In AP Envirmentle Science, we are doing an end-of-year project focused on ornithology and learning about the birds that are native to our region and to inform others of our findings. From now until the innovation night, we have four main goals we want to accomplish. One of them is to identify six birds by sound and sight. We were all given cards of 6 native birds to study. Another goal is to focus on one specific bird and make an infographic about that bird. A different objective related to this goal is to create a sign that we will put on a trail. This sign will have a QR code that links to the bird we made the infographic on. Our last goal is to build three or four nest boxes for birds in this area, specifically, House wren, Bluebird, Tree tree swallow, and Cliff swallow. These goals are still malleable and are being worked on to see if they're accomplishable. 

We made a timeline in class to make this project more concrete, as we only have a few classes left to complete everything. On the 13th, we will check out the nest boxes and do more birdwatching. It will be good practice and exposure to birdwatching. It will also be the day this blog I'm writing is due. On the 15th, we will go into the wood shop and make the nest boxes. The same day we build them, we will go out and place them. On the 17th, we will do more fieldwork and figure out the plan for the bird signs. On the 19th, The bird expert project and the second blog are due. On the 20th, we have a rough draft for the pbl due. Finally, on the 23rd, we have Innovation Night, which is when we will present all of our findings, and after that, we will have a Blog on what happened at Innovation Night and how it went. 

Reflection on the effort so far.

So far, I have enjoyed this project immensely. Besides the overwhelming bugs, being outside is very nice, and I like looking for birds while trying to puzzle and figure them out. The only thing I'm struggling with is remembering the name of birds. I have memorized all my cards, but I still need to know the sounds. Overall, our class has good teamwork as some of us are good at spotting Birds, identifying them, and using a sound ID to figure out what they are. Our overall collaboration has been excellent, and I'm having a lot of fun so far.

Photo taken by Whitney Hollenbeck