Jill Dening wrote:
> Put an ad at your local community
> noticeboard, and see what sort of response you get. Start a local group,
> not to compete with the established groups, but to teach new people, people
> who might not have the initiative to join a regular group, but who might be
> attracted to the idea of "classes", and then draw them into the established
> groups.
I enjoyed your posting, Jill.
I did what you are proposing for about a year but I confess I got weary
of
being the only one with any ideas about where to go and what to see.
"My" group
of middle-aged people, which included one other experienced birder, was
happy
to absorb what I could give but it became a bit draining and I was
disapointed
when none of them could be persuaded of the benefits of joining a
national or
state organisation.
I also had a bit of success last year in getting our local primary
school kids
looking at birds, with the cooperation of their year 6-7 teacher.
Unfortunately
she's now in Canada, on exchange.
In my particular (small country town) community I think the school is
probably
the most fertile ground for encouraging birding and I'll probably have
another
go this year.
What do others do about binoculars for beginners/tourists? Obviously,
the experience is greatly enhanced if they can see more than a dark blob
where you point out a bird. I have 2 spare sets of cheap binoculars that
I lend out but they don't go far with a group. Is there a better way?
Cheers
Anne Green
Atriplex Services (Pronounced A-tree-plex)
Environmental Consultants, Landscaping Contractors,
Native Australian Plant Nursery, Educators.
http://www.riverland.net.au/~atriplex
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