TECHNOLOGY

What makes The Bluebird Restoration Project different is the constructive utilization of technology. This idea came about when Shelly witnessed her daughter rushing home from school screaming that she needed to feed her pets. She raced past her two dogs and logged into Webkinz.com on the home computer. Shelly’s confusion grew as she watched her daughter virtually feed her Webkinz while the chocolate lab and yellow lab lay on the kitchen floor. In that moment, Shelly realized the need to teach people to use their online time effectively. Computers aren’t bad or useless, they are tools that we must use correctly. There is a balance between nature and technology and we want to show people how well they can enhance each other’s experiences. Nature shouldn’t be distant, untouchable, or something you just look out the window at. It is handson learning. Seeing a bluebird nest in the nest box is one beautiful thing, documenting what you saw at Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch is magic. You are now becoming a citizen scientist and using technology for the good of your community. Monitoring a Bluebird Trail effectively is a way our children and community are able to help bluebirds and other songbirds in a very real way.