In May, the Greater Princeton Branch of AYLUS (GPA) Environment Committee members continued the bluebird box watching project with Mercer County Park Commission.
The Eastern Bluebird is a formerly threatened bird species that has made a tremendous comeback because of the efforts of amateur conservationists throughout the United States. Mercer County Park Commission staff and volunteers aid the nesting of bluebirds and other native bird species by monitoring boxes for nesting attempts by non-native birds.
The Mercer County Park Commission has five bluebird box monitoring locations available. One is at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm/Princeton Country Club (Lawrence/Pennington), one at Mercer Oaks Golf Course (Hamilton/West Windsor), one is at Mountain View Golf Course (Ewing), and two at Mercer County Park (Hamilton/West Windsor). Monitoring is typically a once per week commitment from about March through July.
This week, we are seeing baby bluebirds growing up while sleeping tight in the boxes!
Amber Yu: This week I watched for changes in the bluebird boxes. Some nestlings have fledged and already left the nest, while others are still hatching. Also, a bluebird pair moved into one box.
Volunteer Participants: Ethan Xu (5/8, 3 hrs), Xiangcheng Ying (5/8, 3 hrs), Amber Yu (5/9, 3 hrs), Lina Yang (5/10, 3 hrs), Kathy Yang (5/11, 3 hrs).
