Intervention in 3 CE1 classes at the Franco-Peruvian High School of Lima (Colegio Franco Peruano). This establishment welcomes almost a thousand students from kindergarten to final year.
It turns out that the CE1 classes took “Birds” as their annual theme. It is available in all subjects, French, Spanish, English and mathematics. They also aim to take an inventory of the birdlife that they can see within the perimeter of the establishment. Although located in the city, the biodiversity is quite substantial. Among other things, we can see a pair of Peruvian oedecnema, present for several years, which reproduced there and which they took as a mascot. The presence of this species in this closed and noisy environment is surprising given that it is restricted to large arid spaces.
The teachers, having learned that I was an ornithologist, asked me to speak in each of these classes. As support, I had photos of birds from the Camargue that I had previously sent. With each photo it was a matter of carefully observing the species and more particularly the beak and legs in order to determine its diet (granivore, insectivore, carnivore etc.) and to guess what environment it favors (water, mud, forest , open environment). In addition, I was able to talk to them about species from Peru close to those that can be seen in the Camargue and that they will be able to see during their school trip to “Los Pantonas de Villa” (a marsh south of Lima). I found the students very curious and asking very relevant questions. Particularly on their mode of communication, plumage and sex differentiation etc.
What joy for me to talk about the birds of the Camargue Gard on the other side of the world and to discover many other species from the “new world” that I have the pleasure of sharing with you.
Jean-Pierre Trouillas
