Birds & Conservation
Birds & Conservation (B&C) is a 4-part series program that teaches why healthy watersheds are critical to birds and all living organisms, and how our actions can protect this vital Colorado resource.
Meets 2020 CAS: Life Science, 2.5, 2.7, 2.11, 2.12 Earth & Space Science 3.6, 3.8, 3.10, 3.11 Economics 3.2 Reading/Writing/Communication 1.1 & 1.2, 4.1
*This series is offered virtually or live depending on your needs.
Videos of Previous B&C Projects
Virtual B&C
The virtual series includes three pre-recorded learning modules. Although each module lasts 30 to 60 minutes, teachers can break them into smaller chunks to better meets your needs. It also includes consult meetings to support your class’ conservation project.
The following three modules are:
• “Watersheds & Pollutants” covers the “three P’s of pollution” and explains what watersheds are and how they’re connected to almost everything we do.
• “Albatross & Bolus Dissection” includes hands-on dissection of a bolus (undigested materials) so students can see for themselves how birds are literally eating our trash.
• “Conservation” brings it all together, showing students how to take small actions that improve the health of our watershed and birds.
*To facilitate student learning and to save time, there are also prepared discussions for you to lead (I can also lead them over Zoom.
Conservation Project
During this program, students tackle a real conservation project. For this project, we would work with you and our partner Earth Force, to consult with your class virtually to help the class select an environmental issue and plan their project. During the project, I’d consult with you and your students on a monthly or bimonthly basis.
Optional teacher-led field trip:
If you’re interested in augmenting your students hands-on experience, you can also choose to lead your students on an outside excursion to test the water quality of your local waterway. In the pre-recorded class, we teach you & your students how to test water quality through chemical tab tests and Macroinvertebrate Indexing. We can provide the kits or you can purchase your own.
In-Person B&C
The in-person series includes three in-person classes that can be held at your school or at our nature center and it also includes consult meetings to support your class’ conservation project. Each class lasts 1.5 hrs. to 2.5 depending on if you elect field trip components. The three classes are:
• “Watersheds & Pollutants” covers the “three P’s of pollution” and explains what watersheds are and how they’re connected to almost everything we do.
• “Albatross & Bolus Dissection” includes hands-on dissection of a bolus (undigested materials) so students can see for themselves how birds are literally eating our trash.
• “Conservation” brings it all together, showing students how to take small actions that improve the health of our watershed and birds.
Conservation Project
Throughout this program, students and teachers also develop a real-world conservation project that aims to improve the health of our watersheds and birds. Throughout the project, Denver Audubon and Earth Force consult with you and your class to assist in a 6-step process to select and resolve an environmental issue and plan your project. During this time, I’d consult with you and your students on a monthly or bimonthly basis.
Optional field trip:
If you choose, we can also lead your students through a water quality field trip down at our nature center on the S. Platte River and or our ponds. During this field trip we teach your students how to test water quality using both chemical tab tests and Macroinvertebrate indexing.