Saturday morning, June 10, 2002, was cool and comfortable at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. It was also very lively as students and their parents and siblings received Cardinal Gear Packs to use on their end of school year trip to bird KAG. There were about 24 students and family members.

Oyster School Librarian, Laura Kleinman distributed the packs and then gave a quick orientation on the equipment in them and how to use it. The packs had binoculars, field guides, checklists, pens, and applications to join Audubon. No reason not to advertise. Although directions were given in English and Spanish it was not always easy for Laura, or other bilingual birders to come up with bird names in Spanish.

We got started right in the parking lot with Chimney Swifts flying low overhead and giving us good views. There were also many American Crows and an American Robin. We then proceeded into the park.

As we entered Justice, one of the students, proceeded to point out the call of a Fish Crow. He was very good at bird songs and calls and was a big help to all of us on our tour of the gardens.

We saw quite a few Canadian Geese with goslings. The students thought that this was pretty neat. There were Mallards and Red-wing Blackbirds both males and females. We also saw American Goldfinches and common Grackles. Surprisingly rabbits were the only mammals that we saw this morning.

As we proceeded out to the boardwalk to the observation landing we learned about the water lilies and lotus from one of the families from Thailand. In fact every part of the lotus including the seed is used as food in Thailand. This may be why the lotus as not as plentiful in Thailand now.

We got a great view of a Great blue heron who was hunting for brakfast. Then on the boardwalk we saw an Osprey flying over also searching for a meal. There were a few Eastern Kingbirds, more goldfinches. We were especially surprised to find an Eastern Kingbird building a nest overhanging the boardwalk.

It was near this nest that we got our best bird of the day, a Red-headed Woodpecker. It was seen and heard in a dead tree just across the waterway. Luckily I had Birding by Ear back in my car and checked the call when we got back to confirm that it was the right call for the woodpecker.

On the observation deck we saw Indigo Buntings and a Downy Woodpecker. We also saw two Wood Ducks that Justice spotted flying over the river.

Even Marlyn, a five-year-old, who was a little too young to use binoculars had fun finding spiders and their webs along the boardwalk.

The students were very enthusiastic on this trip and appear to get something out of it while having a lot of fun. We are looking forward to doing it againin the fall for other young birdwatchers and their families. Keep your eye on our web site for more details.

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