Bluebirders

In addition to Messages that have appeared in the Bluebird Mailing Lists on this topic, the following are on the Audubon Society of Omaha website: Pictures of Bluebirders

Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 22:51:41 -0500
From: "Jim McLochlin" bluebirdbox"at"cox.net
To: JPerkow"at"aol.com
Cc: "Dusty's Bluebird" bluebird"at"fsinc.com,"Bluebird-L" bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Subject: RE: The%20Bluebird%20Box

Ann,

Deep in the back of my mind that name is ringing a bell. Unfortunately nothing is coming through. I will forward your Message to the Bluebird Mailing Lists for further information and feedback.

It would help however if you could further identify the box as being similar to a NABS, Peterson, etc style box. In any case the list may respond directly or indirectly to you.

-----Original Message-----
From: JPerkow"at"aol.com [mailto:JPerkow"at"aol.com]
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 9:34 PM
To: bluebirdbox"at"cox.net
Subject: The%20Bluebird%20Box

 

Dear Sir:
Several years ago I ordered bluebird boxes with the name Herman Bressler engraved in the side. I work with elementary schools in Yorktown Heights, NY
that each have a bluebird trail. We must replace a few boxes and were hoping to order more of these. They must open in front or on the side. As I recall
they were approx. $15 or $16. Do you know how I would get more for this price?

Thank you.
Ann Perkowski

From: "Brenda Best" jabbest"at"americu.net
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 06:21:05 -0400
Subject: Re: [bluebird] The%20Bluebird%20Box
Reply-To: bluebird"at"fsinc.com

You can obtain Herm Bressler nestboxes from the New York State Bluebird Society. Visit their website http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2414/forsale.htm for the price and address.

Brenda

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim McLochlin" bluebirdbox"at"cox.net
To: JPerkow"at"aol.com
Cc: "Dusty's Bluebird" bluebird"at"fsinc.com; "Bluebird-L"
bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 11:51 PM
Subject: RE: The%20Bluebird%20Box

...

Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 06:21:05 -0400
From: "Brenda Best" jabbest"at"americu.net
To: bluebirdbox"at"cox.net, JPerkow"at"aol.com
Cc: "Dusty's Bluebird" bluebird"at"fsinc.com, "Bluebird-L" bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: The%20Bluebird%20Box

You can obtain Herm Bressler nestboxes from the New York State Bluebird Society. Visit their website http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2414/forsale.htm for the price and address.

Brenda

----- Original Message -----

From: "Jim McLochlin" bluebirdbox"at"cox.net
To: JPerkow"at"aol.com
Cc: "Dusty's Bluebird" bluebird"at"fsinc.com; "Bluebird-L"
bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 11:51 PM
Subject: RE: The%20Bluebird%20Box

Ann,

Deep in the back of my mind that name is ringing a bell. Unfortunately
nothing is coming through. I will forward your Message to the Bluebird
Mailing Lists for further information and feedback.

It would help however if you could further identify the box as being similar
to a NABS, Peterson, etc style box. In any case the list may respond
directly or indirectly to you.

-----Original Message-----
From: JPerkow"at"aol.com [mailto:JPerkow"at"aol.com]
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 9:34 PM
To: bluebirdbox"at"cox.net
Subject: The%20Bluebird%20Box


Dear Sir:
Several years ago I ordered bluebird boxes with the name Herman Bressler
engraved in the side. I work with elementary schools in Yorktown Heights,
NY
that each have a bluebird trail. We must replace a few boxes and were
hoping
to order more of these. They must open in front or on the side. As I recall
they were approx. $15 or $16. Do you know how I would get more for this
price?
Thank you.
Ann Perkowski

Date: Tue, 15 May 2001 09:23:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kerry Sweet ksweet3450"at"yahoo.com
To: Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Speaking of Wisdom & experience what are your Credentials?

This list has some of the most experienced ornithologists in the country and alot of us with ornithological interests. I would like to know just how much experience everyone does have. So give us your Credentials, how many years you have been Bluebirding and how many boxes you monitor.

I am new, I started in 1999 with one nest box in my backyard. This is my third summer and I now have 10 boxes spread over "at"80 acres.

Still learning.
Kerry in NE corner of Okla.

--- "Seward, Elizabeth D." Elizabeth.D.Seward2"at"usdoj.gov wrote:
I second Jane Hope's comments yesterday. Gary, we benefit
tremendously from your posts and are immensely grateful for your
input. You have so much experience to draw upon and wisdom to share
with us. Please don't depart.

Diane Seward
Potomac, MD

Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 12:50:31 -0500
From: "Mary Beth Roen" mbroen"at"hotmail.com
To: ksweet3450"at"yahoo.com, Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Speaking of Wisdom & experience what are your Credentials?

So give us your Credentials, how many years you have been Bluebirding and how many boxes you monitor.

Kerry; and all,

I put up my first nest box in 1989 but didn't start keeping records until 1993. I made many mistakes with my first boxes. There wasn't a great list like this for advice and experience. I now have 26 boxes around our 75 acre crop farm in Western Wisconsin. I have 6 active Eastern Bluebird nests at this time, one of which is in my back yard.

Mary Roen, River Falls, WI

Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 22:15:09 -0500
From: "Jim McLochlin" bluebirdbox"at"cox.net
To: "Bluebird-L" bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Subject: A walk on my nest box trail

I developed a new web page that I called "A walk on my nest box trail". I had been considering doing so for a number of years and recent Messages about credentials, experience, and trail information in general spurred me on get this done.

I included pictures of nest boxes, trail scenery, nests from my trail.

I also included some pictures from my lone nest box in my back yard and pictures of my back yard in general. There is even a picture of me (so you can see who you want to avoid at the NABS conference in June).

If you have a few moments take a stroll on my trail and through my back yard.

Jim McLochlin
Omaha, NE

The Audubon Society of Omaha = http://audubon-omaha.org/
The Bluebird Box = http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/index.htm
Omaha Web Solutions = http://www.omahawebsol.com

Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 22:16:39 -0500
From: "Jim McLochlin" bluebirdbox"at"cox.net
To: "Bluebird-L" bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Subject: FW: A walk on my nest box trail

I am so sorry, I meant to include the direct URL to the page which is: http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/walkmytrail.htm

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim McLochlin [mailto:bluebirdbox"at"cox.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 10:15 PM
To: Bluebird-L
Subject: A walk on my nest box trail

...

Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 13:38:57 -0400
From: "Bruce Burdett" blueburd"at"srnet.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Cc: WLInst"at"yahoogroups.com
Subject: Advancing Years.

To: Dick, Harry, Tom, et al ..................
Doubt has been expressed by a few cynical people on these lists that I am as old a bluebirder as I claim to be. To view a picture of me at age 21 in 1944, go to 'Google', enter 'Bruce Burdett,' and scroll to 'Bigonville: 1944-45.' and doubt me no more.

Bruce Burdett, NH Bluebird Conspiracy, Sunapee NH
blueburd"at"srnet.com
Note: The Sakonnet 'Times' Editor named Bruce Burdett is not I; it is our eldest son.

Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 22:36:00 -0000
   From: "jenniferswi" jhoffman"at"sal.wisc.edu
Subject: Introductions!

Okay, things have been a little slow here lately, so I thought we might liven it up a bit by introducing ourselves to each other.  Let us know who you are, where you live, how long you've been bluebirding, how many boxes you have, and anything else you want to share.  It'll be a fun way to get to know other forum folks before the nesting season starts.

Since I started the group, I'll go first:  My name is Jennifer, and I live in southern Wisconsin, about 10 miles west of Madison in rural Cross Plains.  I'm a graduate student in astronomy at UW-Madison, and I manage the local observatory -- which means I also get to live there!  The building is situated in a large cleared area on top of a hill; we have a nice big lawn surrounded by a long-grass meadow surrounded by woods, which makes for a very diverse habitat for lots of different birds.  There are just enough trees scattered around to make it the perfect spot for bluebird boxes!  When I moved in 3 years ago, I saw bluebirds in the yard, found ready-made boxes in the basement, and was immediately hooked.  I had one box the first year,  two the second, and three the third.  Next summer I may try make a bigger leap and try for a real trail!  I'm lucky enough not to have much trouble with house sparrows or blowflies, but we have had awful blackfly infestations the last two years.  Here's hoping next year won't be so bad.

Your turn!  Who else is out there?

Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2002 02:50:45 -0000
   From: "ruby_tuesday_se_wi" ruby-tuesday"at"wi.rr.com
Subject: Introductions

Hi there. My name is Renee and I live in Southeastern Wisconsin about 35 miles from the Illinois border town of Richmond.  I'm a retired RN who has moved away from the big city to a wonderful rural setting. This will be my second year actively birding.  I had my very first EABL pair arrive late last summer and they sucessfully fledged 4 adorable little ones. What a priviledged event that was!!!  Well..I guess I don't have to tell any of you folks just how gratifying it was to witness each stage from nest-building to fledging.  I became so totally obsessed with 'my' blue bird family last summer that my own family began to wonder if "I really lost it"! (I did) LOL   This year I will have 5 blue bird boxes set up on 3.5 acres.  I am looking forward to meeting all the members of this forum in the coming months as I have so much to learn. Hopefully, and with a little help, I will be able to contribute even more to the EABL population this coming season.

Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2002 08:01:20 -0600
   From: "Dan McCue" dmccue"at"usit.net
Subject: Re: Introductions

Welcome Renee - I'm Dan McCue in west TN. I too, am retired as an engineer for Essex Wire in Ohio. Been Bluebirding for about 10 years. Enjoy it as you do. Presently have a 154 box trail throughout Benton County. In north central Ohio the Blues stayed for the winter but spent alot of time in the
woods where they had protection from the elements. Yours probably do to, unless they can't get in when it is real cold. Bluebirds are smart and will retreat to nest boxes in numbers when the weather is real cold. Also, I keep suet out for them the year round. I have a two hole Bluebird feeder bought from Lowe's and probably you have up there, too. You have to condition your Blues to use the feeder and if you are interested in getting one, let me know and I will, privately, tell you how to do that. In the summer time, my Blues will come and eat mealworms from the palm of my hand. I sent this email privately to you and many of the more experienced Bluebirders on the list are not interested in newbies but that is how we all got started and I will try and help them to get started enjoying the Blues as I do. We started a club here in Benton County that is affliated with the North American Bluebird Society, Inc. in Darlington, WI. I can give you all the info on this as they have a large website. My entire trail is listed on the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail and I keep it updated during the Bluebird season.

There is so much to tell, but I need to know what you are interested in and then I will respond with my experiences and you can then make a judgement as to how you do your private trail and/or interest.

Please respond back and I can advise you on good Bluebird books, etc. that can also aid you in your hobby endeavors.

Dan McCue in Camden, TN. 75 miles due west of Nashville on the Tennessee River in West TN.
Member of NABS, TN Audabon Society.
President of Benton County Bluebird Society
of TN, Inc.,1st V.P Tennessee Bluebird Trails, Inc.
Lat: 36:03:44.870N   Lon: 88:06:31.126W
----- Original Message -----
From: "ruby_tuesday_se_wi" ruby-tuesday"at"wi.rr.com
To: blWuebirdtrail"at"yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 8:50 PM
Subject: [bluebirdtrail] Introductions

...

Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2002 15:15:39 -0500
   From: Maynard R Sumner m-r-sumner"at"juno.com
Subject: Re: Introductions

Hi All,

My name is Maynard Sumner and live near Flint, Michigan. I am retired from GMSPO.

I have been Bluebirding 4 years. Presently I have 55 boxes and will be sating up more soon. Most of them are in For-Mar Nature Preserve in Genesee County. I have Bluebirds who stay year around. I keep boxes up for them in the winter time, but most of the time the Bluebirds stay in the woods. I started the Michigan Bluebird Society. We had a informational meeting this past fall and a number of Bluebirders said they would like to have a Bluebird Society. We will have first big meeting April 6, 2002 at Jackson, Michigan. If you do not have your copy of the new Bluebird Monitor's Guide you should pick one up at the store.

Maynard Sumner
Flint, MI
43.075046 N  -083.607782 W
Elev. 630  Zone 5

NABS  MBS  GAS  OBS  OBC  NAHC  NAFC

 

Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Galatians 6:7

Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2002 03:53:44 -0000
   From: "lfbenny" DruckB"at"aol.com
Subject: Introductions

Hi folks, my name is Benn, I live in Dallastown ,PA.  About 45 miles north of Baltimore. I work as an Occupational Therapist, primarily working with patients with hand injuries. I am pretty new to bluebirds. This will be my fourth year with nestboxes counting the first year when I wouldn't have thought of opening the box with a nest in it.  Each year I add a few more boxes, last year I kept after 12 and fledged 48 Bluebirds and thirty-some Tree Swallows. I have the lumber to build a few more boxes this weekend. I have learned a ton of information from experienced people in these forums. My advice is to ask as many question as you like, there are no "dumb ones". We were all beginners at one time. Everyone has their own unique experiences and stories to tell. Nature does some pretty interesting things and sometimes fools us all. There are some great Bluebirding books out there that can be very helpful as well. Cheers!

Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2002 10:12:19 -0600
From: "Mary Beth Roen" mbroen"at"hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Introductions!

Hi everyone!
I'm Mary Roen and I live in Western Wisconsin. I have been Bluebirding since 1989 when I put up my first nest box on a tree in a wooded area! Unbelievably, I did get a pair of EABL to nest in it, but as expected, they were overtaken by house wrens. If only I had had a list like this when I started, I could have prevented a lot of lost nests and eggs! I have learned so much from the people on the list.

I have a trail of 26 boxes around our 75 acres of farmland. Last year I fledged 53 Eastern Bluebirds, 60 Tree Swallows, and 11 House Wrens. Fortunately, I have had no House Sparrow problems, as there are plenty of  farms around that spill grain for them. All of my boxes (NABS, Van Ernt and Gilbertson) are mounted on posts with stovepipe guards on them. Prior to the guards, I lost many nests to raccoons. Since the guards were put on, I have lost none.

I do feed mealworms in the spring and summer to my Bluebirds. They recognize me when I come with their treats. It is so rewardng to see that flash of  blue! Like so many people have said, the first time I had eggs hatch, and babies fledge, I was hooked.

By the way, I saw a Robin in our yard yesterday. I also had one on my December feederwatch count, so it could be that it wintered here, due to the mild winter. If so, this is the first time I have this happen in my yard!

P.S. I think it is a great idea to have introductions from the people on the list. It is fun to hear about everyones trails and backgrounds in Bluebirding!

Okay, things have been a little slow here lately, so I thought we might
liven it up a bit by introducing ourselves to each other. Let us know
who you are, where you live, how long you've been bluebirding, how many
boxes you have, and anything else you want to share. It'll be a fun
way to get to know other forum folks before the nesting season starts.

Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2002 16:16:12 -0500
From: "Alice Bengel" abengel"at"atl.mediaone.net
Subject: Another Introduction

I live in the Atlanta area, in the suburbs. We bought our first house here five years ago. This was a big change for me, because I was raised on 130 acres in West Virginia. To compensate, I've worked hard at turning our yard into a wildlife-friendly place. (It is certified by both NWF and Windstar Wildlife Institute.) I put up my bluebird box (one that my mother helped me put together from a kit) three years ago, and within a couple of days, a pair of EABL had found it and set up housekeeping. I couldn't believe it was that easy. Talk about being hooked!

I had a problem with ants last year -- they invaded the box after the nest had been build, but before the eggs hatched. While I was trying to figure out what to do, the parents abandoned the nest. I built a contraption that I think will keep the ants at bay in the future, so everybody cross your fingers for me this year!

Alice in Atlanta

From:  indigohi"at"n...
Date:  Sun Jan 27, 2002  9:28 am
Subject:  introduction

Hi all,
My name is Gina Bennefield. I live in Hanceville, Ala. I do not only feed the blue birds but I enjoy this group for I have learned more about them. I do have a bluebird feeder and have bluebird houses. I hope that it is ok to to a member of the group even though I do feed all birds in my backyard. There is at least one family of bluebirds that stay around and come to the suet log. I was really suprised that they will eat right along side the other birds, even with the starlings that can be very intimadating. During the summer I was truly suprised to see the bluebirds bring their babies to the suet log. It was a beatiful sight. And my gift for New Year morning was 2 females and a male at the suet log. First birds of the year. During the summer the bluebirds mostly hang out on the powerlines next to the house dropping down to get a worm they have sited. My yard must have really good worms. I have really enjoyed reading everyone's emails and am learning more about the bluebirds.
Thank you, Gina
--

From:  "Jim McLochlin" bluebirdbox"at"c...
Date:  Sun Jan 27, 2002  12:59 pm
Subject:  Introduction

Hi,

This is a great idea and I want to join in.

I live in Omaha, NE and my current trail consists of 15 boxes is located in a city park. Probably my best work with bluebirds is the development and continued maintenance of my bluebird web site (The Bluebird Box - see the URL in my signature), which does include information about the Minnesota Bluebird Recovery Program (BBRP).

I have been bluebirding about 15 years now and have done so on a variety of trails around the Omaha area. I am semi-active in Bluebirds Across Nebraska (BAN) and NABS. I practice passive bluebirding, by that I mean I don't trap/kill house sparrows. My primary resource is the use of
Gilbertson style PVC boxes to resist house sparrows. I also have NABS and Peterson boxes on my trail.

I have two articles on my site which further discuss my trail (see - http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/walkmytrail.htm ) and my form of passive
bluebirding (see - http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/passive_bluebirder.htm ).

Jim McLochlin
Omaha, NE
41.279N -96.060W

The Audubon Society of Omaha = http://audubon-omaha.org/
The Bluebird Box = http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/index.htm
Omaha Web Solutions = http://www.omahawebsol.com

From:  "enjr7" enjr7"at"h...
Date:  Sat Jan 26, 2002  11:52 am
Subject:  Re: Introductions!

--- In bluebirdtrail"at"y..., "jenniferswi" jhoffman"at"s... wrote:
Okay, things have been a little slow here lately, so I thought we
might liven it up a bit by introducing ourselves to each other.

Greetings Jennifer and Forum Friends,

Just checked in after not visiting for awhile. Been pretty busy.
Anyway...

My name is Ed Nied Jr. and I'm from Southampton Mazzzchusetts. I work as a lapper in machine shop. Lapping is close tolerance work done by hand. Most jobs are typically getting each part straight and round within 20 millions of an inch (.000020) with diametrical clearances of mating parts .0001 or less. Kind of tedious so I like to enjoy nature as much as I can to relax.

My interest began in 1989, when I spotted a pair of bluebirds while out walking the dog and noticed there were very few (if any) suitable nesting sites for them locally. After some research, I assembled twenty nesting boxes during the winter and was absolutely thrilled to have three nesting pairs my first year (1990)!

In spring I'm involved with amphibian surveys and also monitor turtle nesting sites so my friend Al LaRose helps me monitor the 30 to 35 nesting boxes we put out now. In years past I have initiated other areas for nesting where local people have been happy to take over the monitoring duties.

Wanting to share my experiences, I created a web page entitled "Attracting Eastern Bluebirds" a few years back which can be found at: http://members.tripod.com/~herper/index-3.html (sorry, can't seem to insert links on this forum). I also maintain a web site for the Mazzzchusetts Bluebird Association which can be found at: http://herper.tripod.com/mbahome.html

Looking forward to the upcoming busy season and wish you all the best of luck in attracting your bluebirds.

Ed

Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 17:11:29 -0000
From: "jj2939730" jjsmith"at"traceroad.net
Subject: INTRODUCTION

Hello to All,
My name is Jeanette Smith and I live in northeast Mississippi about 25 miles from the birthplace of Elvis Pressley.My husband and I are retired and will have been married for 53 years this April!!

We put our first Bluebird house up in 1966 when my daughter came inside and told me she saw a beautiful blue bird sitting on a fence in our backyard.My husband built a birdhouse and we imediately had a nest. I have monitored and (Helped) with raising many little ones since then.I did not have access to a lot of information about them until last year when I found the Bluebird Forum. There I found some valuable information from Jennifer, Malinda and lots of others.We live in the country on a farm with a big back yard and several acres of pastureland surrounding our home. This was my Father-in-laws dairy farm.

We have seven nest boxes up(my husband replaced several with new boxes this winter)and am looking forward to a rewarding year. I have started feeding mealworms again just recently and have at least eight Bluebirds eating at different times.We have seen that many, but sometimes only four come to the feeder.I have noticed a little difference and wonder if they are beginning to pair off.We had two tree cavity nest of Bluebirds last year. This was our first that we had noticed.

I hope that all of you have a GREAT year and much success!!!Jeanette

Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 02:03:01 -0000
From: "putputput29212" kputnam"at"sc.rr.com
Subject: Introductions

Okay, so I need to learn to read.

My name is Kim Putnam. I live in Columbia, SC. I just put up my first bluebird house. Two of my neighbors have also put up houses. So we have our own little blue bird trail.

I have had my first sigting in my house. Today a male and female acutally went in my house. Stayed a while and went on their way. They did come back 2 more times over the am.

I am real new to birds, and bluebirds....I came from the northeast and had never seen one before. So I was excited, and somewhat beside my selft when they actually went in.

I hope to have them nest here, but just having them visit has made my year.

putut

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2002 18:40:51 -0800 (PST)
From: Koby Prater kobyp_2004"at"yahoo.com
Subject: Isn't life great...
To: bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)

Hello all,
  Even with the short cold spell life is wonderful. As many of you know I am only 16 years old, but life is great.  I can't wait til Saturday when I get to revisit my trail for the first time since April 22, 2001.  It may be in bad shape, but I am willing to take on the challenge to help those beautiful amazing Eastern Blues.  Just to let a few of the curious folks out there know a little bit more about myself, here I go.  I attend Seneca High School in Seneca, MO pop. 2,135, I am 1 of the 7 people in my class of 142 people competing to be valedictorian, I am a member of the Seneca Church of Christ and am very active in the youth group, I play football and run track, I am the top distance runner on the track team, and I do have a girlfriend.  Some of you probably thought I was some odd teenager, like many of the teenagers.  The Blues are fighting each other for territory and routinely stop by my yard nestbox every hour or so.  I do have starlings and sparrows around now, and as soon as they move onto my property they will be done away with, humanely.  Life is wonderful and I am so blessed to be here and with the family and friends I have.  I can't wait til spring arrives along with many more blessings.  I love you all, and I'll talk to you later.

Koby Prater
Seneca, MO

Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 16:21:14 -0400
From: Haleya Priest mablue"at"gis.net
To: blueburd"at"srnet.com
CC: " (BLUEBIRD-L)" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Fw: any blues within 60 miles of Boston???

Haleya Priest Amherst MA
Dear Bruce et al - you mentioned Lillian Lund Files. She is well and alive and still bluebirding in Southeastern MA. I mention her to the group because she was one of the first NABS presidents.

This woman has been bluebirding for 50 odd years! She's done about 600 bluebird slide shows and is still going strong! If I don't call her by 7:00 a.m. in the morning I will have missed her - as she is out and about after that...... This woman has more bluebird stories than you can imagine. When she first heard about bluebirding many many years ago, she went home and made over 100 boxes! Her house is a virtual bluebird museum with as many bluebird paintings trinkets, etc that you could imagine.

It could be true that most bluebirds that we are currently monitoring here in New England are related to Lillian Lund Files.

There are some on the list who will remember her and I am sure she'd love to hear from you: Lillian Lund Files 106 Scribner Hill Tyngsboro, MA 01879

Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 19:53:15 -0500
Subject: Who the heck am I?
From: Edward Caliguri caliguri"at"ma.ultranet.com
To: BLUEBIRD BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu

 

-- Hi all!!

I'm Ed - and yes - a scientist. A neuroscience professor (nerd I guess!!) I'm up in the Northeast (Eastern MA). I find all these trigger mechanisms very fascinating. I've done or been involved with studies of the neurotransmitter serotonin and the neurohormone melatonin, the one that regulated our day/night cycles - and maybe a whole lot more in us and in animals! I've worked with Voles , pigeons and other animals to see just how this hormone changes their functional mode during the seasons. Some are easy to see; some hares turn white in winter - melatonin triggers that. Birds will only start to lay when melatonin levels drop to a certain level (species dependent) when gonadal atrophy in both sexes cease. It's very important in amphibians and reptiles as well. Global changes may (hope NOT!) alter behavior in the future. Protein intake naturally helps laying and raising a brood. I think (from what I've heard and read) that offering mealworms will help - much! I am not certain, and I will check, that a 'sprinkle' or dusting of calcium carbonate in SMALL amounts may also help. Don't try it until it's researched!! It helps reptiles breed in captivity, but I have not yet checked birds. They may get all they need from crop contents.

You can quote me all you like Haleya! Since you are in MA (I'm in Weston) we can correspond via my off-list address (I can even call you - are you doing a study?)

Also, this is my first go-round with bluebirds. I haven't had a yard big enough to do this until now - and it's fun. You all are awesome dedicated folks whom I admire greatly, and look forward to your much needed help! Science after all, is collecting data and interpreting it. You all are data collectors, whether you know it or not - and good ones at that!

Glad to be here!
Ed

From: "Bruce Burdett" blueburd"at"tds.net
To: WLInst"at"yahoogroups.com, "BLUEBIRD-L" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu,
loonlark"at"yahoogroups.com
Subject: Tyngsboro cluster
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 13:23:44 -0500

Ellin Anderson, et al,
If you are seeing large numbers of Bluebirds in the Newburyport area, that is to say, northeastern Mazzzchusetts, my guess is that it's the work of one of bluebirding's most tireless and knowledgeable ladies, Lillian Files, of Tyngsboro.

She's been doing this for many, many years, and she's maintained and monitored hundreds of houses. She's spoken hundreds of times to thousands of people, and spread the word in every way she knew how. I believe she's a past President of NABS, also.

Lillian proved that one person can make a difference, and the difference she made is monumental.

Bruce Burdett, SW NH

From: judymellin
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2003 9:39 PM
Subject: Fw: IBET USFWS "Birding in US" Data

I thought some folks might find this interesting. This is a link to the full article: http://library.fws.gov/nat_survey2001_birding.pdf ...

I found this posted on the WI listserve concerning the USFWS report of "Birding  in the US:"  
 

Subject: USFWS report on birders, who we are 
From: Jim Williams  
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 10:27:32 -0800  

The following is from Carrol Henderson, supervisor of the non-game  department of the Minnesota DNR. (For those of you who live outside  Minnesota, there is some information here pertinent only to Minnesota since  the report was summarized for that audience. I believe individual  state information can be found on the web presentation of the report.  And, of course, some of the summaries are for the country at large.  JJW)  

From: "Carrol Henderson"  Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 09:46:50 -0600   The US Fish and Wildlife Service has just issued a new Report (2001-1)  called Birding in the United States, A Demographic and Economic  Analysis. It is an Addendum to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing,  Hunting, and Wildlife-Association Recreation.   There are some relevant and significant statistics in the report about  the economic benefits of birding/widlife watching. The survey results  are based on 15,300 wildlife-watching interviews nationwide (response  rate 90%) for U.S. residents 16 years and older.

Among the results:  

1. There are 46 million "birders" in the US, (40 million backyard  birders; 18 million travel to see birds)  

2. The average birder is 49 years old, and a majority (54%) are  females.  

3. The average percent of people in the population who "bird" is 22%,  but Minnesota's rate ranks fourth in the nation at 36%. Only Montana  (44%), Vermont (43%), and Wisconsin (41%) have higher rates.  

4. The highest participation rates for birding were among people with four  years or more of college (26 to 33%)  

5. The highest participation rates for birding were among people who  earned $75,000 or more per year (27%).  

6. Metropolitan areas had more total birders, but a lower overall  participation rate (18%).  

7. Minnesota was estimated to have a total of 1,471,000 birders. Of  that total, 90% were residents and 10% were visiting Minnesota to view  the birds.  

8. 88% of all birders watch birds from their homes.  

9. 40% of birders travel more than a mile from their homes to see  birds.  

10. The most sought-after kinds of birds were  a. Waterfowl (78% of all birders)  b. Songbirds (70%)  c. Birds of prey (68%)  d. Shorebirds/herons (56%)  e. Other birds like pheasants and turkeys (43%).  

11. Avidity: 74% of the birders could identify 1-20 bird species; 13%  could identify 21-40 species; 8% could identify 41 or more species;  and 5% of all birders kept life lists.  

12. Expenditures: Birders spent $32 billion in retail sales  nationwide in 2001 to enjoy their hobby. This includes bird feeding,  photography, and birding/wildlife watching. (Optics sales-$471.3  million;  Cameras- $1.43 billion; film-$837.9 million; Bird food $2.24 billion!; Nest  boxes, feeders & bird baths-$628 million; and $640 million for  wildlife plantings).  

13. This expenditure resulted in $85 billion in overall economic  output.  

14. A total of $13 billion was spent in state and federal taxes for  items purchased for birding ($4.89 billion in state taxes and $7.70  billion in federal taxes.  

15. The birding industry resulted in the creation of 863,406 jobs in  2001.  

16. The net economic value of a birder for a resident state is $257  per year ($35 per day). For MN, this equates to $257 x 1,323,900  resident birders = $340,242,300 per year.  

17. The net economic value of a birder who comes from another state to  bird in MN is $488 per year ($124 per day). For MN, this equates to  a value of $488 x 147,100= $71,784,800.  

18. The grand total for economic value of retail sales/direct economic  impact in MN is $412,027,100 per year, based on 2001 sales.  

19. Overall economic impact: If you multiply the $412 million in  sales by the overall economic impact multiplication factor (2.65625),  you get a total economic benefit in MN of $1.09 billion overall  economic output  per year.   MY OPINION ADDED HERE  

20. The bottom line: there is a lot more to the Minnesota outdoor  recreation scene than has been previously recognized or acknowledged.  Hunting, fishing, golf, boating, visiting casinos and viewing fall  colors have long been and continue to be important staples for  the recreation and tourism industry. Birders and wildlife watchers represent  an often-overlooked but well-educated and relatively affluent group of  stakeholders and natural resource users. They help diversify the  economic base of rural and urban communities and are important allies  in the conservation community to help support natural resource and  wildlife conservation initiatives.    

Take Care.   Jed Hertz  Kankakee, IL (Kankakee County)  Email: jhh_60910"at"yahoo.com  Photos: http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jhh_60910/lst?.dir=/&.src=ph&.done=h ttp%3a//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/&.view=t

From: Lawrence Herbert
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2003 5:17 PM
Subject: famous birders

Kathy, and Bluebird L. Another famous birder, unless I'm mistaken, is former President, Jimmie Carter. Good birding, Larry H. Joplin MO.

From: MJShearer, eshearer"at"comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 8:23 PM
Subject: Re: Sad News

.... I do apologize about the unavoidable delay in passing along this information, but due to some kind of e-mail sanfu, I received this notice of Bill's death (which includes his address) tonight after I had posted to the List.

It is with the deepest regret that I must inform you of the passing of our very dear friend, Bill Darnell this morning, January 9. 2004. I know you will keep Bill, his wife, Linda and their family in your thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time. Cards may be sent to Linda and family at: 4560 Clifton Road P.O. Box 516 Savannah, TN 38372

MJ

From: Keith & Sandy Kridler, txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 8:53 AM
Subject: Re: Sad News

Bill loved his birds and bluebirds but he was so passionate about his Purple Martins....Like so many others on this list he regularly kept in touch off list and shared so much information on his beloved Purple Martins. I will miss him and I know his birds will to. We need to share our knowledge whenever we get the chance just like Bill always did.

Keith Kridler

Does anyone know what happened to Haleya Priest???? She was such a wonderful help to my husband and I when we first really got into bluebirds last year. I haven't seen her post in quite some time now.

Tina...this is the last link I saw of Haleya.

Wendell

http://www.haleyapriest.com/index.hatb

Tina Wertz, et al,
I exchanged a few Messages with Haleya not too long
ago. (She's the only Haleya I know.) She's fine. She had had to curtail her
Bluebird activities somewhat because of some new demands on her time, so she
has had to be less communicative with her many Bluebirding friends.
Even if she decided to give up the Bluebird thing
completely, - which I doubt, - her contributions have had a marked and
permanent impact on Bluebirding in general. We're all in her debt.
I see that Wendell has provided a link for us, in
case anyone wants to say hello.

Bruce Burdett

From: Jennabirds"at"aol.com
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 8:28 AM
Subject: Dave

It is with great sadness that I must send all of you this e-mail. David was recently diagnosed with a lung disease and on Thursday, August 25th he lost that battle. He was very brave and fought with every thing he had and the doctors did every thing they could. He ended up on a venelator about a week ago and his lungs just got progressively worse and was unable to take in any oxygen on his own so he is at peace now and no longer in any pain. Thank you all for your prayers and kind thoughts over the last year David loved all of you and will be missed.

Sandy

From: KCBSP"at"aol.com [mailto:KCBSP"at"aol.com]
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 7:13 PM
Subject: Re: DAVID MAGNESS

Kathy Clark, New Cumberland, PA

Oh I am so sad and shocked at this news. I thought Dave was going to beat it all. Dave was just the best and it is going to be very strange without his presence. This just cuts like a knife. I am so sad and in shock!

Dave was a great friend to me. My heart goes out to Sandy and the kids. I am still in shock and have trouble expressing myself.

I met Dave in 1998 through our bluebird society in PA. He wrote a letter which Diane Barbin passed on to me and he helped our society always. He would donate things to our conferences and he was there from day #1. Dave always helped others. He was smart, kind, and he had alot of wonderful qualities. Dave always had a booth at our conferences except for last year when he was diagnosed. Dave had such great ideas and worked so hard at them. Most of all he loved bluebirding and his family and his wife, Sandy. He was very proud of Sandy and the children. He was very happy to help Fawzi start a club in their area.. That is a real team I think!!!

I haven't seen Dave since his illness, but I did write him and would IM him on AOL even if he didnt answer me. I am really going to miss Dave. My heart is sad.

God bless you Dave. I for one will always miss you. It just won't be the same without you.

Kathy Clark, New Cumberland, PA

From: Sharon Peregrine Johnson [mailto:sharonpj"at"swbell.net]
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 12:12 AM
Subject: Re: DAVID MAGNESS

It saddens me to hear this news. David was such a wonderful person, and very kind to me when I started bluebirding. He will be missed.

Sharon in Waco, Texas

Two years ago, I received a call from a man that owns Genie's Backyard Bird Cottage in Slidell, LA. He said David Magness had just left his business and he had told him about LBBS and the man wanted to join. The owner has a small business membership with LBBS and is sending members our way.

David donated 75 nestbox kits to our organization that year too. I never got to meet him in person, but we talked on the phone and e-mailed.

Our bluebirding community has suffered a great loss. I feel a great sadness.
Our prayers are with his wife and his family.

Evelyn Cooper, President
Delhi, LA
Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society

http://obit.harkinsfuneralhome.com/obit_display.cgi?id=248339&listing=Current

DAVID A. MAGNESS, age 42 years, of Whiteford, Maryland died on Thursday, August 25, 2005 at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He had been the husband of Sandy D. (Mink) Magness for over seventeen years.

Mr. Magness was born on May 18, 1963 in Baltimore, Maryland; a son of Reed and Barbara S. (Swain) Magness of Fallston, Maryland.

David was a member of Slateville Presbyterian Church where he had served as a trustee. He owned and operated the Jennabird Company from his home so he could spend more time with his son and daughter. He was an avid outdoorsman and environmentalist and was well known for his knowledge of the Eastern Bluebird. David was a volunteer and educator at Eden Mill Nature Center. He was member and on the board of directors of the Maryland Bluebird Society and the North American Bluebird Society.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by:

Two children-
Philip D. Magness and Jenna E. Magness, both at home

Two brothers-
Charles Magness, Jr. and his wife, Angelica of Crownsville, Maryland
Mark Magness of Blakeslee, Pennsylvania

One sister-
Kate Young and her husband, Ed of Jarrettsville, Maryland

Three nephews-
Brad Young and Bryan Young, both of Jarettsville, Maryland
Sean Magness of Crownsville, Maryland

Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 11:00 AM at Slateville Presbyterian Church, 308 Slateville Road, Delta, Pennsylvania with his minister, Pastor Jack Craft officiating.

Interment will be in the adjoining church cemetery.

Visitations with the family will be held on Sunday, August 28, 2005 from 2-4 PM and
from 7-9 PM at Harkins Funeral Home, 600 Main Street, Delta, Pennsylvania.

Memorial contributions may be made to the following:

The Philip & Jenna Magness Trust, C/O Lisa K. Getz, Esquire, Getz Law Offices, 26 S. Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014

Or

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 8600 Lasalle Road, Chester Building, Suite #314, Towson, MD 21286

From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 8:55 AM
Subject: Re: David Magness Obiturary & Phot

David was totally dedicated to making this world a better place for God's creatures. He did this by tirelessly working to educate anyone who was interested in improving their backyard habitat or expanding their habitat into their neighbors backyard:-) He exuded energy at every NABS meeting working late hours at his booth and never leaving until he had answered the last question of the last person in line. He inspired everyone he made contact with to do more to help his beloved bluebirds! He inspired them to go beyond the bluebirds and help other species in need!

His product line of nestboxes, traps, feeders and accessories for helping the birds was top of the line equipment and hardware! He took the best of what was offered 20 years ago and improved it and then found the best craftsmen to build it to the highest standards. He created many of the final design features of these products and shared them so that many other builders and backyard hobbyists today are using his best ideas.

With David it was ALWAYS about helping and teaching others the very BEST ways to help people help creatures in dire need. I often saw him sell his products at or below cost if it was going to help save a single bird or help someone get started on the road to better monitoring with better equipment. David felt that doing what he believed needed to be done and helping other people was more important than making money by selling an inferior cheaply made product. Like all of us I am sure that he felt he had MANY more years to do the less important stuff like actually create a financial cushion for himself and his family that he was so devoted to.

I have found that bluebirders as a whole are the most giving, loving, sensitive and caring segment of the human population in America. Of all of the environmental groups, bluebirders are the most proactive group as nearly 100% of them actually go out and help their target species themselves instead of just writing a check once a year and sending it to a distant mailbox. David was one of a handful of the extra special bluebirders who spent the majority of their waking hours making this world a better place for cavity nesters and the rest of us humans to enjoy.

If you never met or talked with David then I am sorry but I can find no words to adequately describe him or explain to you this unique man. I am so sorry that you will never have the chance this side of heaven to met him or to visit with him again. I hope that someday his family will find Peace in the depths of their hearts and that the Joy David gave to so many over so many years will be returned to them in the coming years. Keith Kridler

Chuck Jensen
It's always interesting to see postings from the list participants, but sometimes postings are geography dependent. Frappr provides a free mapping service that allows you to enter your locale, a photo and a short message, if you like. The link is:
http://www.frappr.com/bluebirdsforever. So, add yourself and bookmark it or put it in your Favorites. Then, you'll be able to connect the names and locations of the list participants.

Chuck

I came across your message/website this morning. Unfortunately, Dr. Brunell passed away last night after a long illness. Thought you may want to know.
She will certainly be missed by all who knew her. Keep up the wonderful work with the birds.

I just received this news. How sad. She was a wonderful lady and she helped
many bluebirds and bluebirders.

Evelyn Cooper
Delhi, LA

This is sad news. Dr. Brunell was a lovely lady, and I felt privileged to know her.

This makes me even more thankful that LBBS made the effort to go down to Hodges Gardens and re-hab the trail that Dr. Brunell started there many years ago. I'm thankful that her health allowed her to make one last trip down to see the results of our labor, and to have her picture made beside the sign we erected at the start of the trail. She was so pleased by all that we had done.

Both the Bluebirding world and the World-at-large have lost a wonderful, gracious lady.

Sheryl Bassi
Leland, MS
Sec/Treas., Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society

She grew up in New Mexico, drifted off to California when she was old enough for some of her schooling. She was an accomplished musician and was "Queen for a Day" on the TV show that some of you will remember.

She made a decision to help people and went back to school to become a clinical psychologist and spent the last half of her life in this field specializing with helping abused children and battered spouses.

At some point while living in Texarkana Arkansas someone gave her a bluebird house as a gift. Of course bluebirds moved right in and she fell in love with them and they with her. She found that some severely traumatized children could not connect with humans or her but they could connect once again with the bluebirds and other animals that she attracted to her woodland clinic/office.

Bluebirds became a standard part of her therapy. You just had to learn to love these kind and gentle birds if you were going to be around Doc Shirl.
If you had good habitat you were probably going to install a couple of nestboxes at home whether you wanted to or not!

Living on the out skirts of a fairly large city that was rapidly growing it was bound to happen that her bluebird family would be attacked and violated by a House Sparrow. Most bluebirders know Dr. Shirl from this event as it forced her to adopt the orphaned baby bluebirds and she had to learn how to become a "Mama" bluebird in just 10 minutes because that is how long it takes a baby bird from being well fed and happy to starved and screaming for food!

She could have been a professional photographer had she wanted to and as the minutes turned into hours and hours into days raising these baby birds she naturally took photos of "her" babies. Then she began taking notes and recording the learning curve and development of these birds. It ended up turning into a book. Not just any book but really describes why so many of us have become involved and stay involved with these birds for an entire lifetime!

This was back when birding, especially bluebirding was not all that cool and publishers scoffed at the idea that anyone would be interested in a book like this...She only found one publisher who wanted to chance a small hardback run of these books, she had to bribe them with buying several thousand copies up front knowing she had a winner that would sell. Anyway thousands of the hardback copies disappeared and then a large second run of soft back copies were gone. A couple of years ago Dr. Shirl paid for a third edition as the second generation of readers keep requesting copies.

I know Shirl has a brother coming in to the memorial service next Wednesday on the 28th. She leaves behind her business manager/dearest friend Phyllis Howard and Phyllis' daughter Allison. I have 1987 written down when I recorded her address for the first time but it seems like we met them just last week... We supposedly all put up nestboxes for the bluebirds but I really believe it is the other bluebirders we really fall in love with. You all miss so much of the love of bluebirding by not joining and attending bluebird groups.

Sandy, Shawn and I will miss Doc Shirl, but you know I believe bluebirders never die we just migrate to heaven when our time comes! I know Shirl earned her wings many times over.

If you e-mail Phyllis a message she can pass it on to the family. Try prhoward"at"flash.net

If you have never read Dr. Shirl's book "I HEAR BLUEBIRDS" then you have missed one of the best eye watering books on getting involved with bluebirds. In a couple of weeks you need to order one from Phyllis and a couple for your local school libraries. KK

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 11:23 AM
Subject: In Memory Of Dr. Shirl Brunell

http://www.labayoubluebirdsociety.org/Bluebird%20Society/bbnn5.pdf

The above link is an LBBS newsletter that has a picture of Dr. Brunell feeding Baby Sister and Sampson on her shoulder. Also on that page (3) it tells of her life’s accomplishments. This was in the June issue before our September annual meeting in Monroe, LA which she was the featured speaker. She fell in love with the people of Monroe. She wrote a letter to the editor of the Monroe News Star about our meeting and Monroe and they published it. (She described LBBS as “movers and shakers”!)

http://www.labayoubluebirdsociety.org/Bluebird%20Society/bbnn14.pdf

In this newsletter on the first page is a picture of her in June when she did make it down to Hodges Gardens and posed beside the sign LBBS had made in her honor. She also toured the trail to see our rehab work we had done. Her letter to me (which is so dear to all of us) is in this issue.

We were so lucky to have an LBBS member, Elizabeth Hoyt, that is not too far from Hodges Gardens and she monitors for us. Elizabeth is also a brand new board member and is looking forward to being our new 2nd Vice President come September 2006. Elizabeth also helps getting the newsletter out.

We will miss our wonderful friend and bluebirder. We are thankful for the opportunity to continue her wonderful work. Needless to say, we fell in love with Hodges Gardens at Florien, LA. Would you believe that Susan Bulger wrote to me about that trail the same week I was contacted by the Gardens to help them? Susan is one of our List members that lives in California and she had been there visiting a few months earlier. I was grateful for her input.

If you have not read “I Hear Bluebirds”, by Dr. Shirl Brunell, you must. I could not put it down. And yes, Keith, I “
”boo hooed” through it too!!

Evelyn Cooper, President
Delhi, LA
Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society

Tena Taylor
Calhoun County, Mississippi

I treasure my copy of "I Hear Bluebirds", and read it every few months. It brings out all kinds of emotions for me - I laugh, I cry .. and experience all points in-between. I'm also so grateful for meeting her and hearing her straight-from-the-heart telling of the story of her book Bluebirds in Calhoun County, Mississippi, are better understood and cared for because of Dr. Brunell's impact of this bluebirder!

Phyllis Howard
106 N.Rondo Rd.
Texarkana, AR 71854

This is the address to send for a copy of “I Hear Bluebirds”. I’ve had several write me and ask about it.

Thanks,

Evelyn Cooper
Delhi, LA

I failed to mention that you just drop Phyllis a line stating you want the book and she will send the book and the invoice for charges to you.

Evelyn

From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 8:17 AM
Subject: Bluebird family was road trip, writing books

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Everyone on this list and monitoring bluebird nestboxes are related through our love of bluebirds. The annual NABS convention is really just one big family reunion. There are all types of plant and animal groups but the bluebird groups are different from the Wild Turkey Federation or PETA or the American Daffodil Society. Every other group has their own goals and agenda and internal/external forces that drive the different members in different directions.

Bluebirders on the other hand work at saving and increasing the numbers of these birds not for profit, not for show and not for sport hunting! It takes a special and caring person to do this simply from the pleasure derived from seeing the birds and it is better to actually gain this pleasure when a friend or neighbor tells about "their" bluebirds and what "their" bluebirds are doing.....You just smile and selfishly know in your heart that they are really bragging about "your" bluebirds!

Bluebirding can be a "team" sport or a team effort when you put all the individuals together in a group. I sometimes like to spend some of my time bluebirding just like playing solitaire. I love to get up in the dark on a Sunday morning and head outside to listen to the birds wake up the morning with their songs. I like to slip off checking nestboxes along sleepy country backroads stopping here and there to "hear" the morning and life more clearly.By the time the sun is heating up the truck and people are dressing for Church it is time to drift back along the highways and get back to a more normal "life".

Other days you can go check nestboxes at a park and attract a "flock" of children to go with you and check the nestboxes. These days you tend to feel like the Pieded Piper and questions are fired at you from all sides and the joy of this hobby is contagious as it infects the nerve endings in a childs brain.

This is a sport you can play as soon as you are old enough to walk a mile. It is a sport that you can learn to play when your doctor tells you that you need to now walk a mile a day or ELSE. All skill levels are welcomed by the bluebirds. You can bend every nail in their nestbox and split the wood and use a terrible color of paint on their house and they will sing praises about you from the tree tops! They teach you to love life everyday. They teach you that "hurricanes" hit not only your world but they can also rip through your heart or soul sometimes but time heals if you allow the songs in your life to dominate any problems. How else can they lose their home, their family but continue on looking forward to a better tomorrow!

Gotta go and make a few nestboxes to share with a customer this morning. KK

If any one is interested I created a frapper map that you can all join, it's
free and then if anyone wants to know that area your from they can look you.
This will help if groups want to get toghether or if anyone wants to locate
someone close to where they live it is easy. I have used this on other
forums and it works pretty good. Just go to the following link and
register. Just need your zip, no address.

Steve Murphy

http://www.frappr.com/cornellbluebirds

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
For the newcomers to this list Dick Tuttle started by placing 22 nestboxes for bluebirds in Delaware County in Ohio in 1968. Since then he has raised
8,235 Eastern Bluebirds, 16,686 Tree Swallows, 5,514 House Wrens, 508 Carolina Chickadees, 47 Tufted Titmice. He also places nestboxes for Kestrels, Wood Ducks, owls and builds platforms for osprey and on and on....Of course he bands most of these birds and monitors more than 360 nestboxes weekly. Notice he does not list how many House Sparrows he has
removed:-)) KK

From: EHDerry"at"aol.com [mailto:EHDerry"at"aol.com]
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 8:46 PM
To: philip.berry"at"mchsi.com; Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Does Anyone Know What Happened To.........?

Phil and all: I email Haleya maybe 9 months ago (?) to see if all was ok. She emailed me back that she was busy with her work and that bluebirding had taken a backseat to her work.
I am sure if you email her, she will respond and would love to hear from you and any others she has not heard from in awhile.

Judy Derry
Lockport, NY

From: John Schuster [mailto:wildwingco"at"earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 10:05 AM
Subject: Re: Does Anyone Know What Happened To.........?

My understanding is that Haleya Priest is alive and well living in the Napa CA area.....

John Schuster
Cotati, CA

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 1:07 PM
Subject: Re: late nesting bluebirds

Keith, LBBS just lost a wonderful bluebirder, Don Studer, our 2nd Vice President. He was looking forward to becoming 1st V/P in September. Don fought a battle with cancer.

He wrote me a couple of years ago that he cleaned out all his nestboxes at the end of August. He said when his grandchildren came to visit for Christmas, he took them out to show them his boxes and give them a little information about bluebirds. Well, low and behold, he learned something too! He found a nest with 5 blue eggs in it. The female apparently built in September and laid and the eggs did not hatch.

Out of 12 eggs this third cycle, only two babies have hatched. I am amazed that even two could have hatched in the terrible heat.

I will report on the fourth cycle when hatch day comes. I doubt they will hatch. Third cycles (and now a fourth) are really a bummer.

Evelyn
www.labayoubluebirdsociety.org

From: Mary Beth Roen [mailto:mbroen"at"hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 10:13 PM
Subject: Loss of a Wisconsin Bluebirder

Dear listers,

I have just been notified that the Bluebird Restoration Association of
Wisconsin has lost it's chairperson. Joseph O'Halloran passed away 3 weeks
ago. This is a great loss to BRAW and my sympathy goes out to his family.

Mary Roen, River Falls, WI

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
I got an e-mail saying that Jack Finch, from Bailey, North Carolina suffered a stroke about 6 weeks ago and still has significant memory loss. We can only hope that he recovers fully as he is probably the most knowledgeable bluebirder left today in the USA.

As Jack got older and it became harder for him to travel, Jack, his lovely wife Ruby and their son Dan built a conference room at their blueberry farm so that bus loads of children or adults could come and enjoy bluebird programs put on by Jack. They could tour an extensive bluebird trail at the farm and walk among three acres of irrigated mature dogwood trees that had been planted so that Jack could harvest the berries for winter feeding of bluebirds. Jack alternated planting a dogwood tree with Foster Holly trees in long rows that provide evergreen cover throughout the year and hold berries late into spring for many species of birds, especially the bluebirds to feed on.

During summer months, birds can feast on thousands of blueberry plants since Dan maintains the largest collection of different varieties of blueberries in the Eastern USA. It is used by the USDA as a test plot for new introductions of blueberries. (Not all blueberries are blue as we saw yellow and white fruited ones there last year.)

Dan's true love is firing pottery and he has one of the largest wood fired kilns in the country and at the annual fall pottery festival at the Finch farm they draw about 10,000 people annually. Jack always laughed while his son was drawing in the crowds to see the kiln and people from all over the world filling and firing the kiln with magnificent pieces of art he would be working the "bluebird conference" room and educating the public about helping the bluebirds. He always thought it was funny that people would be hauling away many more bluebird nestboxes and poles to their cars than they would exquisite pieces of fired clay.

Jack has a couple of women helping him build nestboxes year round and during the "off" season he stores and stacks nestboxes floor to ceiling in several old grain storage silos, and an old farm house that they would fill the rooms up to the point you could not even enter the house without selling all of the nestboxes neatly stacked in rows and rows. He actually started selling nestboxes fairly late in life but at last count I believe he had made way over 230,000 nestboxes. (Maybe someone can send a link to one of the "history articles" on Jack from various publications.)

Anytime you lose a bluebirder like Joseph O'Halloran from Wisconsin or have one like Jack suffer a severe illness you realize how important it is for us to reach out like they have over the years and share their knowledge with the younger generation or actually ANYONE interested in helping these small cavity nesters. It is actually easy to share the joy that bluebirds can bring into a persons life. Begin like so many of you have with your extended family and your close friends. Be sure and visit with your neighbors about the bluebirds you are raising in your backyard nestbox.

Branch out a little and stop in and visit with the people at that house with nestboxes nailed to every other fence post in their yard:-)) Look for people with GREAT bluebird habitat, multiple birdfeeders but NO nestboxes:-)) Find that older carpenter in your area with dust covered saws that needs a better reason to get up in the morning and start building small houses so you can help new people begin a lifetime of loving and caring for the birds. Check out the doctor offices for the older people who have forgotten the joys of youth and now are forced to walk hours a week in boring circles in shopping malls or on tread mills to keep their hearts pumping. Instead get them involved in walking their/your very own "bluebird trail" at a nearby park or golf course or ANY large open area. Hit up your county or cities or Master Gardener groups to upgrade public walking trails into nature trails.

Each year another 3&1/2 million people are living in the USA and we build another 1 million new homes a year for people. It is up to people just like you and I to teach them how to enjoy their new homes and help them help wildlife or at least learn to live with the rest of the tiny creatures on earth..EVERY single day we lose bluebirders that have devoted countless hours of their lives to helping the bluebirds in their area. Most you have NEVER heard of as they did this quietly on their own land but these are the people we are losing that are so hard to replace. KK

From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 8:47 AM
Subject: Bluebird people

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
You may put up nestboxes just to help the bluebirds to begin with. If you place nestboxes in public areas and meet more people and answer more questions about these birds you will at some point realize that the people who are interested in helping bluebirds even with just one nestbox in their yards are REALLY special human beings. People who are willing to spend the money or take the time to build good nestboxes, install mounting poles, guards and THEN take the time to monitor and learn even more about the lives of these birds are EXTRA special human beings.

We live in a world today where everything competes for the few hours of "free time" we have each day when we are not sleeping! You can buy a LOT of do dads or really upgrade your restaurant meal for the cost of a good bluebird box set up:-)) You CANNOT just go out and buy a caring person or make one your self you have to go out and FIND these few individuals. I noticed a LONG time ago that people who are willing to spend their time helping bluebirds are ALWAYS going to be people you will love getting to know and sharing your precious time with!

The Missouri Bluebird Conference was great as I counted 68 people listening to Jack Dobson. Many people drove 3&1/2 hours to hear complete strangers talk about the birds they fell in love with. In some cases they were infected with bluebird fever nearly a whole lifetime ago and they were looking for others who felt the same about these birds as they did! Many shared stories, many offered suggestions as to what worked for them but ALL of them wanted to learn more.

We were in the auditorium at Runge, a beautiful nature center and the people sitting in the semi-circle of seats looked remarkably like a LARGE nest of baby birds, all watching Jack or Steve or the many other speakers as if they were starving for the information being passed out to the group!

Sandy and I met old friends at the meeting, made a lot of new friends and as always there were many that we only got a fleeting glimpse of their hearts.
As you place nestboxes in public areas be prepared to meet that one person in 100,000 or so that just MIGHT be as special as you are! As Susan Bulger mentioned in her post, be prepared to "leave a note or a message" in the nestboxes when you see a really good (or bad) bluebird trail.

We got to meet quite a few of the wonderful Bluebird-L people or those who get the "good stuff" from the list forwarded on to them! Three of the 68 bluebirders at the meeting, bluebird from a wheel chair. I am sure many others have medical problems or are caring for someone at home with a serious condition. Remember to always be kind to one another as there are a LOT of gentle caring folks reading these posts.

If you get the chance do NOT pass up an opportunity to go to a state or national bluebird meeting! It is worth the drive to Louisiana just to meet the Cooper family:-)) KK

From: Duane Rice [mailto:drbirdsong4"at"hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 10:43 AM
Subject: RE: Bluebird people

KK,
I couldn't agree more. One of the reasons I love my job at Wal-Mart in the Tire and Lube Express,is because, while proudly wearing my Bluebird pin and Tennessee Bluebird Trails cap, I have met the most wonderful folks that come through the doors. They will almost always ask about bluebirds, and consequently, we become friends, and in many cases they ask if I can help them either get started in the hobby or help them in some way, with something concerning their birds. I am truly blessed to be such a postion, and my co-workers don't seem to mind that I take the time to "talk shop".
How blessed am I ?
Laus Deo!
Duane
PS. Glad to hear the meeting was such a success. Steve and Regina were the ones who got Tn. BT and me started. Their enthusiasm is contageous. Our numbers haven't been the same since they left, but we're trying.

Keith,

 

This article about Jack is in the Raleigh News & Observer today.

 

Fred

---

http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/509249.html

Published: Nov 11, 2006 12:30 AM Modified: Nov 11, 2006 05:27 AM Advocate for bluebirds dies 'Birdman of Bailey' was 89 Jack Finch began making specially designed bluebird houses in 1973. Tens of thousands have been distributed across the United States. Photo Courtesy of the Finch Family Jerry Allegood, Staff Writer BAILEY - Jack R. Finch, a Nash County farmer known as "The Birdman of Bailey" for his advocacy of bluebird houses and habitat, died Thursday. He was 89. Finch was credited with helping boost populations of the colorful songbirds that were gradually disappearing because of pesticides, the spread of more aggressive birds and loss of nesting sites. In 1973, he began making specially designed houses that were distributed through Homes for Bluebirds Inc. By the mid-1990s, he and his helpers had assembled and distributed more than 60,000 homes. Family members said they couldn't estimate the total. At least 10,000 went out in 1990 alone, after Finch was featured on national television. The little houses that open easily for monitoring birds overlook backyards, pastures and golf courses throughout the U.S., including as far away as Hawaii, said Fred Benson of Cary, president of the N.C. Bluebird Society. "These houses have been known to last for 25 years," Benson said. The low-cost, high-quality houses receive more attention, Benson said, but Finch's educational efforts and research were tremendous contributions to the birds' resurgence. Finch's observations on bluebird predators are a key part of "The Bluebird Monitor's Guide," a standard for bird lovers, he said. Finch's son Dan said his father was a pragmatic naturalist. He would build four or five houses with different designs and watch to see which ones the birds preferred. To develop snake guards, Finch built a huge snake pit and filled it with black snakes and corn snakes to observe their behavior. "If he hit a problem, he would go to the nth degree to solve it," he said. Jack Finch regaled visitors with bluebird lore and his account of how he began speaking up for the birds. He said he was working on the family farm in 1972 when he realized one of his sons did not recognize the bird's song. Within days, they were building bluebird boxes. Dan Finch said his father didn't care much for golf -- "he though it was a waste of time" -- but gladly worked with course operators to spread the bluebird's terrain. At one time Jack Finch kept watch on 2,200 boxes on golf courses, farms, parks and yards in a trail across North and South Carolina and Virginia. Dan Finch said his father didn't make money off the enterprise but did it for the birds. He was still cutting out the pieces until he became ill recently. The family is cultivating a new type of tree to take advantage of the hardiness of the wood, but otherwise will continue his father's efforts. Jack Finch received scores of accolades and plaques, friends said, but his most satisfying achievements are the sturdy little houses atop poles and fence posts. "Jack was a very low-profile person," said Bill Wilder, a former assistant state agriculture commissioner and longtime friend. "He appreciated it [an honor] and was proud of the recognition, but he was humble." Wilder said Jack Finch made it clear during a visit shortly before Finch died that he wanted memorials to help the birds. "He said, 'Billy, don't you send flowers to the funeral home for me,' " Wilder said. "I said, 'No, the money's going for the bluebirds.' " Staff writer Jerry Allegood can be reached in Greenville at (252) 752-8411 or jerrya"at"newsobserver.com.

From: David [mailto:okienaturalist"at"yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 11:04 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: Jack Finch Article

Friends:

This is truly a sad day ... as it always is when another flame on the hearth of conservation quietly fades. May we all gain inspiration and strength from the life of such a passionate and dedicated caretaker of our wildlife.

In peace,
David

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 11:29 AM
Subject: RE: Fw: Jack Finch Article

Yes, and the torch is passed on. Jack leaves a wonderful testimony.

This morning, I was talking to one of my grandsons. He told me that people used to tell him he walked funny. He told me that it was because he was trying to walk in his grandfather's footsteps and those shoes are pretty hard to fill. Sorta put a lump in my throat and I thought it was priceless.

Well, I doubt anyone can fill Jack's shoes, but we sure need to try to carry the torch. I think almost daily about our youth and how different things are for their generation and wonder just how many will be involved in helping our Bluebirds and cavity nesters.

Please find a way to help some youngster or even a novice adult bluebirder.
This would make Jack very happy.

Evelyn
Delhi, LA

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