​A couple months ago, I, Cathy Kozmary vice-president of Red Rock Audubon, arrived early at the HBVP for a morning of birding with a friend. So I went on in and started around Pond 1 binoculars and camera ready for action. I said hi to a few people deciding to go east for better light. Nearing the north side of the pond, I noticed someone that I had greeted earlier.  She approached me asking if I might be with Audubon, commenting that my kit made me look like a serious birder! Clearly answering “Yes” she explained that the purpose of her visit was to find someone associated with Audubon in the hopes of getting some expert input for the robotics class project at one of the local stem magnet schools. At the time I had no idea how lucky I had been going east that morning. 

​On Saturday, February 15th we had a group of 20 students and their teachers from the Rise Academy, joined us at the Winchester Cultural Center as part or the Winchester Nesters Program, for the Great Backyard Bird Count.