The sixth partnership of the DSMP project is with Washington College’s Foreman's Branch Bird Observatory (FBBO) at the Center for Environment and Society (CES). Since 1998, Foreman’s Branch has been documenting spring and fall migration through bird banding. It is the only major migratory bird banding station operating on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and is three miles northeast of Chestertown, MD on the College’s River and Field Campus. FBBO collects data used to track population trends, migration timing, and bird movements. Additionally, FBBO supports external research partners on projects such as avian perception of glass, the accumulation of microplastics in birds, and radio-tagging birds tracked by the Motus Network.

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The first phase of this project was supported by a fellowship sponsored by CES in which a student digital imaging consultant working in Washington College's Virtual/Augmented Reality Digital Imaging Studio (VARDIS) and an environmental science student partnered to research best practices in using digital technologies in outdoor learning spaces and to prepare the technological groundwork for a variety of virtual tours.  ​

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Working with an internal Washington College partner this year will allow the DSMP team to explore and develop new approaches and best practices for creating virtual tours and exhibit materials for outdoor learning spaces which will expand the project's future community partnerships. 

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Stay tuned for future developments in this collaboration!