Bluebird Trail

At Turkey Creek Preserve, over 80 white pine boxes mark a meandering trail of inviting bird houses. The male chooses the site. The female builds a nest of delicate grasses, pine needles, twigs, and fur. She lays 3 to 5 pale blue eggs, with two clutches a year. Incubation runs from 12 to 15 days, with the same time frame needed for the babies to fledge. For safety, Turkey Creek bluebird boxes are mounted on steel, not wooden poles, which prevents snakes and raccoons from climbing into the residences. The 1½ inch entry hole stops starlings or woodpeckers from entering. Placed in clearings at least 100 yards away from trees or other boxes, predators cannot jump from branch to box.

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Volunteers clean the boxes before the season begins as well as between clutches. From April through August, Turkey Creek Preserve monitors drive the trail to check each box and log the number of eggs laid. If wrens have started to nest inside, twigs are removed to discourage the interlopers. Friendly and mild-mannered, bluebirds sometimes wait nearby, watching as necessary work is completed at the box site. In the fall, we provide a Turkey Creek Report of bluebird information to Audubon and other national bird organizations. Years ago, when pesticides were more prevalent and habitats diminishing, the alarm sounded for a decreasing bluebird population. In response, across the country, pesticides were discouraged, and more houses installed to increase the bluebird count.