Fifth-grade students in Ms. Mullin’s class at Mary Snow School in Bangor have been soaring with purpose—by tackling the issue of habitat loss for cavity-nesting birds in their local watershed. After learning how urbanization and landscape changes have impacted bird species like bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens, the students decided to take action. Their goal: build safe nesting spots for birds right on their school grounds.
First, they did their homework. The class dove into research on bird nesting boxes, discovering which designs work best, the ideal height and direction for mounting boxes, and how to attract birds safely and successfully. To deepen their understanding, they visited Maine Audubon’s Fields Pond Audubon Center, where Maine Audubon naturalists showed them how nesting boxes are arranged at the sanctuary. The visit also included some hands-on birdwatching, sharpening the students’ observation skills and excitement for their project.
Armed with field knowledge and inspiration, the class returned to school ready to act. Working together, they built and installed five bluebird boxes around the school campus. Then came the best part: monitoring! Within days, a new feathered resident had already moved in, sparking even more excitement and curiosity among the students.
Now, the class is dreaming even bigger. They’re hoping to add more boxes around the school and even install a video camera in one to get a peek at the next generation of baby birds as they grow. Through science, stewardship, and teamwork, these students are making a real difference—for the birds and for the health of their watershed. This is what environmental education is all about: learning locally, acting thoughtfully, and thinking long-term.
This project is part of the culmination of a two-year environmental education partnership between Maine Audubon and the Bangor School Department, made possible through a generous grant from the Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
