ORNITHOLOGY
Marvelwood is one of only a handful of schools in the nation to offer a year-long program in Ornithology, the scientific study of birds. Through field study in the richly bird-populated areas surrounding the School and in New England, the program objectives are to increase students' knowledge of birds, highlight conservation issues facing birds and other animals in today's world, and to help students to become better citizen scientists.
A FOCUS ON WORLDWIDE CONSERVATION
MAPS
AFTER MARVELWOOD
A FOCUS ON WORLDWIDE CONSERVATION
Students practice conservation at home, wherever home may be, and work with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to help maintain and monitor a growing number of inland colonies of purple martins, a species of Special Concern in Connecticut. Opportunities exist for Marvelwood students to work closely with the Audubon Society in neighboring Sharon to care for birds in rehabilitation and/or their educational programs. Students also work closely with the Kent Land Trust to monitor avian populations in their preserves. To see how students have been involved in avian conservation over the years please see the following links:
Macedonia Forest Block Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area Conservation Plan Macedonia Forest Block
MAPS
Under the guidance of the Institute for Bird Populations (IBP), Marvelwood operates oneMAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) bird banding station on Kent Land Trust properties surrounding the campus In 2022 this station completed twenty-two years of participation in this research program. Students learn bird banding here, and many return throughout the summer to assist with research. Over the past dozen years, Marvelwood has documented over 147 species of birds utilizing the land for breeding or during migration!
To learn more about this partnership between Marvelwood, Kent Land Trust and the Institute for Bird Populations please see this link to a recent issue of MAPSChat
AFTER MARVELWOOD
Many Marvelwood graduates continue to pursue ornithological studies in college and enjoy life-long birdwatching as a fascinating hobby as a result of their experience at Marvelwood. Sean Graesser '09 (below) with Science Department Chair Laurie Doss, is currently working for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History and is a regular contributor to their Facebook page. Sean shared his passion for ornithology in the American Birding Association's publication, Birding Magazine. Read his contribution here.
