In addition to enjoying birds like Downy Woodpeckers, the students use Project FeederWatch to study birds, conservation, and geography, as well as to practice math and public speaking (photo by Paul Konrad).

This season’s BirdSpotter contest is celebrating teachers and students who attract birds with feeders and bird baths outside their classroom windows as an impetus to learn about birds. While many schools are operating remotely this year, some students are homeschooled outside the public and private school systems with students involved in most of their education activities at home. Whether schooling remotely or homeschooling, in both cases, students are spending more time at home, and many have welcomed Project FeederWatch as part of their studies – as curriculum or extra-curricular activities.

Although regular classrooms are participating in Project FeederWatch activities too, with so many students remote learning or homeschooling due to Covid concerns, it seems fitting this year’s first randomly selected BirdSpotter winners are homeschoolers – Sasha Hull and the Hull Family Homeschool students in Missouri. Sasha explained that Project FeederWatch is the family’s favorite subject and they enjoyed a “kick-off” program during a visit to Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs, Missouri.

Sasha said, “The staff was so kind and encouraging to my kids, taking lots of time answering their questions and identifying the birds at their feeders that day.” The Hull Family Homeschool’s FeederWatch count site includes their feeding station with 2 tray feeders, 2 suet feeders, a large cylindrical feeder, and a mesh ball style feeder. Sasha explained that her family provides suet and sunflower seeds with a bird bath positioned nearby, and during spring and summer, they also provide sugar-water nectar hummingbird feeders.

“We have a fairly regular set of species that visit,” Sasha added. “House Finches and Tufted Titmice are some favorites, and we have Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers regularly, so it’s always a treat when a Hairy Woodpecker shows up.” The children study bird species, conservation, and incorporate geography by using bird migration maps. Math is also practiced by recording and graphing weekly bird counts. Sasha also shared the children have practiced public speaking while sharing a presentation about their FeederWatch activities with their co-op homeschool group.

Sasha and other “FeederWatch in the Classroom” winners receive prizes from the Cornell Lab and a gift card from the BirdSpotter sponsor, Wild Birds Unlimited. Visit https://feederwatch.org/birdspotter2019-20/#108644 for more information. Thanks to Sasha Hull and her homeschool group, and to all of the schools who have entered the BirdSpotter contest and participate in Project FeederWatch so far this winter. The entry period remains open, so if you would like to participate with your class this year you can get more information at https://feederwatch.org/learn/educational-and-homeschool-resources/#feederwatch-in-the-classroom

There is also still plenty of time to sign up for the 2020-2021 FeederWatch season – see https://feederwatch.org/join-or-renew/ For more detailed information about Project FeederWatch count instructions, please refer to https://feederwatch.org/about/detailed-instructions/ (The above story and information was based on the BirdSpotter article published online at https://feederwatch.org/blog/homeschool-haven-for-birds-feederwatch-in-the-classroom/).