FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Re: new Cumberland birds

["IE Ries" <featherchaser@xxxxxxxxxx>]

  Michael,

  I am SO very glad to hear that teachers are adding nature education into 
the curriculum where ever possible - it's been something far too often left 
out, with some children only getting to a park or outdoors through a 
once-a-year field trip picnic through school.   Hats off to you and teachers 
like you for incorporating science, conservation and basic ornithology into 
your students' academics, they are getting a great education!

  Irene in Southside


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Michael Shapiro" <sc.tanager@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  To: "Richmond listserv" <va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 11:55 PM
  Subject: [va-richmond-general] new Cumberland birds


   I've been teaching nature as part of an after-school program at school. 
Today, we went on a nature walk. One group saw the swallows and the Chipping 
Sparrow. Both groups saw a singling male Eastern Bluebird. One group looked 
at a European Starling through my scope and a couple of them commented on 
how pretty it was. The fact that it was a non-native species that has hurt 
some native species over the years didn't alter their opinion. When we saw 
an American Crow sitting on a fence, they all wanted to see it in the scope 
(it flew off before we had that chance). It's interesting how kids get 
excited and interested in things we take for granted. When was the last time 
any of us ever really watched a crow or a starling? One group also saw a 
pair of Pond Skaters in a very small stream. One had to be the biggest Pond 
Skater I've ever seen. It had to be as big as one of my fingers.






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