Slidell teen's project for the birds

A project undertaken by a Slidell ninth-grader will help make it easier to enjoy the outdoors this summer.

Dustin Dampier, 14, is a student at Pope John Paul II High School, and an active Boy Scout. He’s been involved in scouting since age 6, and is well on his way to attaining the rank of Eagle Scout, the organization’s highest rank.

His efforts have included a number of community service projects, the most recent of which resulted in six new purple martin birdhouses in three Slidell parks.

“There used to be a lot of birdhouses in the parks, but they got wiped out by Hurricane Katrina,” said Dampier. “Purple martins help keep the mosquitoes down, so I figured this might be a good project.”

He got the idea after meeting Keep Slidell Beautiful director Bill Mauser during the city’s fall cleanup event. Most Eagle projects are fairly simple, such as building sawhorses, for example, so Dampier figured he would do some homework before he got started.

He researched the Internet, and found that martins are very particular. They don’t like to live near other birds and prefer to be anywhere from 12 to 15 feet off the ground. He planned his birdhouses to be 14 feet high and kept track of all the details in a binder.

The teenager then recruited several members of his troop, along with some other friends and adults to start building the birdhouses.

Mauser accompanied Dampier and his father to Home Depot to purchase the materials, and soon they were underway.

The project took about six months from start to finish, with only a couple of speed bumps along the way.

“One day we realized we didn’t plan for corner blocks,” said Dampier. “My dad had some extra crown molding in his garage, so we used that.”

The birdhouses were installed in early December, with two each in Fritchie Park, Heritage Park, and John Slidell Park. Dampier has been checking on them, but so far hasn’t seen any movement yet, as the lack of mosquitoes during the winter months tends to keep the martins away until spring.

Mauser was impressed with the young man’s dedication, and presented Dampier with a plaque of appreciation during a recent city council meeting.

“It was a great partnership, and he showed a lot of initiative,” said Mauser. “This will really make a difference during outdoor events.”

Dampier has currently achieved the rank of Life Scout, which is the second-highest level under Eagle. Boys generally reach that goal around age 16 or 17. While not uncommon for some to make it at 15, according to the organization’s Website only about 5 percent of all Boy Scouts are successful.

Each rank has different requirements, and Dampier said the birdhouse project satisfied a couple of different criteria.

In the past, Dampier has helped out with the Heritage Festival, picking up trash, and laying hay to absorb moisture, and also worked to clean up Lake Road in Lacombe with his former troop as a monthly project. He hopes to attend LSU, to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

He has enjoyed the projects, both for the hands-on experience and the long-term benefits.

“You learn a lot about responsibility and leadership, and you need that as you grow up,” he said. “It helps prepare you for college and for life.”