The Poo-Poo Project — Bathrooms, Birds, and You

In Jackson Hole, Wyom., a small nonprofit, the Teton Raptor Center, is working on an important effort for bird protection that spans all 50 states, including Michigan. That project isn’t necessarily a glamorous one to talk about (or to see photos of, which we’ll spare you from here), but it’s a necessary and important project deemed “The Poo-Poo Project,” which, as it turns out, has everything to do with bird conservation.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the issue the Poo-Poo Project is focused on: 

Vault toilets (sometimes called “pit” toilets), like the one pictured here, are all over the U.S. We rely on them in areas where water is not readily accessible for standard toilet installation, such as in parks, nature sanctuaries, campgrounds, etc. Naturally, as birders and outdoor recreationists, we rely on these when we spend quality time in nature. 

There’s a but though (no pun intended): These outdoor toilets can cause major problems, even death, for birds when they find their way into the 12-inch diameter vent pipes. Think of how many birds could fit into a 12-inch diameter space — that’s a lot of birds. What happens next is that the birds are trapped and sucked into the toilet’s vault system. 

The good news: there’s an easy, effective solution that our aforementioned friends at Teton Raptor Center have taken the lead on across the country, distributing over 16,000 screens to federal and state agency-owned properties.

A lack of federal funding has halted completion of the Poo-Poo Project at Michigan’s own Hiawatha National Forest. That’s where we come in. We want to spread the word about this issue, the Poo-Poo Project, and how people can help us see that these final 18 screens are installed at Hiawatha. We hope to raise the $621 quoted to us for materials in order to install these screens (~$34.50/screen). 

If you’re inspired to make a contribution to ensure this project is completed, Michigan Audubon is hosting an online fundraising event to raise the money necessary for materials for the Hiawatha National Forest. We are deeming July 28 as Poo-Poo Tuesday and will accept online contributions for the project from 9 a.m. until we reach our goal of $1,000 or 9 p.m., whichever comes first. The first $621 will go directly to cover Hiawatha National Forest needs and the remainder will go to Teton Raptor Center to put where they need it most.

Thank you for reading about this project and how it’s at work, even despite so many funding obstacles and various other setbacks, in Michigan’s treasured Upper Peninsula.  

By Heather Good
Michigan Audubon Executive Director