Eagle Scout

Service Project

Workbook

 Troop 8

West Orange District

Central Florida Council

 

 Project Description 

Concept

Compiled January 31, 1998

 

Describe The Project You Plan To Do.

My Eagle Project is a first of its kind in the world avian conservation project. The intent of the project will be to design and construct convalescent care units for Barred Owls that will provide a secure environment for injured owls to recuperate at the indoor facilities of the Florida Audubon Society Center for Birds of Prey of Maitland, Florida. I will construct:

6 Convalescent Care Units, and

3 Mobile cabinets to mount the care units on.

The units must suit the needs of the owls, while also facilitating the mobility requirements and space restrictions of the Florida Audubon Society.

What Group Will It Benefit?

The Florida Audubon Society Center for Birds Of Prey

1101 Audubon Way Maitland, Florida 32751

 My Project Will Be Of Benefit To The Group Because:

 My project will be of benefit to the Florida Audubon Society Center for Birds of Prey for two reasons. It will benefit the injured owls that are located at the facilities by providing a safe, comfortable environment for them, while allowing the staff of the Center for Birds of Prey to properly tend and care for the owls more easily. In addition to this benefit, it will save the Florida Audubon Society the cost of either contracting out to an independent company to build these units or building the units themselves.

 The concept was discussed with my unit leader on December 4, 1997

 The project concept was discussed with

Dianna Flynt

Eagle Project Coordinator for The Center for Birds of Prey

(407)-644-0190

of

Florida Audubon Society Center for Birds of Prey

December 10, 1997

Planning Details

Plan your work by describing the present condition, the method, materials to be used, project helpers, and a time schedule for carrying out. Describe any safety hazards you might face and explain how you will ensure the safety of those carrying out the project.

 The current conditions at the Center for Birds of Prey are that all the raptors that are kept inside for extended periods are being kept in portable dog kennels of various sizes. While these accommodations are apparently acceptable for most of the birds, the only group that has had any problems is the owls. The units in which the owls are currently being stored are constructed of heavy-duty plastics and measure approximately 23" high, 19" wide, and 31" deep with a heavy-duty wire grating for the door. These cages are displayed in the inserted pictures. While these dimensions are comfortable for the owls, they have been jumping up and grasping the cage with their talons and flapping their wings, which subsequently rub against the walls of the cage, breaking or damaging many of the feathers on the wings. Since owls are silent hunters, their feather structure must be perfect in order for them to catch food. Therefore, the Audubon Society cannot release the birds back into the wild until after the next molting occurs which is about once per year.

 I plan to remedy this situation by building units of the same interior measurements out of ½" plywood with the interior to be lined with Formica. I will also construct the doors of the cages out of 3/8" dowel rods placed vertically, spaced at 9/8" on center. This would prevent the injured bird from hanging on the door. These specifications were discussed at the original meeting with the Center for Birds of Prey, and it was agreed that this design would allow the owls to be comfortable and safe while making it easier for the staff to clean the units and provide general care for the owls. For convenience of the staff and the comfort of the owls, the six care units will be modular, and stacked, two each, on top of three cabinets (that are the same size as the care units) which will be mounted on wheels.

 Various building supply stores and possibly construction companies will donate the required supplies. To complete the project, I will require: eight sheets of 4’x8’x½" plywood, approx. 95ft of dowel rods, approx. 134ft of 1"x2" wood planks, 46.5ft of 1"x1" wood to make the triangle wedges, 18 1"metal hinges, 9 small door latches, eight sheets of 4’x8’ Formica, 12 castors of a size that is to be determined, 18 metal drawer handles, 1 box of ¾" brads, 2 boxes of 1" nails, contact cement, and several sheets of large and fine grain sandpaper. Also required will be hammers, Formica cutters, various saws (handsaws, circular saw, and others), a drill, and necessary safety equipment.

 To carry out this project, I estimate that I will require about ten or eleven youth to help with construction, and at least 2 adult leaders to help ensure proper use of tools, oversee construction, and provide transportation. I estimate that it will take about two months to complete this project from the time that this application is submitted for approval. Once I have received approval, I will then spend the following weeks procuring the necessary materials. Construction will then be suspended for a week due to my sister’s wedding (Feb. 28). The Wednesday following the wedding (Mar. 4), I will cut the materials to construct one care unit. This prototype will then be transported to the Center for Birds of Prey for a two-week trial. Pending approval on their part, I will make any changes necessary to the design, and begin construction of the other five care units and the three cabinets. I expect that it will take about four days, with about 4 hours of work each day, to complete this phase of construction (Mar. 18-21). Once these eight units are completed, they will be transported to the Center for their use. I have included the plans for construction, that you may see what the units will look like, as well as the final materials list with the specific cutting measurements.

 The possible safety hazards that may be present are mainly due to our use of power tools (saws, drills, etc.). We will minimize these hazards by ensuring proper training with all equipment to be used, the use of proper eye protection and dust masks. The contact cement we will be using also gives off fumes, and so we will be doing the construction outside to prevent the build-up of these vapors. We will also have a complete First Aid kit and a telephone on hand so that we will "Be Prepared" for the unlikely event of any emergency that does occur.

 

Project Timeline

Dec. 4, 1997

Phone call made to Florida Audubon Society Center for Birds of Prey; project concept discussed with Troop 8 Committee

Dec. 10, 1997

Project ideas discussed with Dianna Flynt of Center for Birds of Prey

Jan. 6, 1998

Project idea presented to Troop 8 Committee

Jan. 10, 1998

Concept design presented to Center for Birds of Prey; Design for prototype created

Jan. 31, 1998

Eagle Project Workbook presented to Center for Birds of Prey

Feb. 2, 1998

Eagle Project Workbook presented to Troop 8 Scoutmaster, Mr. David Hoskins

Feb. 5, 1998

Eagle Project Workbook presented to Troop 8 Committee

 Project Timeline (tentative)

Feb. 18, 1998

Eagle Project Workbook reviewed by District Eagle Committee

Feb. 20-Mar. 4, 1998

Donations of supplies for construction collected

Mar. 4, 1998

Prototype Convalescent Care unit constructed, Unit transported to Center for Birds of Prey

Mar. 16-17, 1998

Collect any additional supplies required for final phase of construction

Mar. 18-19, 1998

Cut all wood into specified pieces (no scouts without Toten’ Chip are to be present for cutting)

Mar. 19-21, 1998

Final construction phase: construct five Care units and three base cabinets

Mar. 21, 1998

Transport all units to Center for Birds of Prey for use

Mar. 22, 25, 1998 : Apr. 1, 4, 1998

Optional dates for construction if Mar19-21 is not adequate time or there is an unforeseeable delay; Optional transport dates

This is my project application as I turned it in to the District Eagle Committee, minus a few graphics added for cosmetic purposes only. Also included was the construction specs. And a rough sketch of what the units would look like once completed. There were a few minor adjustments made to the original plans, but nothing note worthy. I might add though, that it probably would have made things a little easier if I had used with 1in. plywood instead of 1/2in.

 

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