Dick and the Bluebirds!

 Have you ever been tempted to peek inside a bluebird house? Well, as a member of the Bluebird Monitoring team, you can!  I learned all about nest monitoring recently, when I talked with Dick, the BRFAL chapter project leader. Dick knows a lot about bluebirds! 

When you see an old, rotting tree, and you’re thinking of cutting it down, think again. That rotted tree is the preferred nesting place for bluebirds and may already be the home to this pretty red breasted species and be filled with eggs or babies, March to August.

Spring is the time for next monitoring, when momma birds are laying and hatching their young. Volunteers keep tabs on their activities with weekly visits. Volunteers make notes on what they find and a report is sent to the Virginia Bluebird Society, the agency responsible for keeping up with the birds across the state. 

I asked Dick, “how are our Virginia bluebirds faring?”  The news is good! Last year, the population in our area was up 30%!  Way to go, bluebirds and all who protect them!

Are you interested? Most nests are easily accessed with a short walk from your car, so this is a good project for those who want to get out in nature, but aren’t up for a long hike. The commitment is once a week from March to August, and don’t worry, Dick will train you! Just shoot him an email at hendrixonthelake@yahoo.com to learn more.