Discovering Nature – Up Close
By: Cathy Vaughan
With permission from Chebucto News.
What can sleep with one eye open, uses earth’s magnetic field as their GPS, inspired the invention of the airplane, and landed in Nova Scotia’s school curriculum?
Birds! For most elementary and junior high school students in Nova Scotia birds are part of the “Diversity of Life” unit in their science curriculum. Classroom learning covers topics on the anatomy of birds, how to identify them, their migration flight patterns and their importance as indicators of the environmental health of our planet.
Photo: Cathy Vaughan
The Cunard Conservation Crew (CCC) at Cunard Junior High School in Spryfield is an eager group of budding environmentalists and nature enthusiasts who like to engage with their outdoor classroom on Williams Lake. The group took their curriculum outside to study birds around the Cunard Pond in their neighbourhood and tried out a new educational bird kit from the Captain William Spry Public Library (CWSPL.)
Agnes O’Neill, Program Specialist at the Captain William Spry Community Library introduced the Conservation Crew to the library’s latest resource kit. “Our new “Bird Watching Kit” includes a day-size sling pack with binoculars, field guide to Nova Scotia birds and a bird identification book geared for kids. The kits can be borrowed only from the Captain William Spry Public Library. You can check availability at the Halifax Public Libraries website or call the Captain William Spry Public Library.”
Binoculars at the ready, the newbie environmentalists were treated to a very busy scene on Cunard Pond of nature doing what it does best. They spotted a mother deer and her 3 young fawns foraging along the shoreline. Loons were successfully diving for fish to bulk up for their imminent migratory journey. A Great Black Cormorant was perched on rock drying its huge, outstretched soaked wings, while flocks of birds flew by the amazed crew of kids. A teachable and learning moment – up close!
Carly Cogswell was very excited when she counted nine loons feeding on the pond and said “Discovering nature up close is really cool. You’re able to look so much closer in person. You discover more nature than you thought you knew!”
Ava MacKenzie was surprised to see the group of deer feeding along the shore. “I think it’s really cool learning about what goes on with nature around our school. I think it’s cool looking at things close up.”
Photo: Agnes O’Neill, Library Program Specialist
The kits, a joint-project with the Captain William Spry Public Library and the Williams Lake Conservation Company (WLCC) were made possible with a District 11 Capital Grant approved by Councillor Patty Cuttell of Spryfield-Sambro Loop.
“Appreciation begins with awareness. The more we learn about nature around us, the more we realize what a treasure our community is. When you can spot a bird and know its name, the landscape suddenly comes alive — it’s a reminder of how much natural beauty we have right here in our community,” said Councillor Patty Cuttell, Spryfield-Sambro Loop.
Grab your bird watching kits and sharpen your birding skills to participate in the annual “Great Canadian Bird Count” from December 14 to January 5 and count birds in your neighbourhood for the Birds Canada national data base. Visit the Birds Canada website to learn more.
If you’d like to connect to nature and find there’s no USB port, try going outside!
