When Sam* looks out the window, he’s not thinking about math, biology, or history.
“Some days are bad days for him, but coming here to watch the birds for a while quickly calms him down so he can relax a little before going back to the classroom,” explains Susan Jeffers, a second-grade teacher at the Mount Markam Elementary School, who participated in this year’s Bird Quest. “It’s been particularly relevant this year.”
Many of the over 40 school, homeschool, family, and individual teams have reported the same impact while watching their feeders in 2021.
Birds are everywhere. Combine that with the fact that people were cooped up from Covid and it’s not surprising that there has been a big increase in birdwatching.
Indeed, the online database eBird reported a 37% increase in users documenting their sightings, with more than two million people using the Merlin Bird ID app in 2020. That’s good news for conservation too.
“As kids and adults start to appreciate birds, they also start to consider what birds need to thrive. For some, this is the first time they’ve considered the larger picture” explained Lin Gibbs, our Community Programs Director.
This program is possible because of our donors’ generosity and community support.
If you shop at State Street Hardware, Lowes, Walmart, Home Depot, or Rudd’s Town and Country, please tell them how much you appreciate their support of the Tug Hill Bird Quest.
We couldn’t offer the free bird feeders and bird seed to our Bird Quest teams and schools without them.
*Name changed to ensure privacy.
“As kids and adults start to appreciate birds, they also start to consider what birds need to thrive. For some, this is the first time they’ve considered the larger picture.”
– Lin Gibbs, Community Programs Director