Early Learning Centre

Extreme Birding with Mr Potter

In the ELC recently one of our inquiry topics has been 'nests'. Mr Potter is an enthusiastic 'birder' and spends as much time as possible finding, photographing and documenting birds all around Australia and abroad. He came to the ELC as part of our nest inquiry to broaden the children's learning in this area.

Mr Potter started off by asking what Australian birds the children knew of. 'Magpie' and 'pelican' were quickly suggested. The children were keen to answer questions and participate.

'Where are birds found?' asked Mr Potter. Many suggestions were given such as in trees, in the sky, on fences, on rooves, in the grass, on lakes.

Mr Potter explained to the children that when you try to find birds it's best to fit into the environment, to dress in browns, greys and greens so that the birds aren't scared away. He showed them his jacket with pockets for his notes, pocket for his sunscreen and a pocket for his phone which he uses to record bird noises. The children listened to a kookaburra call and after some guesses it was labelled correctly.

He also showed the children his binoculars and special camera and some photos of birds taken from trips around Australia. Birds such as a Spoonbill, Robin, Pelican, Parrot and Major Mitchell Cockatoo. Mr Potter then answered some questions from the children, with a couple being, 'how do birds fly?' and 'how do birds eat?'

It was an excellent group time in which the children participated thoughtfully and were keenly interested in what Mr Potter presented.

Kelly Carter

ELC Director