Lukas Sanchez is running in circles, Chase McDonald is in a tree and Nate Daley is… dancing? This may seem odd, but this is just a typical Monday in the East Meck courtyard filming another Bird of the Week (BOTW) video.

Bird of the Week originated in the National Honor Society (NHS) Birdhouse Committee as a way to both educate and engage students, but has since evolved into (non-NHS affiliated) comedic videos that many students look forward to each week.

But what actually goes into creating these minute-long videos, and who are the minds behind them?

Well, it all starts in homeroom, where NHS minds work together to decide on a bird to put in their spotlight for the week. There isn’t much science to this part of the process beyond people throwing out bird names and then finding a few facts to incorporate into the video.

The fun part starts in the courtyard, where everyone add their ideas to make the video engaging and unique. From having Sanchez roll on the ground in mulch to having C. McDonald squat on a table, there really is no such thing as a bad idea in BOTW.

Filming BOTW is a time for friends and peers to come together, collaborate, learn and have fun. “We decided that we were going to film the first bird of the week, which was the eagle, and then it just sort of snowballed from there… now it’s something that’s become expected of us, and we enjoy doing it,” Head Bird said.

Filming is just the first step in the process. Maris McDonald, the editor behind BOTW, spends the next evenings curating clips to create the final video that many students see on Instagram Reels.

”I’ve had a lot of fun editing, and it has made me good a time management because if I don’t get it in on time, Head Bird is a little disappointed,” M. McDonald said. As BOTW’s editor, it is her job to cut, crop, curate and import clips that will make students learn a little and laugh a whole lot, and it’s clearly working.

”It’s something I can look forward to every week; it’s informative and really fun,” Senior and BOTW Fan Alexis Young said.

BOTW may just seem like silly videos, but they have had a strong impact on the East community, giving students a way to laugh and feel engaged.

High school can be stressful time, with an overwhelming workload and the need to balance sports, extracurricular and jobs. The little things like BOTW can make a difference not only for those creating the videos, but also for those watching them.

”I wish my school had something like that,” an anonymous Myers Park student said.

BOTW, in its own unique way, represents East Meck as the diverse and unreplicable community it is.

Nate Daley, senior and cast member of BOTW, has seen not only how it has affected East Meck as a whole, but also how it has impacted the members who have bonded while making these videos. “Bird of the week is a good time to collaborate with my peers and gain knowledge while also having fun,” Daley said.

At the end of the day, BOTW is about learning and growing in a way that is fun for students, without requiring them to be glued to their desks or to stare at their computers for hours.

“A little bird once told me, fly to the sky. So if you fall, you’ll land among the tree tops,” Head Bird said.