What I did: The purpose of my eagle project is turning an overgrown wooded area at Tule Ponds into an educational basking habitat for native lizards. My team cleared the area by weeding and removing brushes.  Volunteers used rakes, shovels, and other gardening tools to help weed the area and remove unnecessary plants. Adults helped the project by using a chainsaw to cut down a few oak trees to reduce shady spots. After that, everyone collected natural materials like logs, stumps, and rocks from Tule Ponds and placed them in the habitat. These natural materials support four native species: the Western Skink, Western Fence Lizard, California Alligator Lizard, and California Legless Lizard. This project ensured the habitat had sunny areas for basking, hidden spots for protection, and a moist area for the California Legless Lizard to burrow. I designed an educational sign that identifies each lizard species for the visitors.

Who helped: Numerous scouts, adult scouts, and friends helped me through the course of this project. I would like to thank any volunteers that helped me along the way. Several volunteers showed  up on multiple days to help me weed, place materials, and help with cleanup. Next, I would like to thank Dr. Blueford and her team for giving me the opportunity to create an eagle project that I felt so passionate about. They supplied necessary tools, materials, and information that was essential for this project. Lastly, I would  like to thank my parents, Scoutmaster Christine Watnik, Eagle Coach Sreev Doddabalapur, and any Troop 110 Adult Leaders who have guided me on this project’s journey.