Good News Stories - Wood Boxes for "Woody"

Wood ducks are cavity-nesting ducks which were once the most abundant duck in N. America. By the late 1900’s, however, they were almost extinct due to over-hunting and loss of habitat. In 1918 Congress passed The Migratory Bird Act which many attribute to their rebound.

Good News Stories:

Wood Boxes for "Woodies"

The Synod of the Sun is publishing Good News Stories ahead of Synod Sunday on August 23rd. These are inspirational stories of churches reaching out to their communities in extraordinary times via innovative means.

Our theme for Synod Sunday 2020 is Hope Through Connection, Unhindered by Walls and we look to I Thessalonians 1:3 - (We) remember before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Find more information about Synod Sunday, including our video What does 'Hope Through Connection' mean to you , at : https://www.synodsun.org/synod-sunday

First Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX

Eagle Scout Project Highlights Church and Community Partnerships

By Matt Curry

AUSTIN, TX – A member of one of the oldest Boy Scouts troops in the nation, chartered at First Presbyterian Church of Austin, is earning recognition for his work to increase the nesting population of wood ducks near two ponds at Camp Mabry in Central Texas.

Morgan D. Jones, 15, combined his Eagle Scout project with the Hornaday Conservation Award, named after William T. Hornaday, an early 20 ^th Century conservationist and first director of what is now the Bronx Zoo. Morgan earned his Eagle award in December 2019 and completed work on his Hornaday project in April.

Morgan and his crew of 20 adult and youth volunteers put in more than 160 service hours to build six, sturdy duck boxes to provide safe shelter for the nesting migratory waterfowl known for their colorful plumage. The project cost $1,200, most of which was assumed by Camp Mabry.

“I think the most important thing I learned is leadership of the project, giving instructions,” Morgan said.

The Presbyterian ties to his ecological efforts are strong. Morgan is the son of Dr. David L. Jones, a Presbyterian minister and affiliate professor of pastoral theology at Nashotah House Theological Seminary, and Dr. Jennifer Jones, an Austin pediatrician.

First Presbyterian of Austin, where the troop meets, is among member churches of the Synod of the Sun that are reaching out to their community by supporting and providing space for community organizations. First has been doing it for a long time. Troop 1was chartered by FPC in the 1940s. The troop got its start much earlier, in 1911, just a year after the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated.

“The church feels like all the youth programs, including the Scouts, are a very important part of our mission,” said Steven Sletten, a ruling elder who is the church’s liaison to the troop.

The idea for Morgan’s project came from a day of fishing with his Dad at Camp Mabry, where they noticed a rotted duck box. Morgan researched wood ducks. With the help and cooperation of the camp, two carpenters and volunteers, Morgan and his team constructed six wood duck boxes, two of which are mounted on posts in the water. The four others were placed on trees near the shore. Morgan built an educational site that that holds a colorful educational sign so that visitors can learn about wood ducks and their habitat.

The Eagle Scout district representative noted that Morgan’s project was so rigorous that it equates to several Eagle projects.

The Eagle Scout project and the Hornaday requirements were done in conjunction with one another. Besides installation of the cedar boxes, Morgan and his troop built a mulch pad for a picnic table; restored a trail connecting his site with another Eagle Scout project; and installed an educational sign about wood ducks and their habitat.

The six wood boxes built by 15-year-old Morgan Jones from the troop at First Presbyterian Church in Austin, were placed in the summer of 2019 at Camp Mabry.

The Hornaday requirements are focused specifically on increasing the nesting population of wood ducks at the camp, where three pairs of nesting ducks have been spotted over the past five years. Continued maintenance is required, so the cooperation of Camp Mabry was essential. Morgan is trying to complete the requirements for the first and lowest tier of three Hornaday Awards – the Hornaday Badge. The Bronze Medal will require two more significant environmental projects and the Silver Medal three more such projects. A review board meets in August to determine if Morgan will receive the Hornaday Badge. The troop has also applied for the rare Hornaday Unit Award, which will be reviewed at the same August board.

Morgan installed two more boxes at Mabry in February, which earned him the BSA World Conservation Award.

“They provide safe places for the wood ducks, protecting them from predators and the weather,” Morgan said.

Hornaday requires that Camp Mabry do an annual wood duck bird count and check whether ducks are using the new boxes. The camp will also maintain the boxes, cleaning them out annually and replacing nesting materials.

Morgan has earned all 21 Hornaday Award designated conservation merit badges. His efforts are part of the steps he needs to take to achieve his goal of receiving the Hornaday Silver Medal by his 18 ^th birthday. Only 1,200 Hornaday medals have been awarded in the last 100 years.

Click HERE to read the signage that accompanies the wood boxes.

The Rev. Matt Curry is in search of Good News from ministries throughout the Synod of the Sun that are making connections with their congregations and communities. Do you have an idea to share? Send Matt an email at cpcwaxpastor@gmail.com .