Cornell Lab of Ornithology funds birdwatching
Special to the American
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology invites organizations and educators to apply for its Celebrate Urban Birds project mini-grants. Mini-grants average $100 to $500 and help fund neighborhood events across North America. Organizations working with traditionally under-served communities are strongly urged to apply.
Celebrate Urban Birds is a free year-round project that collects information from everyday people about 16 species of birds that may be found in urban areas. Participants spend 10 minutes watching birds in their neighborhood and report their observations online at www.CelebrateUrbanBirds.org. This information helps scientists better understand how birds survive in cities and make use of greens spaces, including parks and gardens.
A local Celebrate Urban Birds event connects the arts, music, dance and gardening with birds and science. Celebrate Urban Birds mini-grants could be used to support a bird-activity day at a local museum, afterschool, library, or community center, or fund art and gardening activities at your club, business, school, senior center, or neighborhood.
To qualify for a mini-grant, please plan to:
* hold a Celebrate Urban Birds event in 2009
* introduce the public/youth to birds
* collect Celebrate Urban Birds data and inspire others to observe birds and collect data
* distribute Celebrate Urban Birds kits (with posters, seeds, and more)
* integrate the arts
* integrate gardening/habitat creation
* get people outside.
Application deadline is February 15, 2009
To apply for a mini-grant, please visit www.CelebrateUrbanBirds.org. No experience with birds required.