Article and photos by Amanda Jerng
I recently collaborated with Houston Audubon to host our first bird walk for students at Cullinan Park, an event that ranks among the most inspiring experiences of my life. I had so much fun sharing everyone’s excitement, talking to parents about the origins of their children’s interest in birds, and birding, of course! At the bird-viewing area, we were able to glimpse a Red-bellied Woodpecker through the trees, and despite the size of the group, I began to notice how quiet we were. Everyone was still, focused, and teetering with suspense to see what would pop out next, generating a sense of unity that was hard not to smile at.
Some unexpected finds also appeared in the form of two broad-banded water snakes bathing in the early summer heat and gaggles of adorable Common Gallinule and Purple Gallinule chicks waddling behind their parents! We also all marveled at Common Gallinules and Limpkins sitting diligently on their nests only a mere few feet from the boardwalk. Since the Limpkins have recently taken over Cullinan, the silence of the walk was often punctured by the unrelenting screeches… Aside from Limpkins, there were a plethora of resident egret and heron species, which are always nice to see.
On its surface, birding is a strange and niche interest for young people, but at its core, there is something about the activity that appeals to everyone, regardless of age or background. Birding allows us to enjoy nature in both its serenity and bustle, observe awe-inspiring creatures, and even get well-needed exercise (especially important for sleep-deprived students like me). I had a wonderful time and hope to meet all kinds of birds and birders in the future!
Author Bio
Hi, I’m Amanda Jerng- an incoming high school senior, bubble tea addict, and longtime bird lover of seven years! If you ever catch me during spring migration, I will likely be hunting for the perfect (and currently elusive) Indigo Bunting photos. I am also planning to form a youth birder society for those in southwest Houston, so if you would like to get involved or simply chat about birds, please feel free to reach me at amandajerng08@gmail.com 🙂
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