• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

My school's birding club (1 Viewer)

Anhinga Watcher

Well-known member
I'd like to organize a birder's club for my next school year. I'm trying to prepare early. Our school has a variety of clubs, but no clubs associating with wildlife has yet existed in history. I'll be the founder of birder's club if I'm successful. I decided to gather all avid birdwatchers to form a club. It'll be a great experience, and I'd like to share my interest in birds and birdwatching with others. My guess is that probably less than 6 birders exist in my school (only a guess). Here's where I need some assistance from you guys. After forming the group, what should I do with the members, since I'm their leader? Should I give them tips on how to attract birds in their backyard, beginning birding tips, finding birds, using binoculars, photographing, or taking them to birding trips in certain weekends? What do you guys think? Do you guys have any more suggestions? Or do you guys have any better ones than I've brought up with?

Tim
 
You certainly seem to be heading in the right direction, Tim.

Perhaps, at an early meeting, present your ideas and see which way the others would like to go.

And I would be surprised if a city the size of Eugene didn't have an Audubon chapter. You might think about hooking up with them for some of their field trips. I know the local chapter here has always welcomed birders your age. And if you attract a few folks who are new to the game, the opportunity to go birding with more experienced birders is a wonderful learning experience.

Do keep us posted, Tim, on the success of your club. It's a great idea and I hope it goes well for you!
 
Good luck with the bird club Tim - at least you have a few members to start with. I've heard of several young people in this country who don't tell any of their mates about this interest, because they reckon they would be laughed at, which is very sad.
 
Yeah, I remember a couple of years ago the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) tried to start a Phoenix group (for 15-21 years old birders) in Newcastle (pop. 250,000). They did not get one single interested person :-C

I hope you're a lot more successful!

Michael
 
Elizabeth Bigg said:
..... I've heard of several young people in this country who don't tell any of their mates about this interest, because they reckon they would be laughed at, which is very sad.
Exactly why I didn't get back into birding 'til 1995 unfortunately, it was only a chance remark from rogerk (we'd already been mates for about 8-9 years by then) in the pub one night that he was going birdwatching the next day that finally got me back "out of the closet" so to speak!
It's a sad fact, but true, that once a child reaches his/her teens any interests like that seem to be a major source of ridicule :(
 
Do you have a "Local Patch", Tim... an area where you (personally) go birding and know quite well?

I don't know Eugene at all, but maybe a parkland or a wood, or just you local neighbourhood.

If so, you will be familiar with where the birds appear and you could lead trips around your patch, showing your club members the birds, identifying them if necessary.

Also, you could encourage the other members to do the same for their patch, giving you perhaps six areas to watch.

Whatever you do, keep us informed... and spread the BF word!!
 
Elizabeth Bigg said:
Good luck with the bird club Tim - at least you have a few members to start with. I've heard of several young people in this country who don't tell any of their mates about this interest, because they reckon they would be laughed at, which is very sad.

Actually, I've been already laughed at many times. That's why there were many instances where I've been silent. If I try to make other non-birders become interested by explaining to them, all I get is "Ok, ok ok, I don't care, I get the point, so be quiet." But at least I know a couple people in my school who enjoys birdwatching.

Tim
 
Tim,what a marvellous idea.Do you have a school mag,and a notice board in say a Main Hall.Why not print a large colourful poster,and/or insert an article in the mag,explaining what you would like to do,organise an informal chat/meeting in say where ever it is you all socialise,coffee bar/pub,outline your ideas,encourage others to put theirs,then make the first meeting really interesting with an informal get together afterwards,so for the not quite so serious,they are going to enjoy a good time on the outing,and the bird interest will slowly creep up on everyone,and they will eventually see how interesting it is,and you will have recruited a group of true young enthusiasts.
Christine
 
christineredgat said:
Tim,what a marvellous idea.Do you have a school mag,and a notice board in say a Main Hall.Why not print a large colourful poster,and/or insert an article in the mag,explaining what you would like to do,organise an informal chat/meeting in say where ever it is you all socialise,coffee bar/pub,outline your ideas,encourage others to put theirs,then make the first meeting really interesting with an informal get together afterwards,so for the not quite so serious,they are going to enjoy a good time on the outing,and the bird interest will slowly creep up on everyone,and they will eventually see how interesting it is,and you will have recruited a group of true young enthusiasts.
Christine

My school has a lot of free-speech boards where people post messages about encouraging others to join a certain club. I'll definitely do what you suggested about posters. It's a great idea to encourage others about the joy of birdwatching. I'm thinking about giving very first introduction of birding in the first meeting. I'll probably mention about how it's becoming one of America's most popular hobby, how exciting it can be, and how crucial birders could be, since we birders may be the key to save endangered species (see the article: http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/107303872523830.xml ). I'll do my best to make it enjoyable as possible.

Tim
 
birdman said:
Do you have a "Local Patch", Tim... an area where you (personally) go birding and know quite well?

I don't know Eugene at all, but maybe a parkland or a wood, or just you local neighbourhood.

If so, you will be familiar with where the birds appear and you could lead trips around your patch, showing your club members the birds, identifying them if necessary.

Also, you could encourage the other members to do the same for their patch, giving you perhaps six areas to watch.

Whatever you do, keep us informed... and spread the BF word!!

I'll definitely spread the BF word. Eugene has an local Audubon Society. Do you mean like to take my club members to certain tours which the society offers?

Tim
 
Dave B Smith said:
And get them to join Bird Forum and maybe even have the BF admin set up a forum for High School Birdwatchers / or clubs.

A section especially for birders still at school is an excellent idea - it sounds to me as if young people need all the encouragement they can get.
 
I agree. With people like me (I'm only 16) joining a section for young birders, we can recieve all encouragements, and we'll be able to speak up in the public without being intimidated by being laughed at.

Tim
 
Tim, joining up with an already-organized Audubon field trip is EXACTLY what I meant. I have no doubt that the Audubon members would be thrilled to have a group of young people join them -- I often hear (in my local chapter) the whining about what a shame it is that more young folks aren't interested.

Contact them, ask to talk to their field trip organizer and see what you can arrange. I bet you'll come up with a very cool trip that your new club members would really enjoy (and you, too, of course).

And having a link to a nationally-recognized organization such as the National Audubon Society certainly can't be a BAD thing, right?

Any teachers at school who might also be birders? You might ask them to sponsor the club, maybe.

Good luck!!
 
Tim,Dave's suggestion re a junior BF forum/thread also sounds another excellent idea.Most teenagers are very pc orientated,so to combine the two,may be another way of encouraging your friends,especially if they could join with groups from around the world.
Please do let us all know how things go,
The very best,Christine.
 
Do you guys think giving tips for attracting birds in their backyard is a good idea also? After all, for fledgling birders, their backyard is the first spot to begin. How about making bird houses, or telling them about birding ethics (very important)?

Tim
 
Anhinga Watcher said:
Do you guys think giving tips for attracting birds in their backyard is a good idea also? After all, for fledgling birders, their backyard is the first spot to begin. How about making bird houses, or telling them about birding ethics (very important)?

Tim

Sounds good to me.
 
Anhinga Watcher said:
Do you mean like to take my club members to certain tours which the society offers?

Tim
You certainly could do that, Tim, but if you have a park walk or something similar, in a place where you know the birds well - then why not organise your own?

Go for it!!! :t:
 
Warning! This thread is more than 20 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top