Bluebird Program
Bluebird monitors needed
Black River Audubon Society is looking for bluebird trail monitors for a trail in the Elyria/ Oberlin area. Mentoring and training provided. If interested please contact Penny Brandau at pennybrandau@gmail.com.
Audubon volunteers make it happen!
In the past 8 years the Black River Audubon Society bluebird program has grown as over 100 new nestboxes have been added to the 354 nestboxes present in 2012 to make our current count over 470 nestboxes. The number of trails has increased from 21 trails to 33 trails and the number of trail monitors has grown from 20 in 2012 to 50 volunteers this year! In 2012 the program fledged 365 bluebirds,104 house wrens, and 608 tree swallows.
Last year (in 2019) the totals on our trails and from private homeowners who reported to us had increased to fledging 721 bluebirds, 202 house wrens, 1212 tree swallows and 19 black capped chickadees.
It is a fluid and ever-changing program and we are always grateful for the many experienced and new volunteers that make it possible to run such a large bluebird program! There will always be room for more nestboxes, more volunteers, more ways to help! The data we collect and share each year continues to grow and be of benefit in the larger community of scientists and bluebird conservationists.
Get Involved!
Interested in bluebirds and participating in the Black River Audubon Bluebird program? There are many ways to help— such as, building boxes, monitoring trails and entering data. Click on the volunteer button to contact the program chair, Penny Brandau.
““The bluebird carries the sky on his back.””
In 2019, the Black River Audubon Bluebird Program fledged 721 bluebirds.
Black River Audubon Bluebird Newsletters
2021: Jan Mar May Jul Sept Nov Trail Year Report
2020: Jan Mar May Jul Sept Nov Trail Year Report
Other News and Articles
A Very Unusual Brood by Kate Brennan
House Sparrow Management by Paula Ziebarth
“Polar Vortex Events and How Do They Affect Bluebirds,” by Bernie Daniel, Ph.D.
Go Figure! Calculating your bluebird’s first egg date, hatch date and fledge date
Bluebird Resources for More Information
“Ring Nestbox Camera- A New Way of Looking at Nesting” by Penny Brandau
“The Beauty that is the Bluebird” in the Chronicle Telegram by Rob Swindell
"Calculating Bluebird's First Egg Date, Hatch Date, and Fledge Date" by Penny Brandau
"Feeding Bluebirds" by Penny Brandau
"Ticks" in the North American Bluebird Society journal, Spring 2018
"Research Review" in the North American Bluebird Society journal, Winter 2017-2018
"Bluebird Observation Feeder" in the North American Bluebird Society Journal, Winter 2017-2018
Photos by Penny Brandau