Children to take part in Big Schools Birdwatch

Children at Pilgrims will be keeping their eyes peeled for feathered friends this month as they take part in the Big Schools Birdwatch.

The national RSPB scheme, which runs from January 6 to February 13, will see schools across the country record the number and species of the birds that land in their grounds.

The information will feed into the wider Big Garden Birdwatch, the world’s largest wildlife survey, providing a detailed snapshot of bird activity throughout the UK

This is the third year the children have taken part in the event, and they are as excited as ever to join in the fun.

Here, we look at the project and what the children can expect to get up to in the coming weeks.

Eyes open

Over the next few weeks, our children will take part in the Big Schools Birdwatch, using Pilgrims’ brilliant outdoor classroom and our forest school area to get the best views.

Taking small groups of pupils out for 20 minutes at a time, the children will scour the school grounds logging the birds that land.

With help from their class teacher the children will note which species of bird they see – whether it’s pigeons, blackbirds, blue tits, thrushes, finches or robins – and the number that touch the ground.

The results of the birdwatch will then be compiled and sent to the RSPB, providing valuable data for their national survey.

Feeding time

For the children, the fun doesn’t end at the birdwatch.

Back in the classroom, they will create their own birdfeeders to feed birds both at school and at home in their own gardens.

Reception children will make theirs out of Cheerios threaded on a piece of raffia, which we will place around the school grounds to create a delicious biodegradable treat for the birds who visit.

Year 1 will use ice cream cones, coating them in Trex (vegan lard) and dipping them into birdseed, while Year 2’s feeders will be made from pinecones.

We hope taking home a birdfeeder for their gardens will inspire the children to keep birdwatching at home, learning even more about the huge variety of species that live in the UK.

A love of nature

The Big Schools Birdwatch fits perfectly with the ethos of Pilgrims and our love for outdoor learning.

We want to instill a love of nature and the outdoors in our children, inspiring them to want to know more about the world around them.

Our brilliant Forest School and outdoor classroom are shining examples of this, giving the children a place to take their learning outside of the traditional classroom setting.

The Big Schools Birdwatch, and the wider Big Garden Birdwatch, give the children the opportunity to learn more about the environment, while helping the RSPB with their vital research.

For more on Pilgrims’ outdoor learning opportunities, see here.