This past June, some of the Urban Bird Project team assisted in the summer youth program at Galería EVA, a community space for sharing art and education and longtime UBP partner. UBP Alumni Lauren Granger and Research Program Coordinator Eres Gomez both led fun activities to help the students learn about art and science through the world of Birds. Support to Galería EVA was funded by the original USDA-HSI UBP grant.
Discovering Birds: How to Identify, Observe, and Follow Their Journey (Led by Lauren Granger)
We gathered to prepare for our bird outing, learning the many ways to identify birds in the field, by their colors, shapes, behaviors, and even their songs. We explored the different parts of a bird, which helped us appreciate the subtle differences between species. We also practiced using essential tools like binoculars to observe them closely without disturbing their natural behavior.
We then delved into the fascinating topic of bird migration, discovering the incredible journeys birds undertake across countries and even continents. We learned about the specific migration routes, or “flyways,” that birds have followed for generations. This gave us a deeper understanding of how connected birds and we are to the larger natural world.
Birding Together at Confluence Park (Led by Lauren Granger)
On a bright summer morning in June, families and youth from Galeria E.V.A’s summer program joined the Urban Bird Project for a community bird walk through San Antonio’s beautiful Confluence Park.
Participants of all ages came together to explore the trails, observe birds in their natural habitat, and learn about the incredible wildlife that thrives in our city. With binoculars in hand, we spotted colorful songbirds and even learned to identify some by their calls.
This event was a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature, build birdwatching skills, and share in the joy of being outdoors together.
[photos by Carolina Hinojosa]
Owl Pellet Dissection (Led by Eres Gomez)
The morning was spent learning all about Owls! The students were introduced to four of the most common species of Owls in Texas and the San Antonio Yanaguana region through images and by listening to their calls and hoots! We also discussed the varied diets of Owls and explained the formation and expulsion of owl pellets or castings. The group then dissected their own owl pellets, extracting as many bones as they could find, and identified the anatomy of the rodent. The students enjoyed this hands-on activity as we talked about the important ecological role that Owls play as Nature’s original pest control.
[photos by Eres Gomez]
Urban Birding Outside La Galería (Led by Eres Gomez)
The summer session ended with an urban birding session outside on the Galería EVA patio and along a short walk down the street in the middle of Southside San Antonio. We started by watching male Great-tailed Grackles singing on an electrical wire, we spotted several House Sparrows jutting in and out of wall pipes, Northern Mockingbirds competing in a rap battle, Barn Swallows feeding on the many Crane Flies that had emerged after the morning rains, we heard a Gold-fronted Woodpecker off in the distance, saw many Pigeons, and watched one Western Kingbird as it perched on an electrical pole transformer. The students were asked to notice the difficulty of birding in a more urban scene and to make comparisons of their experiences birding at a public park like Confluence versus birding in a highly urbanized area like outside the Galería. They were asked to identify some challenges that birds may face in these different landscapes. We ended the session by watching a mated pair of Northern Cardinals darting in and out of the city brush as they fed their juvenile who had recently fledged. Amongst the city song, we were reminded that birds are all around us, all the time, and that life carries on even in the midst of a bustling city neighborhood.
