Glacier students build garden for birds
Flathead Audubon member Nancy Zapotoski, left, helps Glacier High School freshmen Puumba Orr plant a wild strawberry bush as fellow ninth-graders Logan Hensley, Elijah Dufour, Rebecca Kuehne and Journee Griffin work to finish the native garden for bird study at the high school on Oct. 2.
Glacier High School freshman science students planted a native garden for birds on Oct. 2.
The Glacier High School Native Habitat for Field Studies is designed for the use of high school biology classes, according to a news release from Flathead Audubon.
The project was made possible by a Montana Audubon grant from the Audubon Wildlife Fund of Montana, as well as in-kind contributions from local community partners.
Biology teachers Bonnie Streeter, Pat Allick, Ben Young and their students first conducted a bird survey of the area designated as future bird habitat so future science classes can observe the effect of habitat creation.
This was followed by specific delineation of three planting islands and flagging of plant locations.
Over a two-day period, more than 200 students went to work. They prepared the site the morning of Oct. 1 by removing sod and laying and mounding soil in the garden islands. The next day, they planted and mulched the islands.
In addition to planting, students will help maintain the native vegetation.
Glacier High School had many partners in the development of its native habitat site. The Montana Audubon grant purchased plants and planting materials.
Flathead Audubon, the Flathead National Forest, the Flathead Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society and the Flathead Conservation District assisted in the design and development of the project.
Windflower Native Plant Nursery and the Center for Native Plants assisted with design and donated plants. Hooper's Garden Center donated edging, stakes and potting soil. TB Gray Inc. offered discounted mulch.
The idea for the project grew out of a unit on common birds that Streeter developed with Nancy Zapotocki, Flathead Audubon conservation educator.
According to Streeter, "We had a lot of fun with this unit. My only regret was not being able to have students look at actual birds outside."
Since Glacier was just completed in the summer of 2007, the new school grounds have little natural habitat.
Future plans include the planting of taller trees and installing permanent plant identification stakes, bird feeders and a bird bath.