Libertyville students help birds of prey
Students at Rockland School in Libertyville built birdhouses and visited with a peregrine falcon Friday as part of an educational program to help birds of prey.
The falcon, named Alvin, arrived with Craig Hendee, director of the International Heritage Conservancy and a resident of Old Mill Creek.
Hendee, an expert on endangered birds of prey, has paired a school in Mongolia with Rockland School to help indigenous species of falcons in their respective areas.
Rockland special education teacher Danya Sundh and Learning Center Director Becky Johnson created a mini-grant called "Raptors Helping Raptors" through Partners for Excellence in Education.
The group involves local business representatives who offer their time and financial donations to Libertyville Elementary District 70.
Sundh and her students built birdhouses in class Friday with supplies purchased during a trip to a local hardware store in February.
The goal is to help to improve the kestrel falcon population in the area.
"It's provided our students a hands-on learning opportunity to connect with the real world," Rockland School Principal Jeff Knapp said.