-through- fifth-graders in class yesterday were really into bird identification. I had giant photo flashcards of common Eastern US species, and they had a ball trying to figure out which was which. Once we could recognize the common species by sight, we tried to identify a few by sound. Not so easy! But by the time we left, my charges were excited about their homework: to identify ten different species of birds by our next session.
As three of the children in the class live with me, I get to do the homework too. Last night, just before dark, we braved the freezing temperatures and knee-deep (for some of us) snow to spy five mourning doves. We didn’t have a camera, but my littlest drew this picture for you. (Please note the artist has taken some liberties with the size, shape, color, and apparel of the mourning doves.)
This year’s Great Backyard Bird Count takes place between February 15 and 18, 2008. All you need is fifteen minutes and some basic bird identification skills. Give it a try!
