About our project
This project helps us learn more about local birds by gathering data about their nesting habits. We are especially interested in species that raise their young in tree cavities or nest boxes.
To learn more about these species we have now set up bluebird trails at four elementary schools and one retirement community. We also installed a nest box with live bird cam at one local middle school. As you can see, our project has several parts:
Birds for Thirds: Once or usually twice a week, teams of trained elementary students go out in their schoolyard with adult helpers to check on their boxes. Together they keep track of what they find on data sheets (example above). At the end of the season, they will compile the results and report their findings to the Virginia Bluebird Society (VBS). For weekly updates, please check each school's special page.
Thank you!
This project is the result of an ongoing partnership between our local public schools:
AND . . .
Boxerwood Nature Center: coordinates school programs and maintains this nest box website.
http://www.boxerwood.org
Kendal of Lexington: funded the Waddell/Boxerwood school programs 2014-15, including related activities that support the Birds for Thirds program. http://kalex.kendal.org
Rockbridge Bluebird Conservation Project: oversees all local initiatives related to bluebird trails and monitoring.
Rockbridge Bird Club and Rockbridge Master Naturalists: provides adult volunteer monitors to help with the project. http://www.rockbridgebirdclub.org
Sigma Nu Fraternity Headquarters: welcomed placement of two additional nest boxes on its site for use by neighbor, Central Elementary School.
Parks in the Classroom (Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation): supports education and monitoring efforts of district ranger Pete Hamel. http://brpfoundation.org/project/parks-classrooms-0
Virginia Society for Ornithology (VS0): provided 2015 and 2016 funding to expand the Birds for Thirds program and provide participating schools with nest-monitoring kits.
http://www.virginiabirds.net
Virginia Bluebird Society (VBS): provided nestcam equipment for three sites plus 2015 funding to create two school trails. http://www.virginiabluebirds.org
This project helps us learn more about local birds by gathering data about their nesting habits. We are especially interested in species that raise their young in tree cavities or nest boxes.
To learn more about these species we have now set up bluebird trails at four elementary schools and one retirement community. We also installed a nest box with live bird cam at one local middle school. As you can see, our project has several parts:
Birds for Thirds: Once or usually twice a week, teams of trained elementary students go out in their schoolyard with adult helpers to check on their boxes. Together they keep track of what they find on data sheets (example above). At the end of the season, they will compile the results and report their findings to the Virginia Bluebird Society (VBS). For weekly updates, please check each school's special page.
Thank you!
This project is the result of an ongoing partnership between our local public schools:
- Buena Vista City Public Schools: Enderly Heights ES
- Lexington City Schools: Waddell ES
- Rockbridge County Schools: Central ES, Natural Bridge ES, and Mountain View ES
AND . . .
Boxerwood Nature Center: coordinates school programs and maintains this nest box website.
http://www.boxerwood.org
Kendal of Lexington: funded the Waddell/Boxerwood school programs 2014-15, including related activities that support the Birds for Thirds program. http://kalex.kendal.org
Rockbridge Bluebird Conservation Project: oversees all local initiatives related to bluebird trails and monitoring.
Rockbridge Bird Club and Rockbridge Master Naturalists: provides adult volunteer monitors to help with the project. http://www.rockbridgebirdclub.org
Sigma Nu Fraternity Headquarters: welcomed placement of two additional nest boxes on its site for use by neighbor, Central Elementary School.
Parks in the Classroom (Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation): supports education and monitoring efforts of district ranger Pete Hamel. http://brpfoundation.org/project/parks-classrooms-0
Virginia Society for Ornithology (VS0): provided 2015 and 2016 funding to expand the Birds for Thirds program and provide participating schools with nest-monitoring kits.
http://www.virginiabirds.net
Virginia Bluebird Society (VBS): provided nestcam equipment for three sites plus 2015 funding to create two school trails. http://www.virginiabluebirds.org