Director of Mary Bailey House

Bird Spotting at Mary Bailey House

During the week commencing 14 October, Mary Bailey House children participated in Birdlife Australia’s Aussie Bird Count. This involved children from 18 months to five years old looking and listening for birds on the primary school field. Once they’d spotted one, they then needed to identify the bird using a bird chart.

After each 20-minute bird watching exercise, playrooms came back to the centre to talk about the features and sounds of every bird they spotted. They then logged their observations with Birdlife Australia. Across the week eight different birds frequented the primary school grounds that included Magpies. White Ibis, Crested Pigeon, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Noisy Miner, Rainbow Lorikeet, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and House Sparrow.

During and after the week, books and figurines of birds were offered in playrooms for the children to research while learning further about birds. This annual event provides Birdlife Australia with information about the birds that inhabit Strathfield but also a meaningful opportunity for children to learn about our local environment.

Jackie Baxter
Mary Bailey House Director