The Zone of Proximal Development

 As an educator we are forever being thrown new theories on how we learn.  This one has stuck with me and I have seen it over and over in myself and others.  The theory is that there are zones of learning that are more effective to be successful at learning that skill.  When something is too easy, we get bored and lose the motivation to learn, when something is too hard, we grow frustrated and give up, when something is within our reach and with the help of others , we can learn the skill, that is the sweet spot where the learning sticks.  Learning is most effective when tasks are just out of reach but achievable with guidance from a More Knowledgeable Other (MKO)  This theory was developed by Soviet psychologist Lev Vygotsky, the theory emphasizes that learning is fundamentally a social process. 

Pileated Woodpecker

In creating curriculum for different age groups and levels, knowing this is very helpful.  In learning about our more than human world, it is also helpful and leads to great success.  I would consider myself an intermediate birder and learn a great deal by going out with other more experienced birders, especially those that enjoy helping and mentoring less skilled birders (most but not all birders are like that).  It's not that I go along and copy their every move, we move as a team with many eyes and this makes for a more productive birding experience (usually).  Sometimes the socializing gets in the way of observing birds, but we are all usually looking outward and listening as well (unless its a really juicy story!)  

Redstart

Many of us were brought up looking at our natural world.  My parents, especially my Dad, really enjoyed the outdoors, fishing and bird watching and I loved joining them on outings or in the backyard.  As a beginning birder, we can gaze at the birds with our bare eye, looking for movement and colour, not necessarily knowing the names. We then can start using binoculars to look at the species closer.  Practicing this, either alone or with others, increases our skill and motivation to learn.   I do this with the children in my care, and also with people I meet on my travels, it's always a joy when another person gets the 'birding bug' because of an experience that we had together.  I also really enjoy looking at insects and plants, as well as mammals and reptiles and amphibians (and the moon, and water, clouds, you get the picture), and it is that sense of curiosity that spurs my motivation and that of others.  I was pleasantly surprised to see a man at a natural area that I don't go too often (Dow Wetlands) see me and recognize me and he let me know that he has gotten into birding here and at his home farm because I introduced him to Merlin.  I did let him know that Merlin is fallible, and he gets that, but it brings the enjoyment of birdsong closer, as he can see what bird is making that particular sound.

Eastern Towhee

I am at the stage where I do really enjoy going out on my own, and find that I learn alot about myself and my developing skills and am always looking to push myself.  I will go and try and see the bird or insect even if it is way out of reach, I will rarely trespass, but I will try and look at habitat, time of year, time of day, flight patterns, silhouette, and of course song, to identify a a bird.  

Black Billed Cuckoo

As birders become more skilled, we do rely on birdsong as much as the visual.  In the past, that seemed too difficult for me to comprehend, but as I practice every day and use Merlin , I have memorized quite a few bird songs, though the more challenging calls of the mimids such as Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Grey Catbird and even the blackbirds are at time out of my reach. (for now!) 

Song Sparrow

Another aspect of learning that is, maybe not unique to humans, but we have an affinity for, is novelty.  We love new things, and that is especially true in the naturalists world.  I personally like the common bird, and you will see on my ebird checklists that I photograph every bird that will sit for a photo, and some that fly away!. Robert Bateman was once asked if he ever gets tired of seeing the more common birds, he said no, because they are all individuals (I'm paraphrasing)   I love Song Sparrows and to me no two are alike.  Sparrows in particular are a family of bird that don't have too much differentiation (they are little brown birds), but when they do, birders (me included) lose their minds!.  Walking in a meadow in midsummer, we are apt to see Song, Chipping, Field, Savannah or maybe a Vesper or Lincoln's, but watch out if we hear the buzzing call of a Grasshopper sparrow or Clay coloured sparrow, or even a Nelson's!  Tiny differences make a huge difference!  If during this same time of year we observe a White Crowned, Tree or White Throated Sparrow, we also blow a gasket!  The reasoning could be the rarity of the bird, the beauty of the bird, or the fact that person has never seen that species (lifer!)  This could be said for New World Warblers as well.  They are beautiful little jewel like neo tropic songbirds that quite often resemble each other, again their call notes are what makes the big difference.  We have the Yellow and Pine Warbler, as well as Redstart and Yellowthroat that breed here in the summer, but there was a lone male Blackburnian Warbler that hung out a few weeks ago as well as a nesting pair of Prairie Warblers that breed here every summer, which is pretty rare.  

Orchard Oriole

Indigo Bunting

Don't get me started on Gulls!

Acadian Flycatcher

Upland Sandpiper

Some people will go to great lengths to see the 'Rare' bird.  I will try to see rare birds that are within 2 hours of me, but I also see them as 'Lost' birds and I get kind of sad when I realize that they have lost their way.  We hade a lone male Yellow throated Warbler last fall at a local urban park that stuck around for a couple of weeks eating insects from an old spiders web.  Sometimes these birds are lost and some are a result of climate change, our climate is warming and they may be avoiding forest fires or drought in their regular breeding grounds.  

I have included some photos that I have taken recently in Lambton county, some are rarites, some are common, all are gorgeous birds! (especially the Song Sparrow!)

Great Blue Heron