BIRD'S EYE VIEW RARE VISITOR IS TURNING HEADS TO THE SKIES.

Byline: Judy O'Rourke Staff Writer

NEWHALL - A flock of about 30 children who scanned cloudy skies Wednesday for a bird whose presence in Santa Clarita is nearly as rare as a unicorn were rewarded.

Flitting from leafy branch to branch on towering trees in Newhall Park, the painted redstart flashed cherry red feathers hidden under the wings of its jet black body.

``It's basically a very lost bird,'' Ian Swift, director of the Placerita Canyon Nature Center, told the youngsters, who are enrolled in a Boys & Girls Club program at the park.

Swift was eyeballing the bird for the second time. He first spotted the Mexico native Dec. 28 when he took part in Audubon's 106th annual Christmas bird count. The count, carried out by people around the world during a 24-hour period, helps scientists measure changes in bird populations over time.

``That's unbelievable,'' he said of the sighting. ``It's like casting a line out and catching a fish in like five seconds. There are ... bird-watchers all over California who would travel hundreds of miles to see the bird.''

The naturalist enlisted the kids' help to determine whether the out-of-towner had weathered the recent storm. Wielding scores of binoculars doled out by Swift, the fledgling birders were skeptical.

``I was a little doubtful, but (Swift's) optimism pays off,'' said Michael Guerrero, 11.

``It might be complicated because it's cold,'' said Carlin Eastwood, 9. ``And because they're small,'' chimed in Marissa Scott, 8.

``And birds just fly around everywhere,'' Carlin added. The group brainstormed names for its discovery, finally settling on ``Paco.'' While the activity was fun, Matt Nelson, the club's education director, said it was more than just a respite from indoor games.

``I think it's great for them to look at the park differently,'' he said. ``Birds fly by all the time, but they probably never take the time to think about where the birds came from or where they're going.''

Sergio Orellana will. The 14-year-old said he would look upward when he returned to the park at 2 p.m. for soccer practice.

Judy O'Rourke, [phone]

judy.orourke(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Ian Swift, director of the Placerita Canyon Nature Center in Newhall, points out a painted redstart to Boys and Girls Club member Michael Guerrero, 11, on Wednesday. The bird, a native of Mexico, was first spotted Dec. 28 by Swift.

(2 -- 3 -- color) At left, Amanda Chicas, 7, searches Wednesday for the painted redstart, far left, that was recently spotted in Newhall Park. Members of the Boys and Girls Club came out to scout for the Mexican bird, which is rarely found in the area.

David Crane/Staff Photographer