A Colorful Connection

By Guest Blogger Ileana Cordova

For 18 years, I had the privilege of working in outreach with migrant and seasonal farmworker communities throughout our area before retiring in 2020. As the Recruiter for the High School Equivalency Program at Boise State University, I helped students who had left school find a path toward earning their GED, opening doors to better employment opportunities and continued education.

Before joining Boise State, I worked at Terry Reilly Health Services as both an interpreter and case worker, supporting Hispanic women through their prenatal care journeys. In addition, I spent 30 years translating documents from English to Spanish, helping ensure that Idaho’s Hispanic community had access to important information in their native language.

In Idaho, a large portion of the Hispanic population has roots in migrant and seasonal farmwork. These families play a vital role in the state's agricultural economy, often working long hours in farming, ranching, and food production. Through my years of outreach, I came to appreciate not only their hard work and resilience but also the importance of creating educational and cultural opportunities that are accessible and relevant to their families and communities.

A Creative Eye

Another passion of mine is art. Since 2018, I have been painting in watercolors, a creative pursuit that has deepened my appreciation for the beauty of nature and wildlife. Through watercolor painting, I have enjoyed capturing the colors, details, and unique characteristics of the natural world around us.

I have also been birding on and off since 1987. Over the years, birding has given me countless opportunities to observe and appreciate the rich diversity of bird life in Idaho and beyond. It has strengthened my connection to nature and fostered a lifelong interest in conservation and environmental education.

A fourth grader in the Bird by Bird program

An Idea Takes Shape

With this background, when Cynthia Wallesz, Executive Director of Golden Eagle Audubon, approached me about ideas for outreach within the Hispanic community, my mind immediately filled with possibilities! I knew that if we wanted Hispanic families to become interested in birding and nature conservation, we needed to spark that interest in children first. What better way to do that than through a fun and creative art project centered around birds?

Combining my experience in outreach, translation, art, and birding, I realized I could help create a resource that would engage both children and families. Drawing on my translation experience and working with Cynthia, I provided bilingual descriptions of the birds commonly found in Southwest Idaho, while my artistic interests and birding knowledge helped shape the creative vision of the project. From that idea, the Common Birds of Southwest Idaho Bilingual Coloring Book, English/Spanish, was born—a project designed to inspire curiosity, learning, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for nature among children and families alike.

Reaching the Community

Almost 4,300 books have been distributed, mostly to the local Hispanic community via programs like the Idaho Hispanic Foundation, Caldwell Public Library, Summer School Program through the Migrant Education Program in Wilder, the Community Council of Idaho and various other programs throughout southwest Idaho. People are inspired by this project and are finding other ways to use the book, such as in adult Spanish language classes.

If you would like to order a group of books for a teaching opportunity, contact Ileana at ICordova@goldeneagleaudubon.org.