Aamir Tinwala, a middle-schooler living through pandemic isolation begged his parents for a pet and they agreed to get him a bird, a bright yellow-faced and orange-cheeked cockatiel, whom he named Koco. This bond, inspired the Texas teen to launch a bird conservation movement that is now spread across continents and generations according to a Washington Post report.Aamir’s connection and attachment to Koco was instant and she soon became a household fixture. He learned about the decline in wild bird populations and decided to build birdhouses in his backyard to compensate for widespread habitat loss. His Backyard Bird Project helps establish safe habitats for birds in urban and suburban areas while connecting people to local biodiversity issues.The teenager coordinated with neighbours, schools, and community groups to help build nesting boxes. He created a website to encourage people to register for boxes, which he then built and shipped. He also provided instructions for people to build their own boxes and help the movement grow.Strategically placed nest boxes provide shelter and breeding areas for birds, supporting thriving species populations. His project has also helped young people become interested in birding and habitat stewardship. “It had actual tangible benefits,” he told the Post. “Other than just me hacking away every day in my garage.”To date, he has personally built over 750 bird shelters in the past five years and helped countless others build their own. In a separate effort, he launched a successful petition to have his hometown name a city bird, the American kestrel.Meanwhile, many other bird conservation efforts are underway to rescue at-risk birds, rehabilitate injured birds, and rediscover rare birds once thought to be extinct. “It’s a small thing to do,” he said, of his nesting box building. “But it is also considerable. If everyone did it, an actual impact would be made.”
