Birding Basics

One of the wonderful features of Sierra Outdoor School is our on-campus bird blind. The bird blind, or bird hide, is a shelter used to observe wildlife at close quarters. These structures enable bird watchers, ornithologists, and other observers to get a closer look at the natural world and its interactions while not disturbing the wildlife. We can take our students to the bird blind to give them a greater understanding of concepts such as: biodiversity during Raptors & Conservation or interactions between producers and consumers during Silent Mile.

Here is an outside view of our bird blind:

Here's a view from inside the bird blind, looking out at the bird feeders. Can you spot all three of them? 

While I was at the bird blind taking these pictures, a Stellar's Jay landed on bird feeder 3.

It's exciting to see the spring season birds, like the American Robin and Black-headed Grosbeak, out and about. If you're interested about learning more about birding, you can check out this website for some great tips on getting started: http://web4.audubon.org/bird/at_home/bird_watching/index.shtml. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, there are currently 51.3 million birders in the United States alone, making birding the number one sport in America! This number continues to grow every day, so grab your binoculars and field guide and enjoy a beautiful Tuesday!