Birds in Schools - BirdLife Australia (original) (raw)
Photographed by Andrew Peacock
Birds in Schools is an environmental education project designed by BirdLife Australia and its Urban Birds Program. It teaches students to identify and monitor birds, explore their habitats and ultimately take action for local birdlife.
Children are more disconnected from nature than ever before. With birds as a focus, Birds in Schools plays a crucial role in connecting young people with nature, empowering them to protect birds, and nature, into the future.
Urban birds face many threats, including habitat loss, altered access to resources and exposure to predators. Through Birds in Schools, schools and students can take action to assist their local bird populations.
Educating the Next Generation of Conservationists
The Birds in Schools project provides teachers and students with the knowledge and tools to protect birds.
As part of Birds in Schools, students participate in:
- Identifying birds in and around school grounds
- Conducting bird surveys
- Entering data collected into the Birdata database
- Using their observational skills and their own ideas to develop and implement action plans to help their local birdlife
Action plans may include improving local habitats by planting native plants, installing nest boxes or bird baths and educating the local community on how to protect our urban birds.
Students are able to get outside and connect with nature. As a side benefit, mounting scientific evidence shows that birdwatching improves children’s ability to focus.
Encouraging Educators to Take Action
Available online through BirdLife Australia’s e-learning platform, Birds in Schools provides lesson plans and resources to enable teachers across Australia to deliver education and action for birds.
As a result, teachers and students have enjoyed:
- Increased interest and knowledge about birds and their habitats
- The chance to contribute to a national citizen science program through recording data in Birdata, BirdLife Australia’s national bird survey database
- The ability to act on local sustainability challenges
- Improving bird habitats and green space at their schools
- Training and support for teachers to deliver a quality environmental education program
Some schools have also had BirdLife Australia volunteers visit them to assist with lessons and bird surveys. As part of the Birds in Schools program, schools will use Birdata– BirdLife Australia’s database- as a platform to participate in citizen science.
Register for this course
Log in to MyBirdLife or create a My BirdLife account to register for this course.