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LGP entries, P8

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71. Germaine Koomen,Teacher of 6,7,8 year olds,River Valley Charter School, Newburyport, Massuchusetts

Attached please find entries to your contest from some of my students. I teach in a public Montessori school and these projects have been completed by students who are 6, 7, and 8 years old.

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72. Kay & John Hatlestad, Maplewood, MN

This is a video from one of our wood-duck nest boxes. Were just a few miles from the capital in St. Paul, and have an impaired wetland in our backyard. Our wood ducklings were killed and the adults left the lake 5 years ago, when a meth lab drained into the lake. Since then, the wood ducks have been returning, and the lake is apparently regaining its health.

In addition to our wood duck houses, we have bird feeders, native plants with seeds, a rain garden to catch run-off, old logs left for habitat, and are gradually decreasing our lawn. We use only organic fertilizers and pesticides, although we used Roundup the first few years as we struggled against invasive Purple Loosestrife.

Our lake is very pretty, but is by no means high-quality. Were doing our bit to improve it.

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73. Bonnie Sue Bastin,Willowglen Academy,Sparta, NJ

Our garden is a good Little Green place for birds: One of the boys in our summer class was very interested in birds. We gathered information about the habitats of local birds - and decided to plant a Bird Garden for our school. We continued researching to discover what kinds of plants our birds would need. We connected with the National Wildlife Federation and obtained very informative materials. Following the NWF guidelines, we planned an entire wildlife habitat. Our garden is a good little place for birds because we included everything the birds need. We chose plants that provide the basic foods for our birds and added bird baths to provide water.We made sure to provide shelter the birds could use as a refuge and shelter for the birds to raise their young. We left an area of our garden "wild" - with weeds, tall grasses and dense shrubs. We also made sure our plants were native to our area and we do not use insecticides. We even created a large brush pile to provide additional shelter for protection and nesting. By following the recommendations for creating a bird-friendly habitat, we were also able to become a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat.

The Wildlife Garden became a major part of our Life Skills program. We registered with the Junior Master Gardener Program and we are working through the Wildlife Gardener Certification Curriculum. We complete projects that teach us about gardening while creating a better place for the birds. Our school is open year-round, so we have the opportunity to care for the garden - and the birds - all the time! We are adding bird feeders to help the birds through the winter - and we will make sure the bird baths are not frozen. We are also planning holiday treats just for the birds.

We have worked very hard and used our best teamwork skills to make our Bird Garden a terrific little place for birds!

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74. Paul Franklin, Casper, Wyoming

This is a vine growing over a 8' windmill. Under all the vines is a bird feeder in which I feed black oil sunflower seeds. During the summer is is a "Green Place". I took this picture in mid Oct, which is why it is red. I have a heated bird bath about 4' away from the windmill. I have a couple of other feeders in my yard. This area is a very busy place with all the bird activity when no one is outside.

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75. Sarah MacLean, Escondido, California

There aren't many green places for birds in Escondido, and what's left is constantly being used for new development. Just a couple years ago the winery down the street from our house sold off half of its property for homes to be built on.

Over the years, I have tried to maintain my yard, and especially my back garden, as a sanctuary for the birds in my area.

I see around 30 species regularly, including those that stay year round; some that just come for the winter, such as White-crowned sparrows and Lawrence's Goldfinches; or those that are simply passing through, such as Lazuli Buntings and Black-headed Grosbeaks.

I try to conserve as much seed as possible, which lead to my first construction of trays below the feeders that many species like doves enjoy. What falls to the ground usually sprouts, so beneath my feeders I keep a healthy garden of natural seed plants for the birds to pick at as well.

Not only am I constantly seeing new species, my visitor's show me every year that they are becoming more and more pleased with my little sanctuary. This year, the Hooded Orioles raised three young for the first time. I saw an Allen's Hummingbird along with my usual Anna's.

Most interesting of all, the local Red-shouldered Hawk has recently taken a fancy for hunting in my garden. He doesn't pay much regard to the other birds, but merely perches atop all the feeders and drops down to snatch bugs from the grass now and then. The best picture I have been able to get is through my window, so it's a little blurry, but he still looks gorgeous.

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76. Brian Hicks, Madison Heights, Michigan

My favorite little green place is Friendship Woods in Madison Heights, Michigan. Friendship Woods is a green oasis in the middle of a highly developed urban area just a few miles north of downtown Detroit and a five minute walk from my home. In addition to providing food, water and shelter for a large number of local birds it is also a green magnet during the spring and fall migration seasons for a variety of migratory birds. The number of wood warblers seen in this small park is amazing. Near the nature center a small pond and waterfall attract a large variety of birds. In the spring a small vernal pond also attracts wood ducks and mallards. The pictures show an Ovenbird enjoying the running water of the nature center water feature and the other is a male Wood Duck swimming on the vernal pond.
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77. Amanda Mazzoni, Audubon Nature Institute, New Orleans, Louisiana

These are pictures of our education area, Discovery Walk.

We bring animals to the outside enrichment areas while the rest of the area is dedicated to nature/science discovery for the public as well as native Louisiana wildlife.

We have butterfly gardens and many areas for birds and local small mammals.

We are in progress of getting certified for a Wildlife Habitat by the World Wildlife Federation, and we're pursuing a complete native species habitat.

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78. Paul Strauss, Stuart, Florida

Florida is home to many wonderful & exotic bird species including this Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) which was photographed in the stormwater retention pond of my suburban condominium complex. Over the years, I have watched & photographed dozens of different bird species using this water body for feeding or resting during long migrations to and from South America. Even very small water bodies surrounded by buildings, people and roadways can attract many different species under the right conditions......natural or artificially made, it doesn't matter. Artificial ponds are typically designed to help prevent flooding and protect nearby waterways from silty runoff but they often have the added benefit of providing birdlife havens....therefore, I wanted to highlight the important role my neighborhood retention pond plays in the local food-web and bird community

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79. Dennis Township Peer Leadership, Cape May, NJ

Peer Leadership garden at the Dennis Township
Elementary School in Cape May County New Jersey

This corner of the building was void of any plantings. Just two big brick planter boxes in front of our school. In Cape May County we are fortunate to have a wide variety of birds, however, our school was doing nothing to attract any wildlife to our campus. The Peer Leaders stepped in and decided to make the front of the building our first planting project. We have introduced grasses,
annuals and shrubs that attract birds and butterflies. Nestled in among
the plantings on the corner of the building is a beautiful Rosemary plant.
Between the butterfly bushes, hydrangeas, St. John's Wort and roses we
now can boast several different visitors from nature. The addition of a
bird bath has guaranteed bird visits daily. Although we have had Eastern Blue Birds and Cedar Waxwings blow through, our steady customers are finches
and sparrows. Our group looks forward to naturalizing a courtyard on our
campus over the next couple of years.

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80. Liz Malyszek, Tampa, Florida

Here is a rabbit, an alligator, a green heron, a limpkin and a red winged black bird (female) - all daily sightings in the wonderful area where I live.

My little green places are the ponds in our community. They provide shelter, food and water for birds and other animals in my busy master planned community, and in my city of over 1 million people. It is amazing to see alligators, rabbits, egrets and herons share a pond while children pass by, walking or riding their bikes, on their way to school. It is a treat to see which animals are "out" when I drive, run or walk by. There are regulars, and sometimes we get special visitors, too!

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