Final nesting place
<p>Girls in Girl Scout Troop 3008 of Post Falls stand next to an Idaho native bird sanctuary they helped build, with help from multiple local businesses, at Frederick Post Elementary School. The 13 houses are specially designed and located to suit seven species of birds native to North Idaho.</p>
<p>Birdhouses handcrafted by Girl Scouts in Troop 3008 are seen in a bird sancturary on Tuesday at Frederick Post Elementary School in Post Falls.</p>
POST FALLS — Local Idaho birds have new houses thanks to Girl Scout Troop 3008.
The girls wanted their community to be more informed about the different birds that frequent the area. So, they decided to build a bird sanctuary. After almost a full year of planning, community outreach, research and hard labor, the sanctuary is finally complete.
Thirteen birdhouses stand about 8 feet in the air on colorful posts behind Frederick Post Elementary School. Different species of birds, the troop found out, are attracted to different colors and have preferences as to what size the entrance to the birdhouse is.
“We wanted to teach the kindergartners, adults and the whole community about native Idaho birds,” said troop member Isabelle Doyle, 13.
Originally, the troop wanted to make a sanctuary just for Idaho’s state bird, the mountain bluebird. But when they started doing research, they discovered the species is very territorial and birds won’t nest within 600 yards of one another. So they decided to make homes for a variety of birds.
The bird sanctuary will hopefully attract mountain bluebirds, nuthatches, wrens, woodpeckers, tree swallows, chickadees and sparrows. Each member of the troop researched an Idaho bird and made an educational sign to go on the fence of the sanctuary. The signs are color-coordinated with the posts on which the birdhouses are mounted.
The troop had to make a few adjustments throughout the project, like working around pipes underground and making sure the birdhouses faced the right way. The mountain bluebird, they found out, won’t nest in a south-facing home.
Throughout the project, the girls got to meet with bird specialists and engineers to ask questions about their project. The Post Falls Middle School shop class built the birdhouses and many local businesses donated supplies, like tools and materials to build the fence surrounding the birdhouses.
“I’m proud of them for staying on task,”said troop leader Jennifer Butler. “We started brainstorming last October and didn’t break ground until August.”
Troop 3008 learned a lot during this project, and not just about birds.
Rachel Moore, 14, said she most valued learning the process of mapping out a project location. Mikayla Butler, 14, said she learned community support is essential to a big project like this one.
“Without people helping you, you won’t get it done,” she said.
Gabby Dunham, 13, learned the importance of double checking your work and Kathryn Daly, 13, found a new respect for her parents who made a lot of time in their schedules to take her to the sanctuary so she could work on it.
The troop is excited for the grand opening of the bird sanctuary Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. It will be held behind Frederick Post Elementary School at 205 W. Mullan Ave., Post Falls.
The sanctuary will be used a lot by the kindergarten at Frederick Post Elementary, but is also available for community educational purposes. All one has to do is make an appointment with the kindergarten, since it’s on the school’s property.
“Through the blood, sweat and tears, and there actually was blood, sweat and tears, this is something to be proud of,” Butler said. “This will be able to contribute to Post Falls for years to come.”