A New Chapter for NestWatch

We are excited to announce that beginning this spring NestWatch Chapters and Local Coordinators across the country will begin teaching new NestWatchers how to safely find and monitor bird nests. With the help of these local partners, who have been trained to facilitate NestWatch workshops, we will be able to greatly increase the amount of data submitted to NestWatch so that we can more accurately monitor the status of breeding birds. Current NestWatch Chapters include:

• Beaver Meadow Audubon Center (North Java, NY)
• Big Bear Discovery Center (Fawnskin, CA)
• Cleveland MetroParks Zoo (Cleveland, OH)
• Cleveland MetroParks – North Chagrin Nature Center (Willoughby Hills, OH)
• Cleveland MetroParks – Rocky River Nature Center (North Olmsted, OH)
• Colorado Bluebird Project (Centennial, CO)
• Drumlin Farm Sanctuary – Massachusetts Audubon (Lincoln, MA)
• Friends of Myles Standish State Forest (Middleboro, MA)
• Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (Sherman, TX)
• The Holden Arboretum (Kirtland, OH)
• Jefferson County Open Space (Golden, CO)
• Maryland Master Naturalists (Ellicott City, MD)
• Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (Upper Marlboro, MD)
• Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation (Charlotte, NC)
• Oakland County Parks & Recreation (Waterford, MI)
• Ohio Bluebird Society – Columbus Audubon (Columbus, OH)
• Ohio Bluebird Society – Delaware County (Powell, OH)
• Oklahoma Master Naturalists (Edmond, OK)
• Tellico Village Birders Club (Loudon, TN)
• Teton Science Schools (Jackson, WY)
• Texas Bluebird Society – Buda (Buda, TX)
• Texas Bluebird Society – Mountain City (Mountain City, TX)
• Tracy Aviary (Salt Lake City, UT)

Featured NestWatchers: Adam & David Liewehr

Eight-year-old Adam Liewehr (Cub Scout Pack 442, Den 2, Cloverly, MD) recently chose to build a nest box to help earn his Wolf badge, but the wide variety of potential nest box designs left Adam and his father David looking for a bit of guidance. So, they turned to NestWatch to learn how to build a nest box, which species to build it for, and where to put it once it was finished.

David’s correspondences with the NestWatch staff revealed a thoughtful attention to detail. This father-son team had noticed several potential tenants in their backyard, such as Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, and House Wren. Armed with resources from the NestWatch website, Adam and David set to work building a small songbird house. David measured and cut the boards while Adam drilled holes, screwed the pieces together, and helped with the installation. They plan to monitor any nests in their new nest box and submit their observations to NestWatch. David hopes that this project will further Adam’s appreciation of nature. We welcome David and Adam to our pack, and encourage any other Scout groups looking for a great civic project to “howl” if you need us. We’d love to help you earn that badge!

Would you like to be a Featured NestWatcher, or know of someone that would? Share your story with us.

Cavity-Nesting Birds Poster

The Cavity-nesting Birds poster is back by popular demand! This updated version features colored drawings of 10 species commonly found in nest boxes. The back of the poster describes habitat, breeding information, and nest box placement tips for each species, as well as tips for monitoring nest boxes. You can receive one of these beautiful posters by making a $30 donation to NestWatch. Your generous gift will help us expand the program as we seek to better understand how birds are affected by environmental changes.

LIVE at a Hawk Nest!

A new nest camera high above a Cornell University athletic field is streaming crystal-clear views of a Red-tailed Hawk nest via the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds website. The new camera stream puts viewers 80 feet off the ground and right beside the nest, where they can watch the hawks arrive, see them taking turns incubating their two eggs, and compare notes on the two birds—the male, pictured above, has a more golden-tawny face and is slightly smaller than the female, who has been nicknamed “Big Red” for her alma mater. We’re looking for suggestions on what to name the male bird. If you’ve got an idea, enter the naming contest!

Monthly Winner

At the beginning of each month, NestWatch randomly selects one participant to receive a copy of the NestWatch Common Nesting Birds of North America poster. This month’s lucky winner is Richard O’Brien. Congratulations, Richard!