This summer, a group of lucky middle school students were given the opportunity to take an active part in bird conservation through a program sponsored by Cornell University, which provided these teens and pre-teens with free workshops that included lessons in biology, ecology, and bird habitats. Part of the Cornell NestWatch Project, this citizen science program aims to provide kids with an opportunity to connect with nature one on one.
Students who took part in the program learned techniques in tracking birds, as well as “the birds and the bees” about birds, including when birds nest, how many eggs they typically lay, and how the hatchlings are cared for. The goal is to nurture a love of nature for this next generation. “I really hope some of [the students] are able to channel their passion into lifelong support for conservation and perhaps, for some, even into a career in forestry or biology,” said NestWatch Project leader Robyn Bailey.
Campers also built bird boxes, enabling them to observe nesting firsthand. They then installed the boxes on the grounds of a school in Watertown, New York, as well as a land trust property in Athens, New York. The kids were able to observe the nesting process from construction, to the laying of eggs, to hatching. These boxes provided homes for many area species including black-capped chickadees, eastern bluebirds, and tree swallows. Students were also able to take bird boxes home to install in their own backyards.
Funded in part by a grant from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc. (SFI) the NestWatch Project also hopes to grow support for bird conservation efforts. Since 2010, SFI has provided grant money in excess of $875,000 to programs supporting bird conservation. Now this new generation of students can return to school and share their newfound knowledge with their friends, encouraging a new wave of budding conservationists.
Featured Image from Fabrizio Frigeni/Unsplash
