Ann Arbor Learning Commmunity Duck Nests

Earlier this winter, Leslie Park Golf Course was able to help Ann Arbor Learning Community (a local charter school) with Annie's Big Nature Lesson. You can read about Tracey Marchyok and Mr.Dorn's 4th - 5th grade class experience HERE.

On Thursday, March 7th, Wendy Nagle had her class over to the clubhouse to complete the service part of the program. We decided to have the students help build Mallard Duck Nesting Tubes. I got the idea from another golf course blog that I follow, Bear Trace at Harrison Club, in Tennessee.

The tubes are made from 2 inch by 3 inch "chicken wire" rolled into a 12 inch diameter tube. Then some pinestraw is placed around the tube and rolled into a protective barrier for the fledgling ducks. The tubes will be placed in the water to give the ducks a safe place to raise their young.

The kids got into the project with a lot of enthusiasm, as you can see.

When completed, the tubes will be placed on the ponds on #8, #12 and #17. They should look similar to this...

After constructing the tubes, the kids burn off some energy walking back to the science center by rolling and sliding down the hill.