Project NestWatch

The Osage Trails Chapter of Missouri Master Naturalists is proud to be the first Missouri‑based group participating in Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project NestWatch.

The Osage Trails NestWatch team partners with local nonprofits and public land managers to install, maintain, and regularly monitor nest boxes (“bird houses”) throughout the nesting season. Our trained volunteers also work with interested private landowners to create and steward nesting habitat on their properties.

Missouri’s native cavity‑nesting birds face increasing pressure from unchecked predators, and intense competition from non‑native invasive species. Abundant, safe, monitored nest sites critically important.

Current Osage Trails NestWatch projects include:

• Property One, focusing primarily on Prothonotary Warblers.
• Property Two, focusing primarily on Eastern Bluebirds, Missouri’s state bird.
• Property Three, focusing primarily on Tree Swallows.