DARLING RANGE BRANCH EXCURSION REPORT

AUGUST: KELMSCOTT – TEACHING CHILDREN BIRDWATCHING

Our nature survey and walk at Good Shepherd Primary school in Kelmscott in August was called off at the last minute owing to rain. However, instead, the Deputy Principal, Diane Newman, invited us to talk to the Year 6 students about natural history and the DRB Nats. Mike Green—our Treasurer and resident bird expert—gave them a short talk on birds in their area, especially cuckoos (as the Fantail Cuckoo was calling locally), and how to listen to bird calls. He did some bird imitations that enthralled his young audience. He was bombarded with questions and stories and their enthusiasm was palpable. He was impressed with the girl who asked if a Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike was a cuckoo, and liked the imagination of the child who asked if a Kookaburra was too!

The DRB is forming a partnership with the school to help their teachers and children learn more about—and study—the natural history in their area. The school has 10 acres of native bush on the property that is suitable for nature walks with the children. Although there are many weed species, there are also plenty of healthy native plants and trees and a good walking path. They already have some small revegetation projects underway and the school has chickens, a worm farm, a frog pond, and some vegetables growing.

Equipment was also presented to the students and teachers. This had been purchased by the DRB from a bequest they have for education. The children delighted in receiving three pairs of binoculars, 10 hand lenses, two copies of Simon Nevill’s book Western Australian Birds and a stereo-microscope. Their science teacher was delighted with the latter, as she didn’t have one. She already had plenty of specimens for the children to examine and they started by looking at bird feathers. They also received copies of the DRB flyers to distribute and were invited to our branch meetings and excursions.
They were so excited to be learning more about natural history and how to use the binoculars, it was inspiring. We are taking them on a nature walk next and the DRB hopes to survey the area, as this has never been done before. Then there are possible plans for the children to build their own nature walk, complete with signage of key natural history features, so that eventually they will be able to conduct tours around it. It is wonderful opportunity for the DRB to be able to inspire children in the love of natural history—we feel it’s what our club’s values are all about.

Rachel Green