By César Piñones. Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC)
Translated from Spanish by WHSRN Executive Office
The inclusion of the Las Salinas de Huentelauquén Ramsar Site in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) in March of 2022 has given new inspiration to the educational work of the Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC) [Chilean Bird and Wildlife Watchers Network] in northern Chile. The 6,850 acre site (2,772 hectare), located in the agricultural community of Huentelauquén in the municipality of Canela, Coquimbo Region in Chile, brings together a mosaic of natural areas with high biodiversity representative of the Chilean semi-arid zone, such as the mouth of the Choapa River, dune fields, and coastal plains.
Aerial view of seasonal pond at Las Salinas de Huentelauquén. Photo: Víctor Bravo-Naranjo.
The addition of this special site to the network inspired the planning and launch of a unique educational series for sixth-grade students from the Corazón de Jesús School in Salamanca, a city located in the Choapa River valley. Between March and December of 2023, the 28 boys and girls aged 11 and 12, worked on a selection of activities from the Discover Shorebirds curriculum, as part of the Value Formation class taught once a week.
The educational proposal was supported by online trainings by the Manomet team in February and March of 2023, and complemented by the ROC’s direct knowledge and experience with shorebirds on site.
The educational activity considered the scientific concepts on which the Chilean natural sciences curriculum is based, which includes studying the diversity of living things that inhabit the Earth, and how from different foods they obtain the energy to move and breed. Scientific ideas that highlight Chile’s native biodiversity and its value in the general framework of wildlife conservation were also taken into account. Priority was then given to the themes in the shorebird curriculum, referring to the extraordinary characteristics of these birds (Lesson 1), such as their fabulous legs and beaks, and the incredible physical resistance that allows them to migrate long distances (Lesson 2). The children also reflected on the threats that shorebirds face in the places they visit or live permanently (Lesson 4). Three species of shorebirds were the “protagonists” of these topics: the Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), the American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), and the Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus).
Left: Coloring pages with shorebird species. Right: Student’s notebooks. Photos: César Piñones.
In the classroom, the teaching and learning strategies sought to develop certain positive habits, such as: persistence in a task that requires deep thinking; the search for precision and accuracy; clear and precise communication; the capture of the essentials to draw conclusions; and an attitude of openness to being curious and of continuous learning. To develop these skills and attributes, we encouraged the exploration and observation of documentaries and short animated films, as well as the extensive reading of selected texts. An interesting example of the material the students were introduced to is the illustrated audiobook “La Orquesta del Humedal” [“The Wetland Orchestra”], which tells the story of a Whimbrel’s journey through the network of coastal wetlands in the Coquimbo region (see https://youtu.be/WAqF2ojSqeg ). The students then recorded their observations and conclusions in graphic organizers and notebooks in a group activity. Each student’s notebooks and projects became real “windows” into what they each learned during the school year.
Along with these assignments, the students also wrote letters outlining their petitions, wishes, and desires for the conservation of shorebirds and their wetland habitats. Many of these letters were addressed to the President of the Republic, the school director, and the teachers themselves, repeatedly (and fervently!) requesting the appreciation (and conservation) of shorebirds and the urgent need to care for them.
Next, they were tasked with using their creative skills to create two drawings of masks which illustrated different scenarios related to the shorebird conservation. The boys and girls created amazing art, through which they were able to demonstrate in a concrete and beautiful way what they had learned about maintaining the health of wetlands and highlighting human actions that endanger shorebirds. The students were asked to express in their own words what they could do to help protect shorebirds, to which Nolvia (12 years old) pointed out that “we could make posters that say ‘don’t throw out garbage.’ Our masks could be included in signs that talk about the importance of shorebirds.” In turn, Emily (12 years old) said that for her “they are animals that deserve to live and be studied, they are very beautiful and that’s why they are important to me.”
Students during the field visit to Las Salinas de Huentelauquén. Photo: César Piñones.
Next , and the last part of the curriculum, came a field trip to Las Salinas de Huentelauquén WHSRN site, thanks to Corazón de Jesús School and the Huentelauquén Agricultural Community. After a one-and-a-half hour drive from the valley to the coast, the children, accompanied by their teachers, were able to learn what a WHSRN site is and were able to apply their newly-gained knowledge to identify the species present in Huentelauquén, such as the Whimbrel and the American Oystercatcher all appropriate topics for Lesson 4 of the Shorebird Curriculum! The day was also a way to connect the students first-hand to this natural treasure.
This field activity in Las Salinas served as the finale of the implementation of the Discovering Shorebirds curriculum by ROC’s partners and collaborating educators in the Choapa Valley. The lessons learned from this pedagogical experiment will help to bolster the educational foundation that we are laying to support conservation work in Las Salinas de Huentelauquén. We hope to share the results of this experience more fully in future collaborations within WHSRN.
Sixth-grade students from the Corazón de Jesús School at the WHSRN Site during the field trip. Photo: Víctor Sarabia.
This project was supported by Sandra Ossandón, sixth grade teacher at Colegio Corazón de Jesús, psycho-pedagogue Elizabeth Bugueño, and psychologist and ROC member Víctor Sarabia. The experience also echoed earlier educational lessons about birds that teacher and ROC member Natalia Sola developed with the class during the pandemic.
Cover Photo: Students observing shorebirds at WHSRN site Las Salinas de Huentelauquén, Chile. Photo: César Piñones.
