Ben Gomes takes five students for a nature walk, teaching how to identify birds in the process

Aubrey Murry

Contributing Writer 

In today’s society, it is hard to stay close to nature, but on Tuesday, October 23, four students, one faculty member, took time out of their busy schedule to take in the beauty of nature.

We started out in the Cascade Building as a group of five students, they walked toward Lake Waughop Pierce College Security guard, Ben Gomes, joined them. As the walk they began to make their way around the lake, Gomes told about the different types of birds that might see on the walk.

“This area is good for wrens, brown creepers, stellar jays, and chickadees,” he told us.  As he walked, he watched the trees.

Gomes had barely finished his sentence as he pointed out the tiny birds in the trees around us.

“There is a white crown, a ruby crown and a yellow crown,” he said.  “You can tell which kind they are from the color of the top of their head.”

As it started to come to the end of the walk, the group came across a sign identifying the different birds and wild life in the area.  Gathered around the sign, Gomes pointed out the birds which had seen and heard. The group listened intently as he pointed from pictures to bird, and explained the differences between the species.

Knowledgeable and fun, Gomes had given us a great education on the nature that surrounds us.