TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - On Sunday, volunteers started a project to help clean up Lake Elberta in Tallahassee and protect local wildlife.
One of the main reasons they are cleaning this lake is because it's home to the fourth-most number of bird species in Leon County.
This event was hosted by Apalachee Audubon Society, which is the North Florida chapter of the National Audubon Society.
Earlier this year, the group received a $7,500 grant to hire four interns, two from FAMU and two from FSU to start the process in strengthening the habitat at Lake Elberta.
Sunday, the group and other volunteers planted native seeds, removed invasive plants, and built bluebird boxes.
The President of the Apalachee Audubon Society said not only does the project help the environment, but it is also to makes the lake a great place to visit.
"There is so many levels of importance to the work we are doing here today, because on one hand you have enhancing habitat for wildlife, which matters for the wildlife but also for us, " said Peter Kleinhenz. "It is just generally a good thing to do, but then you have a park that is in the context of the southside community and Tallahassee at large and we making it better. We are making this a place where people around this area can really be proud of."
The Apalachee Audubon Society currently has just under a thousand members in five counties.
And this won't be the last time the group work's at the lake.
On December 16th, the group will organize a "Christmas Youth Bird Count," where teams of kids will go out with bird experts to find as many species as possible at the lake.
