We braved the rain, and the cold.. For the birds!

By JL Johnson (2021)

Nesting season is upon us, which means our chapter’s newly formed Project NestWatch Team is excited to tackle the first of what could be many projects for 2025, and beyond. On Saturday, 3/15 a few members of the newly formed team (formerly referred to as taskforce) ventured out to explore the area around Longview Lake Shelter 9. The shelter is a sort of “home base” for a two-mile loop, and part of the broader 7-mile (one way) Longview Lake trail system. 

The six of us braved the 37 degree cold to learn about bluebird nesting preferences, and to scout the area for potential nesting box sites. After a cold and wet, but fun and leisurely walk we had discovered and documented 13 individual sites as well as a few large areas to propose to Jackson County Parks and Rec (JCPR) for final sign off. Slen Rogers from the 2024 class has graciously volunteered to take our tentative agreement with JCPR to formal approval by putting together a detailed proposal as a capstone project. Thank you, Slen!

Nesting boxes, poles, baffles and hardware will be procured shortly after final sign off, and installation will follow shortly after. Of course our journey does not end with installation. Boxes will need to be monitored, cleaned between broods, and maintained. An option exists to obtain a 1:1 box match through the Missouri Bluebird Society to further expand our impact at the shelter 9 site.

There will be many opportunities to contribute to, and learn from, the Project NestWatch Team at this location and others. Examples include: Scouting additional locations, working with partners to bring on or expand additional properties, writing proposals, procuring boxes and materials, managing matching grants, installing and/or maintaining boxes, and most importantly regularly monitoring and cleaning boxes through nesting season. Those who want to monitor boxes as a part of our chapter’s team will need to become Certified NestWatchers through Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology (a quick online course) and have a Volunteer Service and Project Approval Form approved which team leadership will help folks to navigate for batch approval. Finally, watchers will need to attend a chapter information session and work with others in the team to coordinate monitoring.

Keep an eye on the chapter calendar, groups.io and this newsletter for updates. If you have questions, or would like to be added to the team email distribution list, please contact JL at osage.mmn.president@gmail.com. And of course all chapter members are welcome to drop in on one of our virtual or in person meetings.