News archive

Tuesday, 15 November 2011

Loughborough RSPB Local Group and The Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation.

This report is written by one of our volunteers

I have visited the outdoor classroom seven times this year between April and July and I have worked with Primary schools, of age groups from reception to year 4.

I work in the mixed woodland bird hide where there is good views of 2 feeders and the owl nest box, as there is a regular supply of food good views are obtained of many woodland birds, especially nuthatch.

The children are in groups of up to 12 accompanied by teachers and teaching assistants; we begin with a short talk outside the hide, introducing both myself and the RSPB, finding out how much they already know about birds and the RSPB. We talk about protecting birds and their habits, then using material from the RSPB we talk about what they are likely to see from the hides. Each pair of children is given binoculars and allowed time to birdwatch and compare their sightings with the pictures in the hide.

There is appreciation shown from the children and teachers for this input and we have had good positive feedback.

Birds seen from the hide this year include blackbird, robin, wren, great and blue tit, nuthatch, chaffinch, coal tit and woodpigeon, and on two occasions this year a pair of lesser spotted woodpecker!!

Report by Julia Wolf, Nov 2011.