Led By: Steve Minard
For many years, Grand Rapids Audubon Club members have helped to erect and maintain hundreds of nest boxes on the Resource Recovery Center property. The nest boxes provide nesting habitat for cavity nesting species such as the Eastern Bluebird and Tree Swallow. Again this year, we are in need of volunteers to help clean, repair and/or replace the nest boxes before the nesting season begins. Volunteers meet at the Maple Island Road entrance to the Resource Recovery Center, 698 N. Maple Island Road, Muskegon, 49442. Volunteers will then be assigned to clean nest boxes along designated trails. Small tool kits are available to sign-out for the event but volunteers are welcome to bring their own supplies. Helpful supplies for nest box cleaning include screwdriver, pliers, scraper, small brush, hammer, screws and nails. First-time volunteers will receive further instruction on how to properly clean nest boxes the day of the event. The annual Nest Box Clean-out Day event is a great way to learn about cavity nest species, how to properly clean a nest box, how box style and placement affect the species using the box and a great way to do some birding on the Resource Recovery Center property. The event is held rain or shine, so please dress appropriately and bring gloves. The event requires some walking outdoors on uneven ground. As a volunteer, your time is documented and included in the Resource Recovery Center’s certification application through the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC). The WHC is a third-party organization that certifies companies who implement conservation measures on their property. The Resource Recovery Center has received certification through the WHC since 2014 and has received two conservation awards. The support is appreciated!
Contact Anita Friend at 231-724-3457 for any nest box or predator guard donations.
Since we’re at the Wastewater, we usually see some good birds while we work. You may even get to meet mice or Flying Squirrels up close and personal. And you get to help the bluebirds, swallows, chickadees, wrens and other birds that use the boxes. This year you can meet the group, or head directly to clean your group of boxes. Send Steve an email at sdminard@gmail.com to get a group of boxes to clean.
Lunch is on your own this year. Following lunch, some participants may bird the nearby Muskegon State Game Area to look for early migrants. This can be an all day trip, or you can head out before or after lunch. For all the carpenters and builders out there, we always need more bluebird boxes. Boxes suffer damage over the years and new boxes are always needed. Send Steve an email at sdminard@gmail.com if you have new boxes to donate.