Bluebird web cam a hit in Lee County Schools
August 22, 2013 by clackey
Congressman Hal Rogers presented the PRIDE Environmental Education Project of the Month Award to Lee County High School students and faculty.
The Lee County High School PRIDE Club recently earned southern and eastern Kentucky’s PRIDE Environmental Education Project of the Month Award.
Congressman Hal Rogers, who co-founded PRIDE, presented a plaque to students and faculty on Monday, Aug. 19.
“Our PRIDE Club students continue to raise the bar in environmental education and unique nature projects,” said Rogers. “The Bluebird Web Cam Project integrates science and technology in a way that will enhance appreciation and knowledge of our native bluebirds in Eastern Kentucky. I applaud the students, faculty and staff at Lee County High School for their continued work on this worth-while project.”
The award-winning project used a web cam to give all students in the school district a rare view inside a bluebird box. The bluebirds living in the box can be observed safely, without disturbing their normal activity.
The PRIDE Club originally installed the web cam for its own observations in 2011. In the 2012-2013 school year, they expanded the project by broadcasting the real-time video on the district’s computer network.
Since the spring, students of all ages have been observing a pair of bluebirds as they built their nest, laid eggs and raised the hatchlings. There have been two broods, each with five eggs.
“It’s a great science lesson for the students, and adults are enjoying the bluebirds, too,” said Sandy Gay of the Lee County Conservation District, who also serves as the Lee County PRIDE Co-Coordinator. Gay nominated the club for the PRIDE award.
“From the school library to the finance office, I’ve noticed adults have the bluebirds on their computer screen when I visit,” she said. “It’s thrilling for anyone to watch eggs hatch.”
Gay said the PRIDE Club is looking into sharing the web cam video with the public. PRIDE Club members plan to use the bluebird cam in a mentoring project with elementary and middle school students this year.
Gay credited Leslie Cable and Jana Durbin, who co-sponsor the PRIDE Club, for spearheading the project. She thanked John Profitt, the district technology coordinator, for assisting the PRIDE Club with the web cam and broadcast.
The PRIDE Environmental Education Project of the Month program rewards creative, effective ways of promoting environment awareness and stewardship.
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