Table of ContentsChildren and BirdsBy Betty SalterWhat a lovely Saturday! This was the day of our children’s bird tour at MINWR. Though only two children came for the tour, it was wonderful. These enthusiastic seven year old girls were excited, but a little shy at first. When they started talking about their favorite bird, the cardinal that lives in their neighborhood, all shyness disappeared. Isn’t that just the way with birders? Get us talking about our favorite sightings and we loose all signs of shyness.Every moment was filled with joy and enthusiasm. Beginning with a cardinal at the visitor center before they came inside to meet up with their guides. We talked a little bit about bird families and how to figure out what kind of bird you are seeing. Promising a reward at the end of our tour got their undivided attention. The reward was a certificate for identifying 15 birds. They were given two very basic guides:A sheet a made up for identifying birds of Black Point Wildlife Drive, which you can view at http://www.nbbd.com/godo/minwr/BlackPoint/BlackPointBirds-1.jpgA flip guide that grouped the birds more like they would be found in a field guide, which you can view athttp://www.nbbd.com/godo/minwr/BlackPoint/BlackPointBirds-2.jpgHubie was our driver and Andy assisted with identification. We had several scrubjays show off for us on SR3 then went to the old eagles nest that isnow occupied by great horned owls. One owl was visible, so we talked a bit about why we could see it during the day and what it eats. From there we went to the wildlife drive and as we pulled into the drive, we spotted a great egret and a snow egret perched in the same mangrove, very nice for comparisons. Jessie and Sadie learned a little about the salt marsh and also had a lesson about alligators.Tricolored herons were everywhere, eventually we were able to compare a tricolor with a little blue heron. When several other little blues were spotted both girls quickly called out what they saw. Oooooooooooos and aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhs were heard when a mature moorhen came into view. I think the bright red and yellow beak really fascinated the girls. But what they really liked was the plain and simple little pied-billed grebes.Many times on our bird tours we are asked to find a rail for visitors from out of state especially. As luck would have it these young ladies got marvelous views of a clapper rail along the drive. Also at the ‘duck pond’ on the left after stop 2, we watched as groups of shore birds took flight and sure enough a predator, peregrine falcon, was circling in the distance where the birds had taken flight.The most wonderful moments for me where the times the girls just burst out with comments like, “Isn’t it beautiful” and “This is so much fun!”The following is a list of the birds they identified on our tour: Anhinga, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tri-colored Heron, Snowy Egret, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Wood Stork, Blue-winged Teal, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Scrub jay, and Northern Cardinal.Many other species were out there, but for this very special tour we worked on just knowing a few.One thing we talked about at the visitor center before the tour was the voices of the birds. At the owl’s nest we listened as White-eyed Vireos sang. Andy was my guide in this as he birds by ear so well. He was such a great help and good roll model for the young girls. I hope Andy will begin to lead some of these children’s tours.I would be more than happy to share my philosophy and methods of leading children into birding if anyone is interested in doing the same type of thing.Addendum, from Hugh and Mary Nicolay, grandparents of one of the girls: A big thank you to Betty, Hubie and Andy for providing such an interesting, educational and fun experience for the two young girls who toured the refuge with you. Their first comments as they hopped in the car with us after the tour were; “Wonderful and great!” They had such fun going through the Ken Kaufman and Sibley guides on the way home. We hope more children can benefit from this type of experience.

Children and Birds

By Betty Salter

What a lovely Saturday! This was the day of our children’s bird tour at MINWR. Though only two children came for the tour, it was wonderful. These enthusiastic seven year old girls were excited, but a little shy at first. When they started talking about their favorite bird, the cardinal that lives in their neighborhood, all shyness disappeared. Isn’t that just the way with birders? Get us talking about our favorite sightings and we loose all signs of shyness.

Every moment was filled with joy and enthusiasm. Beginning with a cardinal at the visitor center before they came inside to meet up with their guides. We talked a little bit about bird families and how to figure out what kind of bird you are seeing. Promising a reward at the end of our tour got their undivided attention. The reward was a certificate for identifying 15 birds. They were given two very basic guides:

A sheet a made up for identifying birds of Black Point Wildlife Drive, which you can view at http://www.nbbd.com/godo/minwr/BlackPoint/BlackPointBirds-1.jpg
A flip guide that grouped the birds more like they would be found in a field guide, which you can view at
http://www.nbbd.com/godo/minwr/BlackPoint/BlackPointBirds-2.jpg

Hubie was our driver and Andy assisted with identification. We had several scrubjays show off for us on SR3 then went to the old eagles nest that isnow occupied by great horned owls. One owl was visible, so we talked a bit about why we could see it during the day and what it eats. From there we went to the wildlife drive and as we pulled into the drive, we spotted a great egret and a snow egret perched in the same mangrove, very nice for comparisons. Jessie and Sadie learned a little about the salt marsh and also had a lesson about alligators.

Tricolored herons were everywhere, eventually we were able to compare a tricolor with a little blue heron. When several other little blues were spotted both girls quickly called out what they saw. Oooooooooooos and aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhs were heard when a mature moorhen came into view. I think the bright red and yellow beak really fascinated the girls. But what they really liked was the plain and simple little pied-billed grebes.

Many times on our bird tours we are asked to find a rail for visitors from out of state especially. As luck would have it these young ladies got marvelous views of a clapper rail along the drive. Also at the ‘duck pond’ on the left after stop 2, we watched as groups of shore birds took flight and sure enough a predator, peregrine falcon, was circling in the distance where the birds had taken flight.

The most wonderful moments for me where the times the girls just burst out with comments like, “Isn’t it beautiful” and “This is so much fun!”

The following is a list of the birds they identified on our tour: Anhinga, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tri-colored Heron, Snowy Egret, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Wood Stork, Blue-winged Teal, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Scrub jay, and Northern Cardinal.

Many other species were out there, but for this very special tour we worked on just knowing a few.

One thing we talked about at the visitor center before the tour was the voices of the birds. At the owl’s nest we listened as White-eyed Vireos sang. Andy was my guide in this as he birds by ear so well. He was such a great help and good roll model for the young girls. I hope Andy will begin to lead some of these children’s tours.

I would be more than happy to share my philosophy and methods of leading children into birding if anyone is interested in doing the same type of thing.

Addendum, from Hugh and Mary Nicolay, grandparents of one of the girls: A big thank you to Betty, Hubie and Andy for providing such an interesting, educational and fun experience for the two young girls who toured the refuge with you. Their first comments as they hopped in the car with us after the tour were; “Wonderful and great!” They had such fun going through the Ken Kaufman and Sibley guides on the way home. We hope more children can benefit from this type of experience.