Schools

Protecting the piping plover with a fence

Kennedy students aid an endangered bird species

Posted

The Animal Advocates club at Kennedy High School in Bellmore lent a hand to piping plovers, which are on the Endangered Species List, by spending the morning of March 26 stretching out two miles of wire to mark the birds’ nesting area at Jones Beach State Park and protect them from beach-goers.

The more than two-hour effort was led by Project Manager Rachel Woodiwiss, a sophomore, of Merrick; club President Jessica Rakowski, also a sophomore, of Bellmore; and adviser Laura Rosenthal, a Kennedy biology teacher.

Rakowski started Animal Advocates as an offshoot of Kennedy’s popular H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Planet Earth) club during her freshman year. Animal Advocates holds bake sales and other fundraisers to help protect endangered species, including elephants.

Ten Animal Advocates members participated in the Jones Beach project. “Bellmore JFK’s Animal Advocates club was happy to participate in such a worthwhile project,” Rakowski said. “It’s really important to protect those who can’t protect themselves, and that’s exactly what we did by doing something as simple as putting up a fence.”

Woodiwiss, who has been a member of Animal Advocates for the past year, said, “I wanted to help out as many different types of animals as possible, the ones that don’t get as much attention.” She worked with Kennedy science teacher Sarah Femminella in developing the idea for the Jones Beach project. “I’m so glad I could help,” Woodiwiss said.

While walking on the beach, members of Animal Advocates –– this reporter included –– found a large amount of garbage, which we cleaned up. Animal Advocates’ message is simple: The beach belongs to all of us, the piping plovers included. Please keep it clean!

Editor’s note: Alexandra Brinton is a Kennedy High School sophomore.