Visual and auditory learners can use their talents to identify birds as they learn to recognize bird markings, calls, and behavior. The project is very relevant to real world experience because students will be conducting an investigation that will be used by the Audubon Society and Gatorland to further understanding of Florida's nesting population. The Rookery Research Project is a prime example of service learning. Both the students and the volunteers benefit from the partnership. As students work in cooperative teams with the Audubon experts guidance, they learn to work effectively as a team and to communicate with adults as they report to Gatorland and Audubon staff.
Professional photographer conducts inservice on photographing wildlife.
Water sampling for dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, phosphates and turbidity within the swamp. Data collected will be graphed to show trends in the nesting and roosting populations of wading birds. This information will be forwarded to the appropriate scientific community. Each student selects a particular area of interest on which to focus. The student might elect to follow and observe the changes in an individual nest or to notice plumage and behavior changes in a particular species of bird.