On March 25, 2025 – BBRP bluebird friend, Kathy Meinhardt did a presentation for the Izaak Walton League at their Clubhouse on West River Rd in Minneapolis.
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“Bill Hoberg”
With deep regret we wish to inform all of our bluebird friends of the passing of Swift County Coordinator – Bill Hoberg on January 25, 2025.
Bill’s name appears in annual Trail Reports dating back to 1990.
He has been BBRP’s Swift County Coordinator for at least 10 years.
This past fall as BBRP introduced the Regional County Coordinator concept, Bill agreed to be the assistant Region coordinator for the Western part of Minnesota. He will be missed in the Bluebird world!
Here is a link to the full story https://www.zniewskifuneralhome.com/obituary/william-bill-hoberg
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“MOU 2025 Paper Session”
On Saturday, December 7, 2024 – BBRP board members Nancy Engel and Brianna Frisch hosted a bluebird table at the Minnesota Ornithological Union 2025 Paper Session at U of MN St. Paul Student Center.
Lots of good conversation about bluebirds with people who really know a thing or two about birds!
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“Hennepin Co. Bluebird Breakfast”
Bluebird monitors mentored by Jack Hauser met for their annual breakfast on Saturday, August 24,2024. Several monitors reported more mortality this year. We discussed using vanilla or vanilla-scented air fresheners (see https://bbrp.org/flies-and-gnat/)
as a preventative measure next year.
It’s unclear whether the mortality was primarily gnat-related or weather. Several monitors reported that their Gilbertson PVC houses collected water, and that was likely a factor with some broods. One monitor noted that the only mortality he observed in Gilbertson PVC houses were tree swallows, and he found some evidence that the houses are not big enough for the larger tree swallow broods.
Most monitors still report counting less bluebird chicks than prior to the February 2021 storm, indicating that the bluebird population still has not rebounded completely. – submited by Lisa McIntire
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Click here to see 5 ways you can protect water quality with your fall yard care
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Why Birds Hit Windows—And How You Can Help Prevent It
For birds, glass windows are worse than invisible. By reflecting foliage or sky, they look like inviting places to fly into. And because the sheer number of windows is so great, their toll on birds is huge.
The good news is that you can greatly reduce the danger your home’s windows pose to birds with some simple remedies.
Click here, to see all the details.
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