Saturday, February 27, 2010
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Letters | Opinion | Editorial | Weekend Report |
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It's all about the birds By Raquel Pinder ~ Guardian Intern: Ever wondered why some birds have webbed feet or why some birds have larger beaks than others? Maybe you're curious as to why some birds travel solo and others in flocks. Are you interested in finding out why some birds have wings but don't fly? Or perhaps you're interested in knowing how birds communicate and why some birds make good pets and others don't? How about knowing how you can tell whether a bird is male or female. The place to get the answers and satisfy your curiosity is the Ardastra Gardens Zoo & Conservation Centre. Ardastra Gardens staff launch a series of educational seminars to answer these questions and more with its series entitled "It's All About . . ." They will host a session the last Saturday of each subsequent month, with the first in the series taking place on Saturday, January 30. It has been dubbed "All About Birds," and will be facilitated by zoo-keepers Vernard Bain and Shacara Lightbourne. Phillippa Moss, Ardastra Gardens public relations and education officer, says at this initial seminar, children will learn about all things related to the bird — their feathers, bones, beaks and feet. They will also learn which birds are masters of flight and which ones are birds that prey, the difference between land birds and water birds, the physiology adoptions, natural history and conservation of birds. They will be learning from people like Lightbourne who quickly says she has developed a fervent love for animals and says she often thinks she can speak their language. "They have been a love of mine since my high schools days when I volunteered at animal farms," she said adding that among the bird species, the flamingo is her favorite — simply because of their diva-like qualities, "They strut with such confidence, as if they know it's all about them." The seminars will be held within the zoo itself, which is primarily based on the lush outdoors. Its highly unlikely any child would be overcome with boredom. During these presentations they will play games, participate in craft activities and view bird exhibitions, for an experience that is interactive. Moss estimates that approximately 10,000 students pass through the doors of the Adastra Gardens within a given school year, but because of time constraints they are never rarely afforded the opportunity to gain a comprehensive view of what Ardastra Gardens is all about or what they have to offer. She says the "All About . . ." sessions seek to expose participants to the full gamut of the Ardastra experience. The seminars will be held monthly for the entire school year, which runs from October through April. They will be two hours in length and is the equivalent of one community service hour for those high school children that need them for school. The entrance fee is $6 for children and $8 for adults. This charge allows persons that attend the seminar to explore Ardastra for the remainder of the day if they so desire. While taking in the various sites inclusive of animals and plants, one could also watch the flamingo show and view the bird feeding. Other up-coming "All About . . ." topics in the months to come include "All About Reptiles," "All About Flamingos and "All About Animal Behavior. As the series continues, more topics will be made available. Moss promises the subjects will be just as exciting. Ardastra Gardens first opened it doors to the public in 1937. It was started by Jamaican horticulturist Hedley Edwards who wanted to replicate a part of his homeland in The Bahamas. He imported the first flamingo in 1950 and in 1982 the property was then sold to the late Norman Solomon who introduced the concept of a zoo to The Bahamas.
"All About the Birds" When: Saturday, January 30 Where: Adastra Gardens Zoo & Conservation Centre, Chippingham Time: 10 a.m. - 12 noon Cost: $6 Children, $8 Adults (further discounts are extended to persons with an Ardastra Gardens membership)
Friday January 29, 2010 |
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