Student Action for Birds

Here’s just a sampling of bird-related projects from schools:

Students at Fort Fraser Elementary School in Fort Fraser, British Columbia, transformed a gully on their school grounds into bird-friendly habitat by building and installing 40 nest boxes. Teacher Stephanie Lindstrom explained that students also enlisted the community's involvement and planned to keep close records of which boxes were used by what species.

At Earl Oxford School in Brandon, Manitoba, students learned more about managing wildlife and the balance of nature by researching the biology and habits of bluebirds, then building and installing 15 nest boxes to attract the species.

Birds, bats, and hummingbirds were the focus of a project students completed at Bridgetown Elementary in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia. Teacher Daniel Jessome says that youngsters did research, then built and erected bird and bat houses and also hummingbird feeders.

Students at Acton High School in Acton, Ontario, did their best to boost populations of bluebirds and swallows in their area. They assembled and erected nearly 50 bird boxes. Teachers Terry Roesch and Dave Rose said that in the process the teens learned a lot about how birds help maintain a healthy ecosystem.

By building and erecting purple martin nest boxes, environmental leadership students at Catholic Central High School in London, Ontario, learned about habitat restoration and birds at risk. The boxes were erected at the Wilds of Pelee Island Outdoor Centre for Conservation.

In New Hamburg, Ontario, students at Grandview Public School planted trees and shrubs to attract birds and other wildlife, as well as erecting bird houses and feeders. Principal Heather Brentnall said the entire school was involved in the ambitious project, along with students' families who helped to maintain the project over the summer.

All youngsters at the Amabel Sauble Community School and Day Care in Sauble Beach, Ontario, pitched in to erect bird houses, plant native trees to provide wildlife habitat and also outdoor classrooms for wildlife study. Teachers Dave Sinclair and Kevin Holgate said students were very enthusiastic about this long-range project, especially those who were involved from the start.

Students from Elwick Community School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, constructed bird and bat houses, then erected them along a six kilometre stretch of the Prime Meridian Trail outside the city.