LOSYBC visits 1st Astley Gilwell Cubs

We had a very interesting visit to the 1st Astley Gilwell Cubs tonight where we gave one of our Bird Identification presentations to the mixed pack of about 30 boy and girl cubs all aged between 8 and 11 years old.

The set up was quite different to the schools we have been visiting this year, with the cubs sitting on the floor to watch our slideshow and answer questions.

The age range was also more of a challenge to us, as the Young Birders' Club team are more used to having just one age group in school classes.

After our usual introduction of 'Who are we?' and 'Why were are we here?', we moved on to the basics of identifying birds on the basis of size and shape, colour, bill colour and shape, leg colour and shape, song, behaviour and habitat.

To illustrate our talk we showed some detailed diagrams of a few selected common birds as well as playing the sounds of their songs.

Following this, the cubs were shown how to make a simple Bird ID dial, which they did in groups at tables set up in the middle of the hall.  Later they used the dials to identify some common birds from photographs on sheets.


We finished the session by going through the answers and many of the cubs got full marks, so well done!

We enjoyed the experience of delivering our presentation to the Cubs and were very well recieved by everyone there.

They were all very enthusiastic and keen to learn as well as tell us what they knew about birds. We hope to be back sometime to do the same again for another pack here.

If you are a member of a Cub, Scout, Brownie or Guide pack and would like a visit like this from the L.O.S. Young Birders' Club team, please contact us at:

leighos.webmaster@gmail.com