SPRINGVALE — On an unusually warm spring day, last week some Sanford Bridge School students engaged with nature by helping some ducks which were finding the habitat at The McKeon Reserve in Springvale to their liking.

Wood, Mallard, and Merganser Ducks have been seen there recently, so this science project will prove to be timely and educational. Led by teacher Andrew Valeri and assisted by Jim Dumont, and with naturalist support by Dr. Bud Johnston, president of the local Sanford Springvale Mousam Way Land Trust, the group of students met at Kevin and Patty McKeon’s home, loaded up their tractor with four nesting boxes and tool bags, and made their way down the half-mile trail to the ducks’ water habitat.

After studying the structural requirements of the nest boxes, students built them and added wood shavings for the little ducklings’ warm home.

Their studies also included learning the proper nesting box placement: in or very near the water, and tipped toward the water so the baby ducks can drop to safety.

All four boxes made it to their respective mounting trees and are now awaiting their new tenants.