6.1.15 - Birdwatching For Beginners/Bird Walk - Mrs.Hitzenbuhler's Class 

Barnstable High School - Barnstable, MA

It was my final visit to this wonderful classroom, full of ELA students.  I'm not sure why the weather always seems to be fighting with us on days I visit Barnstable High School, but we bundled up on this chilly June morning, each of us equipped with a set of binoculars. Binoculars are a simple tool that can truly transform someone who is not terribly into watching birds, into someone who gets lost in the moment of spotting that beautiful animal "up close" & through the binocular lenses.  It's just amazing what you're able to see once you are able to focus on your subject and see the color of the bird's eyes, the shape of the beak and the tapering of the feathers... so many things to take in.  For some of these students, I believe it was the first time they'd ever used binoculars.  It was fun to watch their reactions.  Fortunately for this school - they have a platform built specifically for an osprey nest and I was anxious to get such great views, right outside the school!  More and more schools are doing this on Cape Cod.  Birds are just right for sharing in SO MANY ways!  

I will miss my visits to this classroom and getting them outside!  I hope to visit BHS in the future! 

Our List:

Osprey

Herring Gull

Canada Goose

European Starling

House Sparrow

Fish Crow

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Osprey

House Sparrows nesting under Osprey nest

Great Black-backed Gull

House Sparrow

Canada Geese

Osprey

Fish Crow

Fish Crow & Canada Geese

Chipping Sparrow

Showing a Chipping Sparrow in the field guide

House Sparrow nest on ventilation.  It was curious how 

LOUD the machinery was inside the school on the other

side of this nest.  The House Sparrows don't seem to be bothered by it.

Happy Birding!