The Santa Barbara County Parks Department will be host to bird workshops for children ranging from 8 to 12 years old at Cachuma Lake this summer.
The workshops are intended to present the wonder of birds and the skills of birding for each appropriate age level. Children will learn about bird anatomy and how beaks, feet, and wings make birds adapted to forage and hunt for specific foods. Each child will get a pair of binoculars to use during the workshop.
Kids will explore the woodland and chaparral habitats of Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, and then head out on the Osprey—the parks’ pontoon boat—to check out birds on the lake. Each child will take home a laminated pocket guide of local birds, a bird list with viewing hints, and a new set of skills.
There are two separate two-day sessions. The first will take place June 24 and 26 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the second session will take place July 22 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Space is limited, and registration is required. Contact parks naturalist Liz Gaspar at 688-4515 or Lgaspar@sbparks.org for more info or to register.
This article appears in Jun 19-26, 2014.