When we woke up to a cloudy, 48 degree morning up in Leggett, CA, we weren't sure if we were going to see many birds with our school group today. But, fortunately, we were wrong!

We arrived at the Leggett Valley School and met with the ENTIRE school in their gymnasium. Granted, the whole school (preschool-12th grade) was only about 50 students, but they were one very excited flock when we arrived. Kevin began by teaching everyone about the dawn chorus--that time in the early morning when the birds are most active and chatty--and about the various voices of different birds in the area. It got everyone's ears keyed into listening to birds.

A quick video of the Leggett Valley School dawn chorus...

We then split the school into two groups. The young ones went with Kevin and the middle and high schoolers went off with Darrow. We talked about bird observation, binoculars, and recording observations in the field, and then we headed out onto their beautiful campus for an extended bird walk.

Watching a flock of feeding Dark-eyed Juncos

The older students worked on identification, bird behavior, and field recording. The younger students worked on sound recognition, identification, and bird drawing. Great times were had by all and we were quickly asked to come back next year!

Identifying a Belted Kingfisher in the field!

Showing off their drawings of birds they saw on their walk
(American Robin, Stellar's Jays, and a Great Blue Heron!)

Our Quote of the Day:

"Hey Kevin. Before this, I used to think birds were lame, but now I think they're AWESOME!"
-Seth (4th Grade)

Species list from our walk: Dark-eyed Junco, White-Crowned Sparrow, Golden-Crowned Sparrow, Black Phoebe, Anna's Hummingbird, Wrentit, Great Blue Heron, Acorn Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Mallard, Belted Kingfisher, Turkey, Brewer's Blackbird, Red-shouldered Hawk, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Stellar's Jay, American Robin.

We are taking the day off today before we head over to the town of Leggett for our next school tomorrow. Last night we attended the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society monthly meeting where we got to meet a whole room full of local birders that wanted to hear about our project! We received a ton of support and were wished well on our travels. It always feels good to find support in new and foreign places.

After the meeting we got to stay with the club's education and outreach director--Sarah Grimes, who is doing some amazing work with the local kids including organizing a "Big October" where young birders in the area are trying to find as many species as possible this month. She also does a similar program to our where she visits local schools and teaches about birds. It was a great time sharing ideas and excitement around bird education with her. Thanks Sarah!

Check out what they are up to at their education website!

This morning, we headed over to the local birding hotspot--Virgin Creek and took in the huge surf and the various shorebirds. It was a beautiful morning of birding. Check out our species list and the photos below!

A flock of Sanderlings

Check out videos of Sanderlings online here. They play the same game at the beach we used to play when we were young. They stand on the wet sand and run inland when each wave comes. They then return to the wet sand to feed on the small invertebrates that were disturbed and washed up in the sand.

Long-Billed Dowitchers

Marbled Godwit

You can't beat the CA coast!

View from the bluffs

Species List: Black Phoebe, White-Crowned Sparrow, Western Gull, Savannah Sparrow, Black Turnstone, Sanderling, Long-Billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Long-Billed Curlew, Common Raven, Surf Scoter, Brandt's Cormorant, Eared Grebe, Great Egret, Mallard, Red-Shouldered Hawk

A Very Birdy Day at Leggett Valley School

A Day Off For Birding