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Support Quarry Hill by volunteering or joining our non-profit friends group.
Please visit the Get Involved section to learn more.
Get Involved
Singer/songwriter, John Denver, not only knew how to put music together, he also had a way of stating how easy it can be for people to get involved:
"No one person has to do it all but if each one of us follow our heart and our own inclinations we will find the small things that we can do to create a sustainable future and healthy environment "
Getting involved in protecting and cherishing our environment can be as easy as going for a hike, putting out a bird feeder, or supporting a local environmental organization such as Quarry Hill.
Each month we will have a different idea you and your family can try that will help our natural world.
July's Eco-Try!
Will the Gulf Oil Spill Affect Birds That Nest in Our Backyards? NestWatch Needs Your Help.
We've seen images of oiled pelicans, plovers, and other shorebirds and wading birds from areas affected by the recent spill. Species that nest on beaches and in coastal marshes, like plovers and terns, are being monitored by state wildlife officials. But many birds that nest in backyards all across North America, such as Red-winged Blackbirds and Tree Swallows, may winter in the coastal and marsh environments along the Gulf of Mexico where they could potentially be affected by the oil spill. We need your help to track nesting success of these birds in your own backyard and neighborhood.
Call for Data:
Birds passing through the Gulf region could carry contamination with them, creating an "oil shadow" of declines in bird reproduction hundreds of miles away from the coast. NestWatch accepts data for all North American birds. We are asking you to focus on these five backyard bird species and other migratory birds that may use the Gulf during some part of their annual cycle and could potentially be affected by the oil spill.
Click on the species name for additional life history information.
Northern Cardinal (photo by Irene Hernandez) Northern Cardinals are permanent residents in the coastal "cheniers," coastal ridge woodlands, in the Gulf region. Will the oil affecting the beaches and marshes impact birds of the coastal woodlands? |
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Red-winged Blackbird (photo by Ted Schroeder) Large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds winter in marsh habitats along the Gulf. Blackbirds spend several months in coastal marshes before heading back north to nest. |
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Barn Swallow (photo by hoganphoto) Barn Swallows migrate past the Gulf of Mexico. These swallows roost in large flocks in marsh habitats during their annual journeys to and from wintering areas in Central and South America. |
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Purple Martin (photo by cameronrognan) Migrating Purple Martins pass through the Gulf of Mexico. Huge flocks of Purple Martins roost along the Gulf coast and in coastal marshes in late summer. |
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Tree Swallow (photo by GaryT48) Tree Swallows winter along the Gulf, relying on insects from coastal marshes and wetland habitats. Flocks of thousands of Tree Swallows can be seen along the Gulf Coast in winter, foraging over marshes when food is scarce. |
This year's nesting season is already in full swing; it is critical to collect nesting data for these and other migratory species this year and in the years ahead. Follow the NestWatch Code of Conduct and Nest Monitoring Protocol to help us track nesting success of backyard bird populations that may be affected by the Gulf oil spill.
Above information from the Nestwatch web site: http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/nest/home/index