Adams Pond may be best known as a public water supply, but the pond, its surrounding wetlands and woodlands are also home to many fish, wildlife and bird species.

This past semester, Boothbay Region High School students in Emily Higgins’ Principles of Engineering class decided to give a few local species a little boost by building bird and bat houses to be placed near Adams Pond.

On May 8, the class toured the woodlands and fields at Boothbay Region Water District’s property off Adams Pond Road, scoping out the available habitat and bird species with Sue Mello of the water district and Boothbay Region Land Trust Environmental Educator Tracey Hall.

The students returned to the classroom for some research, and on May 11, each student presented their proposals for what types of houses to build and where to place them. Based on each student’s efforts, a general plan was agreed upon and the hands-on work began.

“The class worked together on this community related project, dividing research on birds likely to live around Adams Pond. They did a great job determining locations and types of birdhouses,” Higgins said.

By June 10, the class had completed three wood duck houses, three bat houses, two merganser houses, three blue bird houses and two owl houses, which were picked up by water district staff.

“I am proud of the work the class did learning about birds, watersheds and basic building skills. I also appreciate the help of Keel Kemper, of the Fish and Wildlife Department, and of Chip Schwehm, who helped many of the students learn to carefully and properly build the houses,” Higgins said.

The Boothbay Region Water District provided funding for the project and will install the houses before next spring’s mating season.