David Torrey installs a bluebird nest box at the Norfolk Transfer Station. Photo by Shelley Harms

Build It and the Bluebirds Will Come

By Shelley Harms

The Connecticut Breeding Bird Atlas aims to map all bird species found in the state. When volunteers helping to update the atlas surveyed the birds nesting in Norfolk, they noticed a lack of suitable nest sites for bluebirds. Eastern bluebirds, tree swallows and chickadees are some of the birds that like to nest in hollow trees or nest boxes in or near open meadows. Norfolk has tree cavities in abundance in the woods but not so many in open areas.

The Norfolk Conservation Commission decided to remedy that. Carpentering skills were contributed by Nash Pradhan, John Anderson, David Torrey and especially David Gourley, who built and donated 20 nest boxes for the project. The Church of Christ Green Team featured the project in a special Earth Day church service where congregants generously donated to help purchase the hardware.

With materials in hand, the commission mounted the sturdy new nest boxes on poles, added predator guards to stop squirrels and raccoons from climbing up and eating the eggs and chicks and installed the boxes in good bluebird habitat. The new nest boxes can be found at the transfer station, the South Norfolk Cemetery, City Meadow, the Church of Christ and Botelle School, and keen-eyed birders have reported that bluebirds are already nesting in them.