Short Summary of the Project and Its Impact
Elijah Martineau is a 12-year old from Lansing, Michigan who loves birds. He has engaged in bird conservation for about 2 years now, with projects put on by bird clubs and by volunteering at a local urban natural area, Fenner Nature Center. Elijah is also great at designing things. He decided that he’d like to put these two passions together and redesign the feeder area at the nature center to help migrating birds on their journeys north and south and to help the birds that live here year round.
Elijah will create a design for the feeding area to promote native plants, insects, birds and mammals. Many of plants in Fenner's bird feeding area are non-native, so insects that need native plants are not found in the area. That, in turn, affects the diversity of birds that use the feeding area. Because of this, Elijah will start with the plants. Then he will add in features that make a great bird feeding station.
Particularly because Fenner is an urban nature center, supporting more diversity in the bird feeding area will give children and adults more opportunities to learn about and observe wildlife they may have never seen before. He wants to share his experience of learning about and becoming an advocate for birds or other wildlife. He may even have the chance to teach summer camp kids about conservation and about his project!
Fenner Nature Center is an urban, 134-acre oasis. The land is owned by the city of Lansing, but managed by the non-profit organization, Fenner Conservancy. Because Elijah is working with a non-profit organization, he needs to raise funds for this project.
What Elijah Needs & What You Get
Elijah has spent the last few weeks researching for and budgeting his project. He has conducted telephone interviews with various nature centers about their feeding areas. He has done online research to find great products. He has asked questions about plants that are native to our area and gotten information on which ones attract birds and insects.
He needs to raise about $1,200 in order to:
- Buy native plants and shrubs from a local nursery.
$290 for wholeshale prices from WildType Nursery
- Build a path through the feeding area, build and paint a blind for people to observe birds, build a trellis for native vines, and build nesting spaces for native bees.
$315 for wood, hardware, paint, edging, and paving stones
- Purchase a new birdbath with a winter heater.
$80 for a birdbath, heater, extension cord, and cord protector
• Purchase Michigan-made cedar feeders, a roost box, and butterfly house
$132 for purchases from Stovall feeders, Mr. Stovall has invited Elijah to his workshop!
- Purchase binoculars for viewing the feeders from inside the building.
$80 for two pairs of low-cost, high-quality binoculars (he can apply to the American Birding Association for these)
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Sand and pea stones for the pathway (doubling as grit that birds need), plus other miscellaneous items.
$117
Elijah has some amazing prizes for those who can donate to the cause, which you can see to the right.
If Elijah is not able to raise the entire amount, he will decide which parts of the design can be left out. If he is able to raise extra funds, he will be able to help Fenner stock birdseed, suet, and fruits for the feeding area.
How You Can Help!
Of course, Elijah would love it if you could donate. Even $5-10 will make a difference toward reaching his goal! Whether or not you are able to donate, please share the link for this campaign with your friends and encourage them to contribute! Let's give Fenner Nature Center the most thoughtfully designed and most effective bird feeding area we can!
Updates
Make sure to check the "updates" tab for more videos by Elijah. We want to keep everyone up-to-date on the progress Elijah is already making on his project!