Kerns public winter finch banding

My very first memory of feedback from an assignment from University was my  wrongful use of the word irregardless . Apparently it is regardless.  I have had the fortune since my retirement to spend lots of time  banding  snow buntings and colour banding redpolls with the kerns public grade 5 and 6 students. The kerns kids have inspired me and they have embraced   our efforts to band . Clearly kids would rather help band birds then be in their classroom but the kids at kerns  can do both and be part of citizen science. We have been part of a  colour banding project from the Canadian wildlife service in Ottawa to put colour bands on redpolls and  grosbeaks to see they movements of winter finches. Birds seen at the feeders at kerns public and at feeders in the area will help researchers learn more about the movements of winter finches. The fact that this can be happening at the grade 5 and 6  level fills me with optimism and hope for the future.  Not to mention there is something special about these kids from kerns  who have been part of snow bunting  banding for the last  four years.  now that we are banding redpolls and the  grade 5 and 6 kids are starting to take birds out of nets makes this a very special place indeed .  The best part for me is that  the research that grade 5 and 6 kids can help out with is  referred to as citizen science  and they realize that  they are part of real science  something that is being used by scientists across north America.  Not too shabby for kids in grade 5 and 6.  I would challenge the real science happening at kerns with what is happening at the high school and with any other  public school in the province . Bird is the word!