Animals

Do you love you some mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish or insects? Then check out these ideas for some inspiration for your next project:

• Identify a local animal species that is threatened or endangered and research the causes of its decline.
• Gather data on when and where it’s found by observing it in nature.
• Confer with local experts on the viability of a plan to protect or increase its population (ex. develop a plan to protect or restore part of its habitat).

If you like feeding animals

• Identify and research local species of butterflies and/or birds.
• Design and plant a garden of their favorite food sources.
• Monitor the garden to collect data on which species the garden attracts and to which plants they are attracted.
• Develop a guide or poster with planting and feeding information for local property owners.

• Use donated and/or recycled materials to construct bat houses and mount them in an appropriate area.
• Work to dispel myths about bats and teach people about their significant ecological value (bats feed upon insects such as mosquitoes, pollinate certain plants, and disperse seeds).

If you've got birds on the brain

• Research birds living in cities (ex. birds of prey found on roofs of buildings) or suburban or rural areas (ex. songbirds in open fields).
• Use donated and/or recycled materials to create nest boxes for indigenous birds.
• Get permission to hang the nest boxes in a park or on school grounds.
• Set up a monitoring station to observe the boxes and gather data.
• Present your findings to your community or a local organization.

If reptiles are your thing

• Study the impact of high curbs on inhibiting movement of reptiles/herps.
• Work to have sloped areas added to all new curb construction.

If you're always on the move

• Observe and document the migration patterns of a few different species.
• Create a migration map detailing the route individuals travel through your town to share with local authorities, your school district, environmental organizations, etc.

If you think fish are deelish

• Gather information about the kinds and the numbers of fish in a local water source.
• Research the quality of those fish that are sold commercially.
• Distribute information on how to more safely eat fish from the water source.

If you like running around with a net

• Collect and count the kinds and numbers of insects captured (and released!) in an area over several months.
• Research the plants they pollinate, the animals that prey upon them, how they defend themselves, etc.
• Monitor and track any change in populations over time.

Want to check out some more?

Check out our Water Project Ideas, Habitat Projects or Projects in Community Education.