Project Nest Watch is a popular, long-running program from Bird Studies Canada. Nest Watch involves volunteers in the long-term monitoring of bird nesting activity across Canada.
Birds are good indicators of the health of their habitats and the ecosystems in which they live. By gathering data that follows the health of bird populations, participants provide valuable information on the state of the environment.
Bird Studies Canada is now expanding their Project Nest Watch program to include schools and school children.
Project Nest Box is an initiative that wants to get schools groups involved in nest monitoring. The program donates six nesting boxes to each interested school, to be installed on the school grounds. The students monitor the boxes throughout the spring and early summer, and report their observations online through Bird Studies Canada’s Project NestWatch website.
Children are always fascinated by nature, and monitoring the growth of baby birds will give them a chance to directly experience the wonders of the natural world. This program may also produce the ornithologists of the future!
Project Nest Box – School Nest Watch Program is a not-for-profit collaboration between the Aurora Environmental Advisory Committee Naturalization and Wildlife Working Group; Midpoint International Inc.; Bird Studies Canada; and the Royal Ontario Museum’s Ontario Nest Records Scheme.
Schools interested in participating should contact Carolin Grandin at Midpoint International Inc., at 1-888-646-4246 or carolin.grandin@midpoint-int.com.