December 29, 2009---Christmas Bird Count for Kids, Ages 9-15
PWA held Petaluma's first-ever Christmas Bird Count for Kids with 24 kids and their parents participating.  Following Binocular Boot Camp lessons by their bird team leaders, five teams of kids, accompanied by their parents, set out on a cold, foggy morning to their assigned trails in the Petaluma wetlands.  They identified 68 species in a total count of 2,610 birds.  After a brown-bag lunch, the Bird Rescue Center presented four of their live, wild birds:  a Great-horned Owl, a Turkey Vulture, a Merlin, and a Red-tailed Hawk.  The kids learned about the care of injured wild birds and what harm humans can have from "imprinting" on the birds who attempt to care for them.  A great day was had by all!