Montgomery High School Green Academy
Creek Clean Up & Bird Habitat
Restoration Project
In an effort to restore a swath of the 30 mile long Spring Creek adjoining Montgomery High School's Campus, the Green Academy experiences what wildlife has been facing..... trash, toxicity, and loss of natural balance in their habitat.
David Miller, teacher of the Green Biology Classes organized the clean up day just after school started as part of a year long project.
Not only was there an effort by approximately 50 students to clean up the creek, but also the Bay Institute was there to show the students the non-native plants that have run rampant. Leaf samples of the non-natives were collected and brought to the attention of all students. The Bay Institute supplied the students with flags to mark the brave seedlings of the majestic Valley Oak trees so they would be somewhat protected from human feet. Realizing that the seedlings were semi-thriving in a well traveled area gave the students a sense of strength to survive in nature and a growing need to mark and hopefully protect them.
The contribution of the Wildlife Center was to assess the bird nesting boxes which were built last spring and placed in the creek area. The students learned the importance of correct construction and effective placement of the bird nesting boxes for future projects in the Green Building Class. The importance of bat habitat was also discussed. As a result, the Green Building Class will embark on constructing bat boxes to be placed alongside the creek.
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