In late March, the Greater Princeton Branch of AYLUS (GPA) started its Bluebird Nest Watch Program for Spring 2022. GPA is now collaborating with both organizations, the Plainsboro Preserve, for this interesting youth volunteer project.
Eastern Bluebirds were once a common bird in New Jersey. With habitat loss and competition from introduction of aggressive, non-native birds, the populations of these beautiful birds declined. Through the efforts of caring people, esp volunteers who aid the nesting of bluebirds and other native bird species by monitoring boxes for nesting attempts by non-native birds, Bluebirds are nesting successfully at the NJ Audubon’s Plainsboro Preserve.
GPA Volunteers including Fangyi Chen, Chloe Yang, Kathie Wang, Kathy Yang, Amy Zheng, Sara Yu, Sophia Yu, Shuchen Yu, and more, gathered at the Plainsboro Preserve (80 Scotts Corner Rd, East Windsor, NJ 08512) on March 26th (2 hrs for all) to receive a Bluebird Nest Watch Training by Laura Stone from the New Jersey Bluebird Association. GPA volunteers did the following before the training:
1 Got to the webpage https://nestwatch.org/ for lots of great information
2 Download the app for the nest watch
3 Go to “Let’s Start Monitoring Nests!” and click
4 Read over the Nest Monitoring Protocol and then take the quiz at the end
5 On the left of that page is also the Nest Monitoring Manual