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Last week, in mid-October, the senior students at Casterton School began a unit of learning focusing on birds in their local area!

The Birds in Schools program was introduced by Lyn Brown at South West Landcare earlier this year. Last term, the Grade 4/5 students wrote information reports on birds of our region after two guest speakers, Tim Burnard and Charlotte Davis, spoke about their knowledge of local birds– particularly the Red Tailed Black Cockatoo.

After the success of the program following extreme student engagement, the school decided to follow
up this term with Birds in Schools! The program will shortly have students participating in the annual count collecting data about birds from a planned site; and their 'Hands on Learning' group have collaborated to create bird boxes to promote bird species on school grounds.

So far this term, students have been on a walk around Island Park taking note of birds in that area. Students observed several species of birds, documenting photographically with their iPads. Later students used the Vic Field Guide App to learn about the specific species in more detail – even listening to the calls of the particular bird.

Last Friday, students mapped out a site where they will participate in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count, which wraps up this Sunday - 23rd October.

Are your looking for learning activities (for yourself, or for your class) like 'Birds in School'? Head over to the Junior Landcare Learning Centre!

Article Attrition: Casterton News, Jill Robertson.
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