In 2009, Virginia Master Naturalists installed twenty-five bluebird houses on the golf
course using grant money from the Virginia Bluebird Society for supplies. When you see the houses, you will notice that a baffle was installed under the house to prevent snakes from climbing up, and a wire cage encircles the opening to prevent raccoons and other predators from reaching into the opening from the rooftop. One of our members, Roger Temples, is a Master Naturalist and he continues to monitor the use of the boxes by bluebirds, discouraging their occupation by house sparrows, and cleaning out the boxes between nestings.
As a result of this effort, we have seen a significant increase in the bluebird population around Greene Hills. The Master Naturalists encourage you to enjoy watching the birds, but please do not disturb the boxes. For more information about the Virginia Master Naturalist program, visit their website:
http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/. If you would like to make your own birdhouses, plans for the birdhouses may be found at
www.virginiabluebirds.org/pages/new_box_grd.html.
Archives of the progress of this project in its first year - 2009
UPDATE FOR 2011 - From the Temples
In the twelve weeks since we first starting monitoring the trail this year, we have fledged 54 bluebirds, 19 chickadees, and 18 tree swallows for a total of 91 birds The tree swallows have been much more active this year, but they generally don't have but one nest a season, so we expect the bluebirds to move into those boxes as the tree swallows leave them. We have 24 bluebirds eggs in boxes currently.
UPDATE FOR 2010 - From the Temples
The Bluebird Trail at Greene Hills expanded this year to 30 boxes, up from 25 last year. We have had such a productive year, but there are three boxes that have never had boarders, so those will be moved next spring. However, in the other 27 boxes 112 bluebirds fledged, as compared to 66 last year. The interesting difference between the two years is that we had fewer of other species this year. None of the dreaded House Sparrows inhabited any of the boxes. We had only 10 Carolina Chickadee and 7 House Wren fledglings this year. We know we had 7 Tree Swallow fledglings, but we also know there were more than seven. In one of the boxes, the adults were so protective of the nest that we were never able to see how many eggs or young were in that box. We found one baby Tree Swallow on the cart path leading away from #16, which is below the box where they were raised. We put that baby bird back in a tree to give him protection until he was able to fly on his own. We are sure that golfers are aware of more bluebirds in the area than in previous years. Some of GHC's neighbors have commented on how many more baby birds they have seen around their homes. Thanks for all your watchful eyes and for supporting this worthwhile project.
