Athens, Tenn.—The bluebird is one of the most treasured songbirds of North America. Its song is simple and a familiar sound to nature lovers. In traditional American lore, the bluebird has always been a symbol of hope and happiness.

Over the years, bluebird numbers have drastically fallen. The two main causes for the decline in the bluebird’s population are loss of habitat and increased competition for nesting sites. The bluebird is a gentle, timid cavity-nesting bird that searches for hollows in decaying wooden fence posts and dead trees. And it needs help for its population to recover.

In the spirit of helping to preserve this beautiful bird, DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee (DMAT) invited 30 students from the local McMinn Vocational Center on site to install 15 bluebird boxes that the students handmade from DMAT scrap wooden crates. “It was a great experience for the kids,” said Jeannette Widman, environmental department supervisor, who worked together with the students on the project. “It was good for them to see a company, out in the field, working to help preserve the natural environment. A little creativity can turn waste material into useful material for nesting homes for bluebirds.”

DMAT’s local community effort is part of a larger nationwide effort to reestablish bluebird populations. “The Bluebird Project,” as it is commonly called, is one of the activities that support DMAT’s participation in the Tennessee Pollution Prevention (TP3) program. The TP3 program is open to households, schools, government agencies, organizations, businesses and industries. There are four levels of membership, each based on the environmental efforts of the organization. DENSO is currently at the Partner Level—the second to highest level.

DMAT is in the process of reaching the Performer Level—the highest level in the program. To be a Performer, DMAT must complete fi ve pollution prevention projects and write success stories that detail the measurable improvements of each project. It must also mentor other organizations in pollution prevention, be involved in community activities, and implement other green activities, such as our ISO 14001 environmental management system.

Achieving harmony with society and operating as an environmentally responsible corporate citizen are core values that direct the Company endeavors. “We are excited about this opportunity,” said Robert Tennyson, senior corporate communications specialist. “By working together with the local students from the vocational center, we are continuing our commitment to education. As the new school year begins, we plan to continue another wave of similar projects with other schools throughout southeast Tennessee.”

In the fall, the McMinn students plan to build even more bluebird boxes to sell to associates so they can attract and enjoy the bluebird. The money will then be donated back to the vocational center.

—Julie Vangel