Woodpeckers, including Downy Woodpeckers, are among the favorite feeder birds according to the students at Kazoo School in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

This season’s BirdSpotter contest is celebrating teachers and students who participate in Project FeederWatch and enjoy identifying and counting birds. The second winner for this season is teacher Kelly Zajac and her students at the Kazoo School in Kalamazoo, Michigan. As a class project, Project FeederWatch has been a great value to the students, especially in lessons about ecology. Ms Zajak explained that her students learn about each of the species of birds, and that contributing data to FeederWatch is a great way for the class to feel like they are helping their local environment.

The students look forward to reviewing the information they are collecting to study the pattern of changes in the abundance of different birds in their area. Kelly shared that this year is particularly special: “Being able to hold classes in person during this pandemic is a blessing, and becoming birders along the way has helped to ease some of the worry and anxiety that comes with the current times. We have intentionally slowed down, and feeding and observing our local birds has taught us so much in a non-traditional way. We’re learning more because of all of this.”

Ms Zajak pointed out that she registered and started participating in Project FeederWatch after a parent recommended it. Her class now has several feeders to watch, lined up in front of the school. Their set-up includes suet and tube feeders, seeds pressed into cylinders, and they provide a variety of seeds along with peanuts and dried fruits. Their feeder poles are fitted with stovepipe baffles to help prevent mammals, such as squirrels and raccoons, from accessing the bird foods.

Kelly shared that the class sees a lot of different birds that visit the feeders: “We have seen finches, wrens, woodpeckers, chickadees, starlings, and more. Favorites are the variety of woodpeckers, goldfinches, and the wrens that nest in the side of the building.”

When asked if Kelly had any tips for other teachers about how to get their students excited about birds, she suggested letting the students take charge: “Give them bird identification books; let them sit near the feeders and wait for birds to come. Allow students to fill the feeders; have a local expert give a presentation; follow their lead on their interests.”

Thanks to teacher Kelly Zajak, the students, and the Kazoo School for their interest and enthusiasm, along with their information shared with Project FeederWatch – and to all the schools who have joined Project FeederWatch and entered the BirdSpotter “FeederWatch in the Classroom” contest this season. The contest remains open, so all teachers who have classes participating this year should definitely join the contest fun! Kelly’s students and other “FeederWatch in the Classroom” winners receive prizes from the Cornell Lab and a gift card from the BirdSpotter sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited; see https://feederwatch.org/blog/birding-zen-feederwatch-in-the-classroom/

Whether you are a teacher with a school class or an interested individual, there is still plenty of time to sign up for this FeederWatch season, which runs through April. For more information, visit https://feederwatch.org/

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