Fifth Grade Boys Enjoy Birding in Central Park

The fifth grade science classes enjoyed the beauty of a long-awaited spring, albeit with some spring showers, when they ventured into Central Park on April 21 to spot many of the birds they had discussed in class with Roger Pasquier, a native New Yorker, former Director of Foundations for the National Audubon Society, Inc., and famed birder.

Head of Middle School Chris Dunham, along with science teacher Julia Kingsdale, who accompanied the two groups, report on the class findings: This year’s class had a personal best of spotting and recording 33 species of birds, from robins, to various types of woodpeckers, to grackles, to the city's famous red-tailed hawk, Pale Male, who is roosted on a building on Fifth Avenue across the street from the park. Mr. Pasquier remarked that this year’s class got the best glimpse of any fifth grade class that he has taken into the park, as it soared above, scanning for food for its young.

Browning boys study birds and their migration in the spring, as it is the best time of year to do so. Central Park attracts numerous migrating birds drawn to this scenic area even in the midst of so many buildings. A number of the boys expressed their pleasure at the opportunity to go birding. One boy remarked, "After the rain stopped, we went to see amazing birds with Mr. Pasquier. The entire walk was amazing, and I want to do it again." Another commented, "I thought that going to the park to identify birds' songs was great because now I know how to tell which birds make what songs and where to find them." Before heading back to Browning, the boys posed for photos on the beautiful Bow Bridge.