• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Aims and objectives
  • Activities
  • Staff team leaders
Co-ordin8

Co-ordin8

enabling people

  • Latest news
  • Contact
  • Gallery
  • Shop
You are here: Home / Activities / Art / Co-ordin8 and the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

Co-ordin8 and the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

February 2, 2020 By Clive Burton Leave a Comment

Once again Co-ordin8 students took part in the annual RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch… How they got on?

On the day the Gods shone on us all and the rain actually stopped! This was no doubt a joy for the birds too.

Colourful bird illustrations

Together the group went online with Megan Aherne and visited the RSPB website to download and print off this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch national survey sheets. The great thing about this survey is that it has been designed with really helpful and brilliantly coloured bird illustrations that also educate users about common British birds that may not be seen on the day. These can be attracted in the future by providing the correct food, planting and nest boxes.

Feeders and feeding stations

The students had made and stocked a range of recommended bird feeders and set up feeding stations around their church venue. These are a great way of finding out which bird species are living in your area and are now used and frequently and need topping up on a regular basis!

Name that birdsong

Firstly, an interactive game of ‘name that birdsong’ was played, using prerecorded clips. Students matched these songs to the bird images on their RSPB sheets. Fully primed, coats then went on and off we all set.

Information gathering

A journey around and outside of the grounds found a range of species and a lot of uplifting birdsong to listen to. The group information gathered on the day was recorded and will be sent to the RSPB to be collated nationally to give a picture of how our national bird populations are doing. This will then to help us all to provide for and protect these species as a valuable natural asset of ours into the future.  

Helen reminds the group what we may be able to see or hear!
A large eucalyptus tree in the grounds outside had lots of birdsong coming from high up in it
Jeanette said that she really enjoyed the whole experience
What we were looking for this year 
Jenny Aherne and Janice Smaridge focus on what might be there!
More birdsong heard in the large trees an the very old church yard.
 Sid and Brian spot pigeons and seagulls!
Philip helps the group to spot blue tits a blackbird and a robin.
Robin in Church Grounds

Inspired

On returning indoors and after a warming cuppa the students were then all inspired to create a gallery of artwork based on their sitings. Group art pieces were also created. 

  • Andrea Dillon: Birds
  • Janice Smaridge Birds
  • Paul Philips Great National Bird Watch 2020 inspired Art
  • Blue Tit Friday Group
  • Robin Group Art

Bird feeders

  • a pigeon is in a hole in an old wall above a doorway
    Pigeon takes up home.
  • a seagull is on a grass bank behind are old building including a church next to big bare tree in winter
    Seagull
  • a window sill with plants on it and a coconut shell as a bird feeder
    Hand Made Bird Feeders on Window at Church Hall, plus our most regular visitor!
  • plastic bottles with nuts in them hanging up with peanuts strung on the string suspending them
    Co-ordin8 Student made recycled Bird Feeders.
  • an old wall has a tree against it. On the tree home-made bird feeders made from plastic bottles holding nuts are hanging
    Co-ordin8 Student-Made recycled bird feeders.

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Clive Burton
Clive Burton
BA (Hons.)
Qualified Teacher and Assessor.
Former tutor at St.Loyes College for the disabled.
Clive Burton
Latest posts by Clive Burton (see all)
  • One of My Favorite Things: Komodo Dragons - April 24, 2020
  • Co-ordin8 and the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch - February 2, 2020
  • Co-ordinArt Visiting Artist: Colin Brandi - November 12, 2019

Filed Under: Activities, Art Tagged With: birds, RSPB, RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

About Clive Burton

BA (Hons.)
Qualified Teacher and Assessor.
Former tutor at St.Loyes College for the disabled.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

© 2023 Co-odin8 Charity No: 1180165 Log in
 

Loading Comments...