Kuaka - BBK Birding Tours

 

BBK Birding Tours,

 Powerful learning opportunities for tamariki.

Our Kuaka friends are still down at the beach hanging out and enjoying the last of their New Zealand summer holidays.  

It's a time of rejuvenation, replenishment and relaxation in the summer sun before embarking on their next big journey across oceans.  

Time is running out for us to view these incredible birds; their departure date draws near.  

Slowing down, noticing, and building a relationship with the natural world.

Seeing birds in their natural habitat fosters tamariki respect, care and a sense of guardianship for whenua and wildlife.  

Experiential learning at it's best...feeding in language!

Our birding tours provide opportunities for tamariki to engage all their senses, in turn, creating new vocabulary to describe what we are seeing, hearing, 

doing and feeling.  

The language of the Kuaka - 

feathers, pattern, beautiful, bill, crabs, feet, paddle, strut, wade, wings, flutter, fly, motion, migration, flock, formation, distance, resilience, estuary, river, tide, beach, surf, dunes, weather, habitat, conservation, kaitiakitanga, look, view, observe, notice, binoculars, telescope, focus, zoom, close-up, far away.  

Tamariki describe their Kuaka experiences, testing new words on their lips, sharing these discoveries with their friends, learning, growing.

Opportunities to watch birds encourages careful looking, listening, and wondering.

Learning how to use the binoculars an experience all on it's own.  It's hard to manage, but we can learn hard things!  We're on our way to becoming birding experts!

 Looking up, down and all around...where are those pesky birds!

 

Excitement growing, off in the distance we see our feathered friends!

Through birding, tamariki practice many skills...waiting quietly, managing their excitement, controlling their movement and voice, all whilst having opportunities to develop sustained attention.

That these special birds come to our little place in the world is pure magic for our tamariki, whanau and teachers.  And as we get to know these birds, our hearts grow in love and appreciation for them.  We begin to understand the connection we have to them and the significance of looking after local spaces that nurture and support them while they are here with us.  What a treasure we experience each year as they return to us, right at our door step.  Truly a special experience.

  

                

We're excited for more Kuaka adventures...watch this space!