Eagle Scout project will provide boxes for habitats
By Barb Pert Templeton
An Eagle Scout project that will help save an endangered species may sound like a tall order but 16-year-old Gerrit Cooper is up to the challenge.
A China Township resident, Cooper is a member of Boy Scout Troop 245, and has decided to focus his efforts on providing owl boxes across St. Clair County to help barn owls.
At this time barn owls are critically imperiled in Michigan and St. Clair County offers great habitats for them. The owls are great hunters who help control the rodent population and the nest boxes help population recovery.
Blue Water Healthy Living caught up with Cooper to pose a few questions about his project.
Blue Water Healthy Living: How did you come up with the idea to place owl boxes in St. Clair County?
An Eagle Scout project has a St. Clair County teen, Garrit Cooper, 16, hoping to provide owl boxes for the endangered species.
Cooper: I did some searching online for endangered species in our region, and I saw that the barn owl population is declining, so I thought I would do something to help grow their numbers.
BWHL: Why do you think they are important?
Cooper: Barn owls mostly eat mice and other small mammals, and mice and rats spread diseases and can also eat farmers’ crops. I figured that if the barn owl population is increased, then the rodent population will decrease.
BWHL: Did you know much about owls before selecting this for your Eagle Scout project?
Cooper: I did not know a huge amount about owls before I chose this as my project. However, this project has helped me learn more about a native species that I plan to help.
BWHL: How did the Friends of the St. Clair River group assist you in planning your project?
Cooper: The Friends of the St. Clair River assisted me in planning my project by giving advice about building my nesting boxes and they helped me learn about barn owls’ activity.
BWHL: What’s the criteria for a resident to place a box on their property – certain acreage, or does it have to be placed in a tree or on a post up high?
Cooper: The ideal habitat for a barn owl is an open field where they can fly over and look for prey. The owl box can be attached to a pole, tree, or an existing barn or structure where they can see their hunting grounds.
BWHL: What material will you be making the boxes with? How many will you be making?
Cooper: I am making the boxes out of 3/4” thick pressure treated plywood, painted green to blend in with the surroundings. I plan to build 10 owl boxes.
BWHL: What’s the biggest challenge for you undertaking this project?
Cooper: My biggest challenge would be directing all of the other Scouts who will help out with my project and making sure the building of the boxes goes smoothly.
BWHL: I have the website for donations but where can people drop off bottles and cans?
Cooper: If people have bottles and cans to donate, we would be most comfortable with coordinating a time with them to come and pick up the donations.
To donate to this project visit spot.fund/tbezgsc to find out how to host an owl box on your property send an email to owlproject2024@gmail.com.
All unused funds will be donated to the Friends of the St. Clair River.
