Middle school students become lifelong ornithologists

Salisbury Middle School sixth graders recently embarked on a hike up to Bake Oven Knob, a spot along the Appalachian trail near Allentown. After learning about different avian species in their science classes, they developed a keen interest in ornithology.

Students were thoroughly prepared for the expedition! Prior to the hiking experience, they dissected owl pellets in order to discover the birds’ diets and flight patterns. They also learned how to distinguish between bird families by wingspan, call and color.

While students visited the famous hawk-watching spot, they saw several species of birds, including the school’s mascot, the peregrine falcon! They were engaged in some interesting discussions about the birds that were present during the fall, and upon their return they wrote about their observations.