tawny frogmouth – Brewongle Environmental Education Centre

Photo from the WK Clifford – Australian Museum

So you take a feathery local species, like a Tawny Frogmouth, you mix in a crime scene, some suspects, plenty of hands on investigating and SHAZAM, you have yourselves an outdoor, eco-mystery challenge that never fails to grip primary age students.

Our Eco Mystery day – ‘The Tawny Tragedy‘ is one of our most engaging programs. Students eyes widen when they arrive at Brewongle to discover a crime scene complete with police tape and the chalk outline of the victim.

After reading the police report and discovering the food, water and shelter needs of the Tawny Frogmouth, the investigations begin.

Our ponds will be scoured for water bugs and tadpoles – are there are any water quality issues that may have killed Tawny? The forest and house areas are tested for health and possible food contaminents.

Weeds, feral animal prints and a habitat assessment will round out the day of mystery solving. Students are left to ruminate on their evidence and decide on a cause of death. A forensic police report arrives hot off the fax. Recommendations are sought by Brewongle staff to prevent this occurring in the future.

Could you replicate something like this in your school if you can’t visit us or your nearest Environmental Education Centre? This program is a fantastic example of engaging students in the outdoors. Students are required to use higher order thinking, problem solving and creativity skills. Literacy and numeracy are embedded and students emerge with knowledge and understanding of how an ecosystem works. Of course it also has all the syllabus links needed to fit in to the Australian Curriculum. Thanks to Barnier Public School for solving the crime!

What were the circumstances that led to the death of a local Tawny Frogmouth? Thankfully two camps of Crawford PS CSI team had some answers! Here are some photo’s from the wet wet wet camp 1!

Old Days Old Ways

We must begin by praising the students and staff from Crawford Public School Doonside during camp 1 for their enthusiasm and suffering of two days of very wet weather. Not to be deterred, the students enjoyed all activities and showed enthusiasm and skill in all our challenges.

The mysterious death of a Tawny Frogmouth posed some questions and challenges for the CSI teams from both camps. We were impressed with the evidence discovered as students investigated food, water and shelter problems as possible causes of death. Students now know how to help preserve our precious native wildlife.

Camp 2 enjoyed sunny, hot weather and trialled our new ‘Habitat’ game. This game involves teams of two seeking out food, water and shelter from other participants. The aim of the game is to get as many habitat cards as possible by attacking other players with a water pistol! Brilliant for hot days. Special mention must go to Mrs Waugh for getting involved even if she did seem to come out the wettest!

Enjoy the following photo’s of camp 2