The first Saugeen Shores CBC 4 Kids was held on December 3, 2017. The small group of participants identified and counted over 350 birds in the vicinity of Northshore Park and the Port Elgin harbour. Highlights included Redheads and Red-necked Grebes in the harbour, chickadees and a single White-breasted Nuthatch. This count was open to everyone and eight species were observed during the 45 minute walk.
Snow squalls, bus cancellations and road closures forced the cancellation of a second count planned for a local school on Dec. 15th. The first annual G.C. Huston CBC 4 Kids was rescheduled and held today in Southampton. Approximately 64 students in grades 2-4 participated along with a dozen volunteers and teachers. In 6 groups, the students birded feeders, trees and shrubbery, and the sky along a route from G.C. Huston to the Saugeen River and Southampton harbour, along Lake Huron to the High Street flag, and back to the school, ending with a listing of species around a bonfire with hot chocolate. Highlights included chickadees (of course), a Glaucous Gull - well seen through a scope by 4 of the 6 groups, two Bald Eagles (one adult, one sub-adult) flying overhead, and 6 Rock Pigeons that, according to one young girl, "Came to see our bonfire and be counted". The students will be tallying the complete numbers from all the groups as part of their classroom activities and results will be entered in eBird next week. Another wonderful day! Cindy Cartwright Bruce Grey Bird Studies Reconnecting children to nature through bird studies - since 2002. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
