On an otherwise quiet Saturday morning — when most of us were relaxing after a long week — 16-year-old Rhett Smith was busy.

Smith, a ninth grader at West Lauderdale High School, was in charge of more than a dozen Boy Scouts from Troop 16 in Collinsville. Their mission: to build 21 large birdhouses, in hopes of increasing the number of wood ducks at Okatibbee Lake.

The project was part of Smith becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest rank for Boy Scouts of America.

“Over at Okatibee, they need these boxes because of the low population of wood ducks in the area,” Smith said.

Smith came up with the idea for the boxes after working on several conservation-related merit badges.

“I had heard about the need for the wood duck boxes; every few years, they need a few more,” Smith said. “So I talked with the rangers at Okatibee and they said it was needed.”

From start to finish, the project took several weeks. After getting the wood, the scouts had to cut each piece, then drill holes in the wood. Then, they put mesh inside the front of the boxes so the birds can crawl out.

“It’s not just a box,” Smith said. “We’re making something that will last for many years.”

Saturday’s activities weren’t the only tasks Smith had to achieve to become an Eagle Scout. He also had to complete courses in fitness and personal finance.

Smith, who serves as the troop’s senior patrol leader, hopes to use the skills he’s learned in scouting after high school and beyond.

“At times it can be challenging,” he said with a smile. “But it’s fun working with these guys and leading them. And we got it done today.”