Captivated by a small lemon-lime songbird perched outside The Rhoades Middle School, sixth-grader Adhara Sethee was eager to focus on the species for an upcoming research project, seeking research data from the Encinitas-based Nature Collective, a local conservation and science education nonprofit organization, according to a news release.
Nature Collective works to restore habitats, provide healthier waters, and increase wildlife diversity. They are dedicated to conserving the land and providing experiences for people to fall in love with nature.
While Adhara had always been interested in birds—watching them at local parks, on her travels, and while hiking—she had never studied them in depth. With free rein to explore any topic of interest, Adhara took the opportunity to learn more about the striking Swinhoe’s White-eye (Zosterops simplex). Originally from Asia, this subspecies of White-eye was introduced to Orange County, Calif., and now occupies habitats spanning from Washington to Mexico.
After learning that Swinhoe’s White-eye is not native to the area, Adhara began to wonder what impact it might have on the local ecosystem. After her science teacher introduced her to the Nature Collective Bird Count – Nature Collective maintains a detailed database of bird sightings at the San Elijo Lagoon – Adhara took the initiative to contact Nature Collective, gathering additional information from knowledgeable staff and bird-count volunteers. With nearly continuous data from 1973 to the present, Nature Collective volunteers conduct monthly counts to track species over time. Whether a large institution or a local student, anyone can access this public data on the nonprofit’s website, the news release stated.
In addition to using Nature Collective’s Bird Count data, Adhara spent a sunny morning with her teacher and mother at a Nature Collective-hosted immersive Discovery Tour of the San Elijo Lagoon. “We were able to really bond and learn a lot from this experience,” Adhara said in the news release. She added that the knowledge gained from the tour was “crucial for my project,” which later earned her first place at the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair.
Adhara’s story captures the heart of Nature Collective’s mission: to drive a passion for nature, for all. “We believe that when people are given the opportunity to connect with nature, they are more likely to protect it. This proves true in Adhara’s case,” said Jennifer Bright, CEO of Nature Collective, in the news release.
This curious and driven student hopes to continue to learn about the world around her, with a particular interest in endangered species, the news release stated. For more information on the Nature Collective and its work, visit www.naturecollective.org.