OVN Bird Count for Kids
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Sunshine and warm temperatures on a mid-January day provided the perfect setting for the inaugural Otter Valley Naturalists Christmas Bird Count for Kids in Port Burwell on Saturday.
“There is a fantastic turnout for this event,” said co-organizer and former natural heritage education leader at Port Burwell Provincial Park, Kim Murch, “We’ll probably see some wrens, sparrows, maybe some shorebirds or waterfowl as well and some woodpeckers too.”
A total of 21 children ranging in age from two to fifteen signed up for the event and participated in morning workshops prior to going outside for a one to two-hour hike around Port Burwell looking for and counting different bird species. The information and numbers collected went to e-bird, an online database for monitoring bird populations.
During the morning workshops children learned about birding basics, winter bird identification and species common to the area, as well as how to properly use binoculars.
“I think it’s an excellent event for the kids,” Murch added. “This is a really good place to do it because this is such a migration point for birds in the fall and spring.
“Going out to the park, they have the ‘marvels of migration’ so you can see thousands of birds in a day and even going to Long Point - we’re right in the middle of a great and interesting area for birds.”
Kids were divided into three groups in the morning, prior to heading outside to count birds. Each group was given pencils, clipboards, tally sheets and had a leader, someone who was knowledgeable about birds and the local area. The three groups participating Saturday included: The Awesome Eagles, the Spirited Sparrows and the Scouting Scoters.
Last year there were six Christmas Bird Count for Kids events across Canada – that number grew significantly this year to 15 counts, including the one in Port Burwell on Saturday.
Kids from all over the region including those from Tillsonburg, Otterville, Vienna, Straffordville and St. Thomas came out to participate in the first, to be annual kids count in Port Burwell.
One of them was nine-year-old Louisa Neudorf from Otterville.
“I’m here to see all kinds of birds and to learn about them,” she said.
The budding bird expert said she hoped to see a Cardinal during the Christmas Bird Count for Kids.
“At my farm, it’s a birdseed farm so I see lots of kinds of birds so I know a lot about them,” Neudorf added. “I like their chirping and the way they sing their songs.”
Thirteen-year-old Koda Rousseau of Straffordville said it was his first time bird watching and participating in such an event and there were several things he was looking forward to.
“Just looking at different birds, going to some places I’ve never been to in Port Burwell before,” said Rousseau. “I want to see a Bald Eagle today.”
Murch said the bird count provided area children with a great learning opportunity and a new way for them to appreciate nature and the outdoors.
“I hope kids today have a fantastic time and pique their interest in birding watching so they can go out and see birds in their own backyard,” said Murch. “Maybe teach other kids about birds as well and share that interest.”
Organizers confirmed that a total number of 1,131 birds and 32 species were counted on Saturday including less common ones found in winter such as, the Northern Flicker, Common Redpoll, Belted Kingfisher, Carolina Wren and Bald Eagle.