Students learn to identify birds

On Wednesday, April 22, Rima Givot and her Biology B class headed out to Indian Ford and Camp Polk meadows to examine some birds.

Mentors from Deschutes Land Trust and members of the community came out to help groups of students identify different species of birds.

"The biology students are going to apply learning about evolution and adaptations through actually studying birds in a real authentic research project," said Givot. "So to help them learn about birds they need to be able to recognize them and use binoculars. This provided the students an opportunity to go out into a natural area where there are a lot of birds and work with mentors for an extended period of time so they can gain skills and apply them in the classroom."

The students also pulled invasive weeds as part of a service project, "and in so doing see the relevance of how different species are inter-related and the need for each other to be sustained, as well as how invasive species can impact the environment," Givot explained.