This week Club Wild joined schools up and down the country to take part in the RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch. The Schools’ Birdwatch started in 2001 and since then 2000 schools have been involved with 90,000 pupils getting out their binoculars to become real citizen scientists.
We set up two birdwatching areas in the playground and in the wildlife area at the front of the school. It was lots of fun setting up the bird hides with camouflage netting and we all enjoyed using the binoculars. The only bird we saw in the playground was a pied wagtail although we noticed the big birds; seagulls, crows and magpies circling above waiting until we had moved on.
We carefully set up our hide in the thicket of trees at the front of the school and waited patiently and very quietly. The birds soon came in numbers and it was great to see our usual friends of blue tits, great tits, sparrows, wood pigeons and a robin. We were so lucky to be there as a flock of wee long-tailed tits came together and feasted on the fat balls. Kristina loved the long-tailed tits, so cute and pink.
Back in school we submitted our results to the RSPB who will gather together all the data from the Big Schools Birdwatch with the data from the Big Garden Birdwatch. The RSPB uses the data to monitor long term bird populations and the analysed results are published in March. Freya said that she really felt like we were helping the birds today. The annual birdwatch is as great thing to do.
We hope you enjoy our photos. Hopefully we can share a video of our learning at assembly soon.
Club Wild, Mrs Young & Sarah-Jane.
