Newtown Residents Invited To Adopt Bluebird Nesting Boxes

Press release from the Township of Newtown:

With their beautiful color and cheerful song, bluebirds are a delightful addition to any yard. Thanks to an ambitious Eagle Scout, the Newtown Township Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) and Bird Town are offering 15 bluebird nesting boxes to interested residents. Once as common as robins, bluebird populations have declined precipitously for a variety of reason. Nesting boxes can provide vital shelter to help these beautiful birds, when properly sited and maintained. The EAC and Bird Town are helping Eagle Scout John Benko find responsible landowners who are interested in purchasing the installation materials and adopting a nesting box. Review the list of qualifications to see if you have what it takes to adopt and care for a nesting box. This is not a “set it and forget it” undertaking!

Responsibilities include:

• Cost: $10 (**NEW LOWER COST**) covers the mounting pole and predator baffle. The box is free.
• Complete nesting box training (one hour video) to learn how to identify and protect birds against predators
• Sign a commitment form to properly site and monitor the nesting box
• Install the nesting box in a location approved by a Bird Town representative
• Monitor the box on weekly basis (at a minimum) during nesting season
• Clean out the box annually

Proper site selection is critical. Nesting boxes must be placed in a safe location, at least 50 to 200 feet away from brushy and heavily wooded areas, at least 300 to 450 feet from any other bluebird nesting box, and not near house sparrows or house wrens.

This could be a wonderful project for an enthusiastic birder, homeschooling family, environmental class club, HOA or house of worship!

If you are interested in acquiring a bluebird box, please use our online form.

This press release was produced by the Township of Newtown. The views expressed here are the author’s own.