[obol] Amazing hawk day with my 6th graders

[Joseph Blowers]

I am teaching bird identification to my 6th graders at East Sylvan  
Middle School in Portland.  About 1 PM Friday I was training a group  
of them to use binoculars when a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew up to our  
bird feeders just outside the classroom window.  As all the little  
birds fled, it perched on the bird bath, where it stayed for 5  
minutes while incredulous 6th graders oohed and aahed and snapped  
pictures with their cell phones.

I thought that was the end of it, but when we went outside to  
practice with our binoculars, a Cooper's Hawk circled above us for  
several minutes.  While we were still watching it, the local pair of  
Redtails glided low over the school playground where we were  
standing.  I wish I could have ordered that kind of show for each of  
my classes!

Joe Blowers