The Elisabeth Morrow School, in Englewood, New Jersey, sits on 13 acres of wooded land, with some open meadows and a stream that runs along its northern edge. The children study environmental science during the 4th and 5th grades and are fortunate to be able to study the biodiversity of their campus, which is a part of the great temperate deciduous forest ecosystem. The children study and observe the invertebrates, trees, wildflowers and birds that live in, fly over, hunt on and visit the land. They are also able to study the biodiversity of wetlands due to the closeness of the Hudson River and several ponds belonging to the Flat Rock Brook Nature Preserve also in Englewood, New Jersey and the Greenbrook Nature Preserve in nearby Alpine, New Jersey.
In order to attract birds, a bird feeding station was set up outside Morrow House, home to the school's 4th, 5th and 6th grades. It is the children's job to fill the feeders.
We hung 2 seed feeders for perching birds like the House Finch, Purple Finch, and House Sparrow, a suet (holding fat, fruit and seeds) basket for woodpeckers like the Downy Woodpecker and a thistle feeder for thistle lovers like the American Goldfinch.
American Goldfinch on Bull Thistle Flower. Drawing by Tess.
Birds need water and so a bird bath was stationed near the feeders in order for the children to be able to observe birds drinking and their delightful behavior while bathing.