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Fitch Falcons learn about bird breeding habits
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Neighbors | Submitted.Austintown Fitch High School junior Natalie Rivera looked into a birdhouse to monitor nesting activity as part of the Bluebird Project.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Students are pictured observing birds through their binoculars as part of the Bluebird Project. The project came about as part of a grant received by Biology/Zoology teacher Stacey Pavlik.
Fitch High School students found some feathered first signs of spring.
“The red-winged blackbirds are the first to come back from migration. They are really the first signs of spring,” said senior Scotty Duffy.
Biology and zoology teacher Stacey Pavlik asked her class to focus on the impact nonnative birds have on the breeding success of native birds. She was able to allow her students to embrace their independence in the construction of 18 nest boxes and later placement throughout the Falcon Campus.
It is her hope that through years of calculating nesting success, the Falcons to Bluebirds project will establish breeding populations of native birds around the school campus.
Students researched and strategically placed the boxes, paid for by a $1,500 grant from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, around campus with a minimum of 50 yards between them.
All Pavlik asked was that they explain things as they went through the process.
“The distance is for territorial boundaries,” said Bryce Warmouth, a junior. “They have bubbles and can’t pop other birds’ bubbles. They’ll fight with each other.”
Students ran from box to box, taking notes on new, old and in-progress nests.
Supplies for the nest boxes wasn’t all the grant money provided – Pavlik also purchased binoculars for students to observe birds from afar.
Sam Skowron, a senior, said she enjoyed the binoculars more than she thought she would.
“It allows us to see birds’ colors from far away and the small details,” she said.
Pavlik said she was overjoyed students had knowledge they clearly took away from the experience – even if it just turned into a hobby for them.
“I just love it,” Pavlik said. “This is what I’ve always dreamed – showing anyone about nature.”