Homes for our Feathered Friends

Tronox is committed to reducing our environmental footprint, including restoring land to its original state. Employees at our TiO₂ plant in Hamilton, Mississippi, recently had an opportunity to share these restoration efforts with their families and impart to them the importance of leaving areas in better shape than we find them.

After nearly two years of on-site construction projects that required harvesting numerous trees and disrupting the land, the Hamilton team adhered to best practices of environmental stewardship. Much of the land was re-grassed, and pine and native cypress trees were planted. The area now provides several ponds and offers a habitat for wildlife, including birds and wood ducks.

And what better place for these feathered friends to call home than custom-made birdhouses?

Employees and their children and grandchildren participated in a birdhouse competition in May. Though installation of the birdhouses was not possible the day of the competition due to muddy conditions, they have been placed since, and birds and ducks have found their way to them.

“Each house is unique, and that is what makes them so special—we were so pleased with the thought that went into making these birdhouses,” said Judy Ezell, capital projects administrative assistant. “It is evident from the smiles on the children’s faces how proud they were of what they and their parent or grandparent created.”

In addition to the joy the participants got out of creating homes for our feathered friends, some received awards for their submissions:

• Best Birdhouse: Raynee and Reed McDonald, children of Jordan McDonald, Maintenance Department
• Most Creative Birdhouse: Aaron Imel, son of Julie Imel, Payroll, and Shawn Imel, Maintenance Department
• Best Wood Duck House: Easton Odom, son of Dustin Odom, Production Coordinator
• Most Creative Wood Duck House: William James, grandson of Brent Green, Purchasing
• Additional proud birdhouse makers included: August Smith and Aaliyah Davis, daughter and granddaughter of Ruby Smith, Senior Shift Operator; and Statton and Cruze Harper, sons of Nikki Harper, Business Improvement Analyst

“I am so happy to have helped coordinate this competition,” Judy said. “It makes me proud to work for a company that backs up what we are taught, in terms of taking measures to return the land to its original state.”