4/7/24:  Westmoreland Sanctuary always surpasses our expectations!  During this trip to Westmoreland, PS 159 students learned all about blue birds, the State Bird of NY.  They learned that bird houses should actually be called nesting boxes and the goal is for people to make nesting boxes that look like dead trees so the birds will come and nest in them. 
We learned that the male blue birds have all of the bright colors and that when they are singing in the springtime, it is usually to attract the females and to claim their territories.  As Somah explains, "My favorite part was when we got to build the birdhouses and we got to do it by ourselves.  It was my first time building a birdhouse and my first time using a hammer." 

After learning all about blue birds and building nesting boxes, students went on a hike.  As Somah describes "There were a lot of hills that we had to climb and we had to take multiple water breaks to continue.  During the hike, my shoes got wet!"  It was definitely a muddy, spring hike but was enjoyed by all!