School Projects
Creating a welcoming environment for birds on your school grounds is a great way to initiate ongoing learning experiences. Get everyone birding by providing a living, outdoor classroom for everyone to enjoy.
Feed the Birds
Just like people love going to events with free food, birds will flock to your school grounds if you leave out some munchies. First, you'll need to know what types of birds are native to your area and what they like to eat. Next, you'll need some bird feeders. You can make simple bird feeders out of milk cartons or two-liter plastic bottles simply by cutting small windows in them, sprinkling seed in the bottom, and tying them to a branch. These are cheap and easy, but they need to be refilled very often. A better choice is to ask a local hardware or garden store to donate bird feeders or hold a small fundraiser to buy some. At your fundraiser, sing the song “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins.
When you select a location for the feeders, choose someplace that is relatively quiet. Outside a window is nice because the children can watch them without scaring them off. Be patient after you've put up your feeder; birds will take some time to decide if it's a place they feel safe visiting. You can make it extra inviting by having a birdbath nearby as well. Just be sure to change the water frequently so you don't create a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Have the students help with refilling the feeders and changing the water. For extra learning engagement, post a sheet of paper where you can write down what type of birds your students see visiting the feeders and when.
Bird feeders can lure other animals you might not want on your school grounds, like rodents. To keep them away, clean up spilled seed and hulls from the ground regularly. Slather the underside with Vaseline and cayenne pepper and place the feeder about ten feet from any squirrel jumping point. You should also take feeders down over vacations.
Rebuilding Bird Habitat
The land where your school stands probably used to be bird land. Help rebuild the community by providing landscaping that the birds can thrive in. It's not quite as simple as just putting up birdhouses. Birds would rather live in places that closely resemble their natural habitat. Six basic principles for bird-friendly landscaping include:
Food. Know what type of birds you are inviting and what type of food they like to eat. You can provide bird feeders, but it's more sustainable to know which types of plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees provide the food that local birds prefer.
Water. Just like people need water, birds look for sources of water. Having a birdbath, water garden, or pond will create a more inviting atmosphere for birds.
Shelter. Birds are naturally skittish and need plenty of spaces to hide from activity, predators, and harsh weather. Trees, shrubs, tall grasses, and birdhouses are the best hiding spaces for birds.
Diversity. Including a variety of plants, trees, flowers, and shrubs creates the most optimally inviting natural space for birds.
Seasons. Make sure your plants provide year-round habitat for birds. For example, plant deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, as well as plants that provide year-round food sources.
Protection. Make sure there are plenty of places for birds to hide from storms and natural predators. Don't use herbicides and pesticides in your yard. They are poisonous to both the birds and the insects they may feast on.
It takes some thought, time, and money to invest in landscaping for a birdfriendly schoolyard, but the rewards are immeasurable. Not only is it wonderful to see and learn about the birds that inhabit your yard, it's also a lesson in cohabitation. Teaching children how to live in cooperation with nature is an invaluable lesson for life and a wonderful way to help protect the Earth.
