Appalachian Biodiversity Project Page
There are two class projects we've chosen for spring semester 2006:
1. The Bird Nest Box Project (two groups independently chose this, so that doubles
the number of people devoted to it).
2. The Wetland Protection Project, which will appeal to the administration
to set aside the wetland area on the East edge of campus for protected status.
Here is a detailed (large) map of the main part of campus (Useful for both projects)
Below are idea summaries, information, some references and resources for each project.
Bird Boxes
Here are some links with bird box information:
Six pages (this is page 1) of free bird box designs listed by different species
A commercial site with various bird boxes.
Site is useful for considering some fancier designs
A Cornell Site with bird box reference information.
Site is useful for considering some fancier designs
Here's a picture of an owl box in my front yard
I can explain the design if you ask.
The current tasks are to:
1) Generate a list of the species of birds located here that will accept nest boxes or platforms.
I can help you sort through which are likely high-yield probabilities on this campus.
2) Using the map of the entire campus (main campus plus the newer farm properties around
the interstate) develop a plan for what boxes you want to put out and where. It might be useful to
to a whole-campus wish list, and then narrow it down to a subset to put out for this year.
The Outdoor Program just de-constructed an old barn and intends to save
the old wood. I have requested we obtain some of that for our use. I also have some wood to offer.
Here are aerial photos of the entire E&H property.
One shows the entire property (large) without property lines
and the other is with red property lines
Wetland Protection
Here is the web site I created showing pictures of the
campus dumping area near the wetland protection area.
Here is a preliminary wetland protection area map (PDF)
Compliments of Brad White
Your team needs to identify the relevant individuals in this process,
and discuss how to approach them. We can discuss this in class.