The Friends of Moraine Hills State Park

Bluebird Program

Bluebird Workshop was held at Volo Bog State Natural Area Saturday, March 8, 2008    12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Bluebirds, those little thrushes related to the American Robin, have made a remarkable comeback, thanks mostly to the efforts of ...Us!  This workshop, led by Walt Sivertsen, head Bluebird Coordinator for Lake County, discussed the history of the bluebirds' plight and efforts to help it recover.  Participants learned how to build a box, monitor it for data collection and species selection (we don't want to raise the invasive and non-native House Sparrow!) and just for pure enjoyment. Whether you wanted to put up one box in your yard, a few at your local park or golf course (with permission of course) or join an established monitoring team at one of many sites throughout Lake or McHenry County, this workshop was for you.   Monitors were sought for Volo Bog State Natural Area and Moraine Hill State Park as well as other public sites. A free box went to first 25 registrants (one per family).  Ages 10 – adult were welcome. 

Walt Silvertsen instructing guests at Volo Bog Bluebird Monitoring Workshop

Photo by Fran Tritthardt Photo by Bob Vetter

Independent Bluebird Monitors

At Volo Bog State Natural Area we were inviting “independent bluebird monitors” (folks who maintain boxes on private property) to contribute data from McHenry County to a state-wide network of bluebird data. If you’d like to participate, just print and fill in the data form at the end of the nesting season (late summer) and send it to us at Volo Bog.

As you may know, several native birds may use your nest box(es) including bluebirds, tree swallows, house wrens, chickadees and nuthatches.

The non-native European house sparrow may also try to use your box(es) but they are aggressive and will even kill adult birds right in the box! As non-native species they are not protected and can (should) be controlled - see below.

The following web sites, along with the IDNR Bluebird Brochure, provide much information you should find useful in monitoring your box(es).

» Sialis
» Cornell Lab of Ornithology
» North American Bluebird Society

For more info on controlling house sparrows, go to:
» www.sialis.org/hosp.htm
» www.nabluebirdsociety.org/sparrowcontrol.htm

If you ever have any questions, we (at Volo Bog or “up the street” here in Deerpath) would be delighted to try to answer them. Please don’t hesitate to call. Good luck with your box(es)!

Stacy Iwanicki
Natural Resources Coordinator
Volo Bog State Natural Area
28478 W. Brandenburg Rd.
Ingleside, IL 60041
815-344-1294
dnr.volobog@illinois.gov
and
Moraine Hills State Park
1510 S. River Road
McHenry, IL 60051
815-385-1624


Happy Bluebirding!

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