CISS Bird Exploration Tour

The Canadian International School of Shenyang ECA International Club led the students into Bird Island to conduct extra-curricular activities with the theme of bird exploration! Dr. Francisco, our vice principal of teaching, explained to the students about birds in detail. Let's get to know birds together with the students!

Introduction to Bird Island

Bird Island, situated beside the Hunheriver, it is the largest natural island in this water system, the mother river of Shenyang and the bright “pearl on the water” of Shenyang. The island has been fully preserved and maintains its original ecological landscape, trees and wetlands, which are presented to visitors in their natural forms, as well as the conservation of a wide variety of birds, making it an ideal destination for Shenyang residents to get close to nature without leaving the city.

Pelican – the big mouthed celebrity

Here we can see the Pelicans, lovely and willful! These birds possess a giant mouth to maximize fish catching power! They are foodies among birds, who carry their own chopsticks! The students were all captivated by these big mouth celebrities! Everyone is curious about how many fish pelicans can eat in one bite. Our PE teacher Mr. Paulo, MYP English teacher Mr. Steinberg and our classmates had a pretty heated discussion...

Swam – the birds that mate once in a lifetime

Tang Dynasty’s great poet Li Shangyin’s wrote a famous seven-character poem of four lines titled “Swam" praising the swan’s couple choice, their compromise to be together for life. At the same time, they are also a model of good parents, as they dedicate their life to take care of their offspring. On Bird Island we saw black swans, black-billed swans, cygnets, whooper swans...The students were mesmerized by the elegant swans and became their fans. After seeing parent swans together with cygnets, Mr.Steinberg, who has been happily married to a Chinese and became a father recently, shared with his students the difficulties of parenthood. He told the children that being parents is very hard! We should be grateful for their efforts!

Peacock - the most beautiful of all 

This bird is as beautiful as a green fairy, and, in Chinese tradition, it is a Phoenix that comes down to earth! The students had been looking forward to see the peacock show before they came. When the keeper whistled, the peacocks flew out of their birdhouse! Captivated by the spectacle, the students gasped in succession: It is really like what is described in the Chinese fairytale Southeast the Peacock Flies, peacock really can fly! With the keeper's explanation, the students also understood the difference between male and female peacocks. Those with beautiful feathers, are not females! The male peacocks are the ones that have beautiful feathers, not the female ones! Students happened to coincide to become fans of beautiful male peacocks!

Flamingo – the dance star

They have beautiful feathers, long legs, and the grace of ballet dancers! Our foreign teachers became their fans! Ms.Du Plessis, as our school's teacher who likes birds the best, PYP homeroom teacher, also shared a lot of knowledge of flamingo with the students!

During the visit, the students learned a lot about birds in a good, positive environment, and also came into contact with considerable knowledge about Chinese culture.

Wait a minute! You though that was the end of our day? No, no, no!!! Our PE teacher Mr. Paulo took our students to Wulihe Park to have fun! Kids out, breathing fresh air, doing archery, frisbee...The children from different parts of the world laughed and played together sharing the moment! From time to time visitors of the park stopped to watch, as it was truly a wonderful sight to see so many different students playing in harmony. Some people have ask what is the color of childhood? Our childhood is colorful!