Joan Maberry, a teacher assistant in Jacksonville, Florida, had an idea about birds and children. Here's a little of the story.

“We have been able to open up a whole new world for our children to explore.”

That statement is especially poignant because the children are autistic. They attend pre-K to fifth grade classes at Pinedale Elementary, an inner-city school in Jacksonville, Florida. Paraprofessional (teacher assistant), Joan Maberry, got the go-ahead to set up bird feeders to see how the children would respond.

“Even the most profoundly autistic children really enjoyed it,” Maberry say. “Even if it’s just gazing out the window watching the birds at the feeders, it’s something they normally never would have done. They’re still in their own little world but they’re seeing things outside of it.”

That’s significant because autism is often characterized by significant delays and difficulties in communication skills and poor socialization skills. Getting autistic children to focus on something outside themselves is a challenge.

The children are using their "inoculars" to spot birds like this Blue Jay.

“They’re little steps,” says autism site coach Cheryl Stansell. “For instance, we’ll be walking down a hallway and you’ll hear one of the children say ‘Oh look, there’s a Blue Jay!’ They’re starting to recognize the birds. They use the binoculars to look at the birds and the bugs and each other!”

One feeder-filled area of the school grounds has been certified Backyard Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. The new sign was unveiled during a ceremony at the end of April. Interest in birds has spread to the entire school.

“It's wonderful to see not only the children of the autistic department enjoying the habitat area, but basic education classes go into it as well and mingle with our kids,” Maberry says. “At that moment, you cannot tell them apart. It’s fantastic to see the two 'worlds' come together and it’s really very rare.”

The children have seen Northern Mockingbirds (the state bird), Blue Jays, sparrows, starlings, grackles, cardinals, crows, Pine Warblers, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, a Northern Flicker, and a Red-tailed Hawk.

“We stroll around the campus using our binoculars—or “inoculars,” as most of them say—to look for birds,” Maberry says. “When they see a bird I’ll ask them what color it is and we’ll talk about its size and what it’s doing. Sometimes the children lie down on the ground and watch Turkey Vultures soaring overhead. We call it the ‘Halloween’ bird because it looks like it's wearing an ugly mask!”

Neighborhood businesses responded when they were asked to help supply materials for the project. Wal-Mart donated $500 dollars. The Jacksonville Electric Authority planted trees to replace others they had to cut down.

 “We want to get more feeders and plant flowers to attract different kinds of birds,” says Stansell.  But the biggest thrill has been seeing the impact on the children.

“They’re seeing something for the first time every day—they’re seeing it now, whereas before they would walk by and not even notice,” Maberry says. “It's been such a rewarding experience, and it just overwhelms me how happy and excited the children are.”

Pat Leonard
Cornell Lab of Ornithology