A group of high school students in Waverly, Iowa are working towards obtaining the designation of “Bird Friendly City” for their town. Elliot Schneiderman, Avery Corcoran, and Adali Borglum have been working together since November to achieve the designation as part of their Family, Career and Community Leaders of America project. The “Bird Friendly Iowa” program has three goals: protecting and preserving bird habitat, reducing threats to birds, and educating communities about birding and the importance of biodiversity. If the Waverly students are successful in their application to the statewide bird habitat conservation and educational outreach program this spring, their town will join approximately 20 others in Iowa with the designation. The high schoolers have presented their project to the city council and a fourth grade class, and are expected to present to the city council again next month. The students aim to bring more awareness to the bird population so that the community rallies together to appreciate the bird population through birding, the casual observation of birds in their natural habitats.