Michigan's Upper Peninsula Article Links page    Engadine Consolidated Schools

ENGADINE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS AWARDED A WPBO GRANT

1998-99 School Year

By Julie Freeman

The Engadine Consolidated Schools received a $500.00 grant from the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory  (WBPO) Small Grant Program of Paradise, Michigan. This was the first year, for such a grant, so Engadine High School's Environmental Science teacher, Dale Moore, was honored to receive the grant.  Dale Moore received E-Mail from Russell Utych, Whitefish Point Bird Observatory director, stating that he had qualified for this years grant. A few weeks later, at a very nice dinner, during Founders Week at Whitefish Point, it was officially announced that this years grant would be presented to the school. 

The grant money is generated through a Bird-A-Thon sponsored by the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory.  Individuals or group collect pledges toward the number of birds sighted during the Bird-A-Thon. When bird count is in, pledges are collected and the proceeds are applied to the Small Grant Program.  Mr. Moore and any others that were interested in this grant wrote a letter stating their proposal for projects to be conducted in the 1999 field season.  The projects were to contribute to the conservation, management or appreciation of birds in Michigan. All Naturalist Clubs, School Groups (K-12) or other amateur organizations are eligible to apply. All proposals was reviewed and considered. The WPBO Bird-a-thon fund-raiser provides primary funding.

The Small Grant Program was established in 1998 to encourage amateur involvement in bird conservation in Michigan. 

The Environment Class has used the money to develop the Next Box Trail at the Engadine School Forest located on Stimic Road in Engadine. The trail includes nest boxes for cavity nesting birds and animals (which have already been built and put in place by the students), along with trail markers that will be placed near the boxes with accompanying informational brochures available at the beginning of the trail. The grant money was used to purchase post, lumber, numbers, hinges, field guides (bird books) and binoculars. 

There were 17 students in this year’s Environmental Science class. Each student was assigned a bird or animal. The class had 16 different birds and one squirrel to build nesting boxes for in hopes to attract as many as possible to this area.  Each student then had to learn why their box, was good for that particular bird or animal and what they could do to attract or encourage that species to inhabit the box they made. It was very important the boxes were located in appropriate locations, some needed to face South or East, where others didn't make any difference. Another important part of placing the boxes was what kind of habitat was needed, such as open fields, forest edge or deep woods and what kind of predator protection was needed. 

It took three days of solid building, of the nest boxes, along with one trip out to locate where they should be placed and another day to hang the boxes properly. Taking hammers, nails and ladders they placed the nest boxes in the School Forest (some had to be placed 15 to 30 feet off the ground). Mr. Moore said it will take several days to place the bark for the trails and to place the informational post in the ground near the nesting box sites. Once this is completed brochures will be available at the beginning of the trail for all to enjoy a self-guided tour through the School Forest. 

Thanks to the Mackinac Lumber Company of Engadine and the Ocko's dump truck the students were able to spread bark over nearly one-half mile of trails.  This maintenance of the trail once again allows the public to enjoy a wonderful nature walk through the School Forest.  Future students will keep up the School Forest trails, so all generations can proudly tell their present and future families how they helped make this nature trail possible. 

The Environmental Science classes will keep track of the nest boxes through Cornell University's Cornell Nest Box Network.  The boxes will be periodically checked for nesting activity and the information sent to the Cornell Nest Box Network. 

Mr. Moore, a "nature nut" has taught in Engadine for three years, is trying to make the school forest more useful to others and meaningful to all the students. Mr. Moore believes that this kind of project makes science more interesting for the students. He added, "Another thing is when they start doing tasks in the school forest the students develop pride in "their" forest."

All Bird-A-Thon participants are greatly appreciated for their participation and hard work, in this years Whitefish Point Bird Observatory Small Grant Program! Dale Moore, High School Science Teacher stated: “Bring a pair of binoculars, a field guide of birds, a Nest Box brochure and take a walk through the Nest Box Trail!”

The Whitefish Point Bird Observatory is a nonprofit membership organization, established in 1979 to document and study migratory bird populations and their habitats in the Great Lake region. It is located at the northeastern tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Whitefish Point is a phenomenal concentration spot for migrating birds. Land and water features create a natural corridor, funneling thousands of migrating birds to the Point. Leaving opportunities for research, education, and conservation programs.

If you would like more information about WPBO, phone (906) 492-3596, or visit them at Whitefish Point, Paradise, Michigan. You may also visit their web site at: http://www.wpbo.org