Yesterday, October 7, 2018, was International Migratory Bird Day. At Explora Natura, we love birds and are incredibly fortunate to have Antonio Pestana, a naturalist and nature photographer, on our team. Antonio has a deep knowledge, respect, and love for the inhabitants of our skies.
International Bird Day 2018
The day began with a guided birdwatching hike. Nature is wise but capricious, and not every trip to the countryside is rewarded with bird sightings, although whenever you go out into nature, it's worth it simply for the experience of being in contact with it.
In this case, it wasn't possible to observe too many birds, but Antonio shared anecdotes and ways to recognize some species, such as the great tit, a very common and popular bird. It's also easy to spot by its call, which, according to farm workers, is "chochoví." Do you know why it's called that?
After an enjoyable excursion with the families walking through nature, we had a good time doing workshops.
The mask-making workshop was a big hit with the little ones, who were able to color freely and also take home a souvenir from the excursion.
The jewelry-making workshop using natural elements was also a lot of fun. And finally, as the star of the morning, the owl pellet analysis workshop of an owl.
This last workshop was met with some initial reluctance, as it involved the remains of mice, shrews, and other small animals. However, once the first skulls and jawbones began to appear, children and adults alike enjoyed rummaging through the pellets to see what they had found. Some of the children who participated in the activity even wanted to take them home to show at school tomorrow.
Once the workshop was over, we said goodbye until our next meeting. We hope that in this activity we were able to convey both the beauty of birds and their importance in maintaining the balance of ecosystems.
See you soon!
