STEM

Gio Fitzparick incursion

Gio Fitzpatrick, an urban ecologist and conservationist, visited the Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 students to share his knowledge about the indigenous birds of Melbourne and Merri-bek. During his visit, Gio highlighted some of the key challenges facing local bird populations. He then led the students on a walk down Park Street, where they surveyed the area for bird life. The students discovered which trees and plants support larger nectar-feeding birds, as well as which shrubs and bushes provide food and shelter for smaller insect-eating species. They also explored strategies to encourage more insect-eating birds in the area and observed that the park currently lacks sufficient habitat for these smaller birds.

Walk on the Wildside 

This week, the Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 students explored Park Street to investigate the diverse habitats found in our local green spaces and parklands. As part of their learning, they took part in a scavenger hunt that challenged them to identify both Indigenous and invasive species. They were thrilled to discover that the Park Street Reverve contained Nardoo—an edible fern linked to the deaths of the explorers Burke and Wills, who perished after incorrectly preparing the plant despite guidance from Indigenous Australians.

A big thank you to Noel, Rowan, and Jenni for contributing to the creation of the ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ experience and for supporting the students in identifying the lesser-known indigenous plants of the area.

What’s next………

The Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 students will select an indigenous plant or bird to ‘adopt’. They will research their chosen species and produce a scientific water painting of their species in Arte. 

The Year 3/4 students will plant an Indigenous garden in the Park Street Reserve to increase the ground cover and low understory, which provide habitats for smaller insect-eating birds. 

The 5/6 students will construct nesting boxes for Red-rumped parrots and Galahs. The boxes will be designed to meet the birds' needs and keep invading species out. Volunteers from the Melbourne Men’s Shed will cut the wood for the students’ designs and help the students nail the boxes together.