September 17 at the start of our Rockport Hummer Festival I was invited to speak to two classes of fourth-fifth graders about birds. Actually, Laura Groseclose, one of the teachers, had set it up to be an interview. It was like a "talk-show" . These forty-plus kids were the studio audience. They sat on the floor in neat rows in front of the "host" and "guest". It was really a fun time for me. The kids were able to ask questions at the end.
Yesterday, Laura brought me "thank you" notes from the kids. These are all un-prompted comments from the boys and girls.
" I learned that don't put your hand in a birds nest. The house sperrow is really pescey."
"I really liked what you were saying about your least favorite birds. I learned that your least favorite birds are the grackle and the starling its kinda wierd cus those are my favorites and my least favorite are the hummingbirds"
"It is cool that Mr Pogue had see 500 differnt birds. Bird whating is really cool because you can learn differnt birds and right them down in a bird book."
"I really liked when you tood us that you and your dather won the competition by 88 birds.I didn't know they shoot birds out the sky to look at them (Emily is my grand- daughter. They USED to shoot birds out of the sky to look at them)
"I really like when you were telling us about a owl hising at you and the snake in the nest"
"I can tell you like birdwatching. Because you do it all the time. My grandma has a feeder."
"I did not know that sparows lived down here."
"I really liked when you talked to us about you put your hand in a nest to see what a baby bird looks like and it inded up to be a raddle snake."
" I enjoyed hearing about birding and the stuff you need to go birding."
" I enjoyed hearing your story abot the Baby olol that was cool was it scary to see a olol? how old was you weah this happend and what is your rell name?"
"I like every thing you told us about my favrit was when you calt the owl. I wish I could see a owl like you but I would not want it to hise at me."
"when I heard what Emily had done with the bird feeder (she held one in her hand and the hummers came and lighted on her fingers) I wanted to try it and I did it was so cool the hummingbirds were beautiful. But when all the hummingbirds were there one almost poked me. It was so scary but then they all flew away. I went as fast as I could to go tell my mom she told me "don't do that again".
"When you were getting close to the end of your speaking I kept saying in my head "please don't leave", but it didn't work so I was sad"
"I like it that you talk to birds a lot. I like your books about birds. You are the best man in the world"
I think I will close with that one. One hour in a class and to one little guy I am the best man in the world! That made it all worthwhile. I just wish Skiellarr was halfway right.
