Home-School Birding Trip at Canaveral Lock

By Jim Meyer

I got a call from a Lady who was interested in taking a Home-School group bird watching. At first, she was not very flexible in her request but we worked it out because I thought it would be a beneficial experience for both me and the kids. At the appointed time on Friday morning, several vans appeared at the parking area by the Lock and the young birding group started to take shape. Whoops, one van got lost and the organizer "talked her in" acting as a GPS receiver and she soon joined us.

In all, there were ten kids, aged from 9-13, and six mothers from all over the County. Surprisingly, most of the kids had binoculars. Those that didn't were provided binoculars from the SCAS kitty, including the mothers. I felt it was important that the mothers share the experience and frustration of their kids by using binoculars too. As it turned out, it was a good move because it helped keep the adults from talking so much.

Our first bird was the "yellow slipper" Egret which really got the kids attention. Later on, a couple of the kids actually yelled out "yellow slipper" bird when seeing one on the rocks inside the Lock. Another highlight was looking into Avocet Lagoon and watching all the birds doing thier own thing. I took them five at a time, and when it was their turn, they really felt special.

After the session was over, one Mother and one young birder asks if I would start a youth birding group. Good idea-I think I just did!