2022 – 2023 Public Lands Nest Box Program Highlights
For four consecutive years the Bluebird Recovery Program has awarded nest boxes to public land organizations throughout the State. This spring 52 boxes were awarded to five organizations.
The following photos highlight several of the award recipients.
The Chanhassen Nature Preserve was awarded nine nest boxes to replace worn existing boxes which were installed with the help of Dick Peterson over 20 years ago.
The Minnesota Zoo was awarded twenty nest boxes to replace worn or damaged existing boxes and to expand their trail.
Afton State Park requested and received nine nest boxes to replace severely worn existing boxes. Gilbertson PVC boxes replaced Peterson boxes which were installed on ‘racon ladders’ – steel fence post, over twenty years ago.
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This is an xerept from the awards ceremony at the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union’s December 3rd – 2022 Paper Session. “About 50 years ago the Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis founded the Bluebird Recovery Program. At that time bluebirds were nearly extirpated from the state. 26 years ago, a man named Jack Hauser decided he wanted, as the song said, “to have a bluebird singing on his windowsill“. So, he started with the Peterson box, and faithful to his engineering training, felt he could make some improvements.
Now an eager birdhouse builder could spend a great deal of time to build say 50 houses, including posts and clamps, and then find promising sites to install them. He kept making improvements, building house number 100, mostly out of recycled materials. About 4 years ago Jack built bluebird house number one thousand.
Today you’ll find bluebird houses on most of the golf courses, and many parks in the Twin City area. Bluebirders have only to drop off a birdhouse needing repairs on Jack’s porch and pick it up in a week.
His passion soon expanded to include other cavity nesters, so his next project was the prothonotary warbler. He found several good sites and built houses to promote their survival in Minnesota. Wood ducks also benefitted from Jack’s ambition.
The last few years, he has taken an interest in declining kestrel populations. He has built 24 kestrel houses, which you may have seen displayed at the MOU booth at the State Fair. He is currently seeking additional sites and monitors that would benefit kestrel families.
So Jack Hauser is our winner of the Volunteer of the Year Award for 2022.”
Congratulation Jack from your friends at BBRP !!!
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Click here to see 5 ways you can protect water quality with your fall yard care
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Click here, to see the entire Article.
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Check out the latest addition of the Red-headed Woodpecker Recovery Newsletter featuring an article See how volunteers are helping monitor nests at Cedar Creek ESR.
Click here, to see the entire Newsletter.
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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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