The RSPB has been working with Wynstream Primary School and The Topsham Primary School for the past 2 terms running after school clubs focussed around birds. Children from both schools have thoroughly enjoy participating in these clubs and demonstrate a keen interest in learning more about birds, wildlife and their local environment.
Wynstream Primary School have also been helping the RSPB think about how to improve the area outside the bird hide at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham since they visited before Christmas. One of their ideas was to provide a bird table, which they then proceeded to make and yesterday with the help of Topsham children they chose where to put it. This is a great example of community action and children making a positive difference to their local area for wildlife.
The Topsham Godwit Club have been helping find out more about the migration patterns of the Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits as part of the International Schools Godwit Project. These beautiful wading birds breed in Iceland during the summer months and then travel to the warmer climates of northern Europe for the winter. Due to the abundance of food, the Exe Estuary is a very important wintering site for the godwits, with hundreds of birds visiting each year. The Godwit club have been looking for godwits with coloured rings on their legs to report back to scientists so the birds can be tracked. They have also plotted the journeys on maps, linked up with other schools in Iceland and Ireland and made posters to raise awareness in the local community.
Last month the children from both schools met up, to swap stories and share a visit to the bird hide at Bowling Green Marsh. We met at Topsham school where the children explained what they had been up to and shared their experiences. Then later in the afternoon we all walked along the Goat Walk down to the hide to look for godwits. Also outside the hide we spent time finding somewhere for the new bird table Wynstream had made.
The day was a great success with the children talking animatedly about it all the way home!
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/Children-enjoy-visit-bird-reserve/article-3476884-detail/article.html