Birding at King Elementary

I just finished my ecologist-in-residence program at the King Elementary School in Warwick. The 5th grade classes joined me as ornithologists to do a survey of birds at the school. In two days I took 5 classes out to find birds in the woods, wetland and fields that surround the school. The 5 classes were: Mrs. Curtain (May 28, 10:30-11:30), Mrs. Kunath (May 29, 10:00-11:00), Mrs. Shook (May 29, 11:15-12:15), Mrs. Boccia (May 29, 1:00-2:00) and Ms. Davis (May 29, 2:30-3:30). We identified a total of 41 species between the five classes and two days. I’m listing the birds identified, with which classes saw or heard them noted by the teacher’s initial.

Canada Goose K
Mallard B
Great Blue Heron K, S
Black Vulture C, S, D
Turkey Vulture C, K, S, B, D
Red-tailed Hawk S, D
Killdeer K
Mourning Dove K
Chimney Swift C, K, S
Red-bellied Woodpecker C, K
Downy Woodpecker S
Hairy Woodpecker S
Northern Flicker B, D
Eastern Phoebe I saw when not with students
Great Crested Flycatcher S
Eastern Kingbird C, K, S, B, D
Blue Jay K, D
American Crow C, K, S, B, D
Tree Swallow S, D
Tufted Titmouse C
White-breasted Nuthatch I saw when not with students
House Wren C, S, B, D
Eastern Bluebird C, B, D
American Robin C, S, B, D
Gray Catbird K, S, D
Northern Mockingbird C, K, S, B, D
Brown Thrasher S
European Starling C, K, S, B, D
Cedar Waxwing C, K, S, B
Yellow Warbler C, K, S, D
Chipping Sparrow C, K, S, D
Song Sparrow K, S, D
Northern Cardinal K, S, B, D
Rose-breasted Grosbeak C, K
Red-winged Blackbird C, K, S, B, D
Common Grackle C, K, S, B, D
Brown-headed Cowbird K, S
Baltimore Oriole C, S, B
Purple Finch S
American Goldfinch K
House Sparrow C, K, B, D

Not a bad day for birds. The habitat at King is great. It’s interesting that we did not get black-capped chickadee or common yellowthroat. A few other birds that are probably at King are wild turkey, sharp-shinned hawk, kestrel, rock pigeon, ruby-throated hummingbird, barn swallow, field sparrow and eastern meadowlark.