IT’S NEST BOX TIME!
All of us are excitedly awaiting springtime and the return of our migratory song birds and wildflowers. Black Hills Audubon has an extensive array of nest boxes out on our South Sound prairies – around 150 of them over 7 areas. Some of these we only clean out and repair once a year but three areas are actively monitored by volunteers. Glacial Heritage Prairie, which is owned by Thurston County and managed by Center for Natural Land Management, is our premier site. Starting in April, our team of volunteers goes out every ten days to record what is happening at the 44 boxes. This means getting comfortable in a chair and watching the interactions of the nearby birds. This continues to around the end of July when the second nesting season is well underway. In autumn, the team goes out to do cleaning and repairs.
If you would be interested in hearing more about this project and possibly becoming a member of the team, please contact me, Kathleen Snyder, at ksnyder75@gmail.com. Springtime and early summer on the prairie is absolutely the best!
Photo credit: Violet-green Swallows, by Bruce Jacobs.
