Education:  Webutuck Central Schools

by Alan Peterson

On a warm but blustery morning in November, I was called upon to give a presentation to a group of 8th graders at Webutuck Central School.  John Roccanova is an instructor who recruited our club to speak to his students.  They had made various styles of bird houses in their wood shop, utilizing known architectural designs.  My job was to show them what birds might use their boxes.

I was a bit skeptical when Mr. Rocconova told me we would start at 7:30 am, but quite surprised to find the students were much more ready to go than I.  They were an attentive, interested, and polite bunch.  Many thanks to our Web Hen Carena Pooth who put together the program on our new software so well.  We followed the program with a short walk around the school, and the migrants were moving.  Flocks of thrushes, sparrows, blackbirds, and assorted other passerines made for a busy half hour.  The students were into it, and so was I.  A great reason to miss work!

Wings Over Dutchess, January 2006

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