Poland Scout Francesca DiTommaso shows the ease of lifting a screened window on her new bird blind for photographers to get a clear photo of their favorite birds.

POLAND TOWNSHIP — Bird lovers visiting Poland Township Park now have a new tool for up-close bird-watching.

Poland student and Canfield Troop 8115 Scout Francesca DiTommaso, 17, daughter of Anthony and Lisa DiTommaso, constructed a bird-watching blind, to hold up to four people at a time, along the trail west of the Oak Grove Picnic Pavilion and playground.

The new bird blind is Francesca’s Eagle Scout project.

“She will be the first female to complete an Eagle project in the park,” said Poland Township Park Director Ken Filicky. “(The bird blind) is a project we had planned for years. We were glad to have Francesca take it, and we are very happy with her work. This is one more step in our wildlife management program.”

Francesca comes from a family of Eagles. Her father, Anthony, is an Eagle Scout from Boardman Troop 60. Her brothers, Victor and Nicolas, earned their Eagle Award as members of Poland Troop 9002.

Francesca was among the first girls to join Canfield Scout Troop 8115 when Boy Scouts started accepting girls.

When she took on the project, she designed the blind like a softball dugout because she had played softball on a Mahoning County league.

“I used treated wood and then installed standard screens for the observation panels,” she said. “The screens can be flipped up for those who want to photograph the birds.”

She said the wood came from Bernard Daniels, who gave her a discount and also helped with consulting. Francesca, along with a small crew, spent three weekends at the park to complete the project. The first week involved setting the concrete posts. The second weekend saw the installation and painting of the wood. The final weekend was used for the detail work and screen installation.

Filicky said the blind’s completion was perfect timing. The blind is located near the park’s large bird feeding station.

“We start putting out feed for the birds on Nov. 1, and then continue until our feed is gone,” he said. “There is sure to be a lot of activity there for bird watchers to enjoy.”

Francesca said she has to finish some paperwork and hopes to have her Eagle Scout Court of Honor in December or January.

She is a senior at Poland Seminary High School and hopes to go on to The Ohio State University or Carnegie Mellon for a degree in computers or electrical engineering.

At PSHS, she is involved in Poland Players, the robotics and science clubs and the Italian Club. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and the Italian National Honor Society.