Bird lovers unite
Third-grade students at Treaty Rock Elementary school made pinecone bird feeders as part of the Bird by Bird program facilitated by teacher Mary Pattis and Carrie Hugo with the Bureau of Land Management. From left: Katelyn Johnson, Eben Harris, Grady Ahlgren, Ethan Paul and Bear Kitts.
ELLI GOLDMAN HILBERT/Press
Treaty Rock third-grade students create a little gift to offer the birds outside. From left: Lexie Bainter, 8, Makena Bryson, 8 and Aurora Tarman, 8. "I'm surprised about how fast they can fly," Tarman said.
Fellow bird-lovers Annabella Hoye, 9, and Jacob Fritz, 8, enthusiastically slather sunflower butter and copious quantities of bird-seed on their bird-feeder ornaments Friday at Treaty Rock Elementary School.
Third-grade teacher Mary Pattis and wild-life biologist Carrie Hugo prepare the craft station for Pattis' Treaty Rock students Friday as part of the Bureau of Wildlife Management's Bird by Bird program.
POST FALLS — For the past eight years, wildlife biologist Carrie Hugo has been sharing the Bird by Bird program with Treaty Rock Elementary third-grade students.
“I’ve been birdwatching since I was 9 years old with my older brothers,” said teacher Mary Pattis. “As a bird lover I enjoy passing that love onto my students and got involved with the Bird by Bird program to share the enthusiasm.”
Many of Pattis’ former students have returned to visit her classroom and fondly remember the Bird by Bird program and the black-capped chickadee stuffed animal she has that whistles the small bird’s tune.
Pattis’ students have caught the bird-loving bug.
Eben Harris said that his favorite bird is the peregrine falcon.
“I want to be a falconer,” Harris said. “After three or four years you can falcon a peregrine and after five years you’re a master falconer.”
Annabella Hoye said that learning about birds is her favorite.
“Learning about how long they can fly without stopping is the most interesting thing,” she said.
Hugo, with the Bureau of Land Management, visits the classroom and others around town once or twice a month. Covering birds of all kinds, migration and all fascinating bird-related phenomena, Hugo said that working with third-graders is the best.
“It’s great to get them excited about nature and about something that isn’t electronic,” Hugo said. “This age is so enthusiastic and they are so ready to learn.”
Hugo said in this digital age there is a disconnectedness with nature.
Working with young people gives her a chance to re-engage them in the wonder of the outdoors.
At the end of the Bird by Bird program, each student creates a website featuring a chosen bird. This marries the technology with the study of nature, Hugo said.
Hugo has a collection of bird nests that have been legally harvested that the children enjoy, along with her bird egg and skull replicas.
Friday the students created pinecone bird feeders slathered with sunflower butter and plenty of seeds to take home.
“I might hang mine from a tree in my backyard,” said Lexie Bainter. “I can do it all by myself; I know how to climb a tree.”
