Windham Foundation » Enhancing Windham and the Mountaintop through Education, Recreation and the Arts

Bird Nesting Program

To:       All News Media

From:  Andrew Randazzo, Extension Educator (518-828-3346 X206)

Date:  June 23, 2016

 

WAJ Science Club Takes Part in Cornell’s Bird Nesting Program

WAJScienceClubBirdNestingOn Monday, June 20th, students from Windham-Ashland-Jewett (WAJ) got the opportunity to travel to The Willows a Brandow’s Point, managed by Green Land Trust. In partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene County and The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, students got to learn all about birds and their nesting habits.

Over the past few months bird nests at The Willows have been monitored through a series of citizen science programs.  Last Monday’s program was the final round of monitoring for the nests.  The WAJ Science club got firsthand knowledge on how to partake in citizen science and what the benefits are for nesting birds as well as humans.

The Lab of Ornithology instructors, Chelsea Benson and Robyn Bailey, also helped enrich Deb Valerio’s (science teacher at Windham-Ashland-Jewett) science club thorough a bit of engineering and woodworking.  Participants had the chance to build their own wooden bird nests to take home and were given instructions on the importance of proper bird nest placement. At the end of a hard day’s work everyone involved got to enjoy some pizza and cold lemonade while observing a beautiful, bid friendly grassland and its happy inhabitants!

The WAJ Science Club would not be possible without the generous financial support of The Windham Foundation. This was the last session of the science club during this school year.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities. The programs provided by this organization are partially funded by monies received from the Counties of Columbia and Greene.

4-H is New York’s only youth development program directly connected to the technological advances and the latest research at Cornell University. 4-H participants learn leadership, citizenship and life skills through hands-on projects in three primary program areas: science and technology; healthy living; and citizenship. To find out more about 4-H and youth programs in Columbia and Greene Counties, contact us at 518-828-3346 or Columbiagreene@cornell.edu or visit our website, www.ccecolumbiagreene.org . You can also “Like” us on Facebook…Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties.