Birding Takes Flight in Belmont’s Honors Program
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” – Matthew 6:26, NIV.
The rigorous Belmont Global Honors program soars to its peak with the Honors Scholars’ Collaborative every year, a series of three courses designed to aid students in crossing the finish line of their Honors project. During their junior year, students develop an in-depth research project focusing on giving back globally.
Using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as guideposts, professors from various disciplines decide their class focus. This year, adjunct Stacy Elliott settled on a simultaneously unique and universal topic: birds.
The class, titled “Consider the Birds of the Air,” was inspired by Matthew 6:26 and seeks to accomplish three scientific goals that shine light on mental health.
- Debunk the standard view of who a “bird watcher” is, defying age and lifestyle stereotypes.
- Engage the community and commence work that continues to impact Nashville over the coming years.
- Tackle anxiety and empower the current generation of students to use their voice in the world.
Throughout the semester, students engaged in a diverse range of projects, including creating graphics and newsletters, providing training, collecting data, advocating for bird-safe initiatives, developing community engagement programs, and leading the college's own Belmont Bird Club. The semester culminated in a TED-Talk-style presentation where students showcased their accomplishments.
Elliott discovered birding in 2018 as a therapeutic pastime. “My mother is a breast cancer survivor, and during that year of treatment, we ended up spending a lot of time looking out the window and watching the birds,” said Elliott. “I saw how healing it was for her — and it was healing for me too — to pay attention.”
From there, she began to research the subject and felt an increasing desire to share her findings with the world.
“You can have a conversation with anyone about birds,” Elliot said. “We're learning that birds are disappearing, and they give us so much. We’re all a part of nature. If they don't thrive, then we don't thrive.”
According to the Cornell Lab, North America is down 3 billion breeding birds since 1970.
Photo: Sam Simpkins
Elliott joined the board of the Cumberland Harpeth Audubon Society, which focuses on Bird Safe Nashville’s Lights Out program. The initiative encourages participants adopt bird-friendly measures, particularly between dusk and dawn when buildings are inactive, to ensure safe passage for migrating birds.
When considering implementing the initiative at Belmont, Elliott reached out to fellow bird aficionado Steve Lasley, Belmont’s vice president for finance and operations, for advice. Lasley recently announced his retirement following 26 years of dedicated service to the University.
Elliott learned Lasley spearheaded several sustainability projects during his tenure, including initiatives to equip classrooms with motion-sensored lights that save money and promote the well-being of birds in the area.
“I’m so glad he was at the helm. It meant we had an ally here who really cared about birds here at Belmont,” said Elliott. “It seemed he always had time to do that, even with the business and significance of his job. It’s important to acknowledge and continue that legacy.”
Lasley discovered birding while studying at The University of Georgia Graduate School in 1991, and has since traveled the world photographing birds and getting involved in the local birding community. (Lasley's photos are pictured below.)
“He gave me some direction and encouraged me to get a group of students together to campaign,” said Elliott.
Lasley accompanied the class for a bird walk at Radnor Lake, along with the Tennessee Ornithological Society, to unite students and community members to share a birding experience, swap stories and learn from each other.
Photo: Sam Simpkins
The seeds planted during Elliott and Lasley’s initial conversation bloomed in abundance this semester when students in the birding HSC course took their efforts outside the Belmont community to Nashville and beyond.
This past year, the Belmont Bird Club became a campus affiliate of the National Audubon Society, the first in Tennessee, allowing for national resources and leadership opportunities to be allocated to the club. It also hosted multiple campus events to engage other students, including bird bingo and an origami crane-making WELL Core event.
“Everybody has a space in this,” said Elliott. “I believed that this class could help my students to find something that they can latch onto, be passionate about and enjoy the process of what research can be because they care about it.”
While next year’s class will not mirror the same premise, ideas that focus on mental health and the benefits of nature will continue to develop.
“I want my students to think about building a foundation or taking something that's already there and enhancing it and building an ongoing relationship,” said Elliott. “If it works out well, students can continue cycling through. It takes time and focus to make things happen. We’re paying it forward.”
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