[va-bird] Visitor in the School Yard

This morning I got a call from one of our 4th grade teachers that there was 
a big bird visiting our school yard habitat.  The bird had been at the pond 
and had positioned itself on our new fence.  I grabbed my binoculars and the 
principal and I headed down the hall to id the bird.  We got there and there 
was no bird on the fence but the principal found him sitting on the ground 
on the rise of the hill, a beautiful Red-tailed Hawk.  He then took flight 
and perched at the roof edge.  Both 4th grade teachers were hanging out of 
the hall window pointing to the bird.  They had been able to use a field 
guide and identified the bird themselves.  Later I visited one of the 
classes and asked who had seen the hawk.  All hands went up.  They had all 
gone quietly to the room overlooking the habitat to view the bird.  It is so 
exciting to see both students and staff get excited about birding.  My 
principal has even started a birding journal.

Katie Simmons
Clermont Elementary School
Fairfax County

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