Eleuthera, Bahamas – In 2016 the artwork of five young Eleutheran students will be featured in the International Kirtland’s Warbler Calendar. Recently, the students’ artistic work was acknowledged when Camilla Adair, Deputy Manager of the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve in Eleuthera, visited their schools to present them with the newly printed calendars featuring their drawings.
This all stems from a visit last year from Bahamas National Trust (BNT) Education Officer, Scott Johnson, who gave them lessons on the Kirtland’s Warbler and then invited them to participate in a poster competition where their art could be featured in the calendar. To everyone’s great delight the children’s works were featured in the calendar, they include: Nahjee Symonette – Grand prize winner (front cover), Candon Farrington – Runner-up (August 2015 cover page), Abigail Ramnarine- Runner-up (May 2016 cover page), Tyesha Morley – Runner-up (bottom March 2016 page) and Javanna Rankine – Runner-up (bottom September 2016 page) all from Tarpum Bay Primary School.
Additionally, Kaidyn Auguste, Makena Alleyne, Mashana McCardy and Selena Ingraham from Tarpum Bay Primary School, Gia Morley and Nathalia Saunders from Rock Sound Primary and Cortez Brown and Kevaughn Burrows from Green Castle Primary received Honourable Mentions in the competition and are listed in the back of the calendar along with their photos.
“The Kirtland’s Warbler Calendar contest highlights and features drawings from students in both The Bahamas – specifically the Island of Eleuthera – and Michigan, USA” said Johnson. “The contest is an annual way to educate both Bahamian and American students about the once endangered and now threatened Kirtland’s Warbler, as well as the other wildlife the bird lives with and the habitats that this very special bird lives in.”
Students on Eleuthera drew pictures of the Kirtland’s Warbler on its wintering grounds, which are exclusively in The Bahamas; and Michigan students depicted the bird on its breeding grounds, which is Michigan, lower Ontario, and Wisconsin.
Eleuthera was selected as the main Bahamian island featured in the competition because of research work that has been conducted on the Warbler. Johnson noted, “The contest is a great way to bridge the gap between scientific research and the communities understanding of the amazing wildlife found in The Bahamas.”
The competition was just one of the ways that the BNT hopes to get students involved in conservation and that these same students will protect the Bahamian ecosystems and wildlife for future generations. Calendars may be purchased online through the Eastern National Forests Interpretive Association on their website at enfiamich.org.
Photo Captions;
(Top Left) – Rock Sound Primary Students Receive Honourable Mention in Kirtland’s Warbler Calendar Competition
Pictured are students from Rock SOund Primary School who received honourable mention in the Kirtland’s Warbler Calendar being presented with their copies of the calendar. Pictured (left to right) are Mrs. Janice Hall, Art Teacher; Mrs. Saunders, Parent; Nathalia Saunders, 3rd grade student, Camilla Adair, Deputy Manager Levy Preserve; Mr. Johnny Butler, Principal. Not Pictured is Gia Morley.
(Top Right) – Eleutheran Students’ Artwork Featured in International Calendar
In 2016 the artwork of five young Eleutheran students will be featured in the International Kirtland’s Warbler Calendar. Recently, the students’ artistic work was acknowledged when Camilla Adair, Deputy Manager of the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve in Eleuthera, visited their schools to present them with the newly printed calendars featuring their drawings. Pictured are (left to right) Front row -Tyesha Morley, Nahjee Symonette, Javanna Rankine, Abigail Ramnarine, Mashana McCardy. Second row – Candon Farrington, Makena Alleyne, Kaidyn Auguste, Selena Ingraham, MicQuel Cartwright. Third row, left to right – Mrs. Janice Hall, Art Teacher; Leahnora Knowles, Grade 2 Teacher; Principal, Herman Johnson; Christine Symonette, Teacher; Camilla Adair, Deputy Manager Levy Preserve; Mrs. Diane Carey, Grade 1 Teacher.
(Bottom Left) – Green Castle Primary School Students Receive Honourable Mention in Kirtland’s Warbler Calendar Competition
Pictured are the students who competed in the competition receiving their copy of the calendar. Pictured (left to right) are Cortez Brown, Principal, Mrs. Frances Russell, Camilla Adair, Deputy Manager, Levy Preserve and Kevaughn Burrows.
(Bottom Right) -Students at Tarpum Bay Primary Admiring the Calendar
