Student project just perfect 'for the birds'

Matt Bower
Posted 12/16/14

Jeffrey Perry’s woods literacy class at Toll Gate High School had a special visitor recently.

Eugenia Marks from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island stopped by to pick up 18 bluebird nesting …

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Student project just perfect 'for the birds'

Posted

Jeffrey Perry’s woods literacy class at Toll Gate High School had a special visitor recently.

Eugenia Marks from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island stopped by to pick up 18 bluebird nesting boxes the students built and donated to the Audubon Society.

Marks provided each student with a certificate of appreciation for their participation.

“The bluebird boxes will help in conservation efforts for Rhode Island birds,” Marks said. “The Audubon Society will put the boxes out on our refuges and they will be used by bluebirds that inhabit Rhode Island year-round.”

Marks said it’s important to conserve birds because human development has encroached on their habitat.

“There used to be a lot of apple orchards, which attracted insects that are eaten by bluebirds,” she said. “Having the boxes gives the birds a place to nest and stay warm in the winter; they congregate six to eight in a box to stay warm.”

Marks said the opening size of the hole, which measures about 1.25 inches, determines whether bluebirds will use the box.

“If the hole is any larger, they won’t use it because other birds will invade them,” she said. “Tree swallows and sparrows will try to nest in the box.”

Marks said the students were terrific to work with.

“We’re very grateful to Mr. Perry for thinking of the project and for the kids executing it, they did a great job,” she said.

Perry said the class works in conjunction with the Growth Opportunities Program, a special education program designed to help students take part in activities they may not otherwise be able to.

The Growth Opportunities Program started at Toll Gate High School in 2009.  Prior to that school year, there was not a program for students with severe/profound special needs, Perry said.

“The woods literacy class was introduced in 2012 and modeled after the very successful Adaptive Physical Education class.  The students follow a modified program similar to the regular materials curriculum,” Perry said in an email to the Beacon. “This includes safe practices, tool identification, measuring, cutting, drilling, fastening, sanding, lathe work, cleanup and the use of hand and power tools.”

Perry said the project came about through collaboration between he, Marks and special education teacher Christina DiLustro.

“Mr. Perry is so good about incorporating the community into his projects, and finding projects to modify and make a purpose out of,” DiLustro said. “He did a project last year making a key cabinet for the Warwick Police [to organize their keys], and now working with the Audubon Society this year.”

Perry said the students have enjoyed great success completing a variety of projects beyond the birdhouses and key cabinet, including shelves, stools, a pegboard, and seasonal projects. 

“The class often has a choice of projects and a vote determines the project,” Perry said. “This year’s class consists of 13 students who have worked hard on the birdhouses and have a sense of accomplishment that their projects will help the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and bluebirds.”

Perry said he contacted Marks a few years ago through the Sierra Club, which his wife works for.

“We wanted to do more of a class project than an individual one. All of my classes do similar projects,” he said. “This was the right situation and the right class to do the project and help the environment.”

Perry said students used shop equipment, such as hand drills, drill presses, handsaws, mallets and plugs in building the nesting boxes and also did the measurements for the screws to secure the boxes.

“They enjoyed the project,” he said. “The kids learn about tools, safety, bluebirds and environmental issues. It’s a great project for the kids and helps out the Audubon Society.”

Perry said he’s planning to have the class build hold-the-line boxes next year.

“Hold-the-line boxes are currently out at the Warwick beaches,” Marks said. “They are used for collecting fishing line so birds don’t get tangled up in it.”

Students who built boxes and earned certificates included: Alexandria Bernad, Brian Camerlin, Adam Celona, Kayla Dawson, Nico Doyle, Joshua Germain, Justin Gorman, Joshua Langevin, Alexander Ortez, Kessandra Regine, Kaylan Savicki, Ryan Smith, and Dennis Thompson.

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