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Virginia Bluebird Connection
Adopt-A-Box
In early 2007, a bluebird trail was established along the Danville Riverwalk trail. In only a few
short months, sixty-five boxes were purchased in honor or in memory of loved ones. Because
of the overwhelming response received in the first year, we had to develop a new venue for the
program. We partnered with local schools to establish bluebird boxes on the school properties.
We are excited about involving both students and teachers in our bluebird conservation effort.
The pilot school program was at Townes Lea Elementary School with the first box being
dedicated to Beth Fuquay, a former teacher. Additional schools included in the program are
Grove Park Magnet School with 6 bluebird boxes, Park Avenue Elementary School with 4 boxes,
Sacred Heart School with 6 boxes, Langston Focus Center with 1 box, Averett University North
Campus with 5 boxes, Forest Hills Elementary School with 2 boxes and Westover Christian
Academy with 4 boxes.
Why Establish a Bluebird Trail?
Bluebirds are territorial cavity nesters. Each single pair of bluebirds will defend their nesting
territory by not allowing other bluebirds to trespass within approximately a 150 foot radius
of their nest. For this reason if you want to attract more than one pair, you will need to
establish a bluebird trail placing bluebird houses at least 300 feet apart.
Trails must be monitored weekly through out the nesting season of April—August to make sure
House Sparrows are not nesting, as well as a host of other problems from ants to wasps.
Trained monitors will be checking weekly and recording data to be turned in to the Virginia
Bluebird Society at the end of the nesting season. Houses will remain up during the winter after
their fall clean up to allow bluebirds to have a shelter from the cold. As many as 5 or more
bluebirds will roost in the houses on cold nights to keep warm as they combine their body heat
inside the nest box.
In early 2007, a bluebird trail was established along the Danville Riverwalk trail. In only a few
short months, sixty-five boxes were purchased in honor or in memory of loved ones. Because
of the overwhelming response received in the first year, we had to develop a new venue for the
program. We partnered with local schools to establish bluebird boxes on the school properties.
We are excited about involving both students and teachers in our bluebird conservation effort.
The pilot school program was at Townes Lea Elementary School with the first box being
dedicated to Beth Fuquay, a former teacher. Additional schools included in the program are
Grove Park Magnet School with 6 bluebird boxes, Park Avenue Elementary School with 4 boxes,
Sacred Heart School with 6 boxes, Langston Focus Center with 1 box, Averett University North
Campus with 5 boxes, Forest Hills Elementary School with 2 boxes and Westover Christian
Academy with 4 boxes.
Why Establish a Bluebird Trail?
Bluebirds are territorial cavity nesters. Each single pair of bluebirds will defend their nesting
territory by not allowing other bluebirds to trespass within approximately a 150 foot radius
of their nest. For this reason if you want to attract more than one pair, you will need to
establish a bluebird trail placing bluebird houses at least 300 feet apart.
Trails must be monitored weekly through out the nesting season of April—August to make sure
House Sparrows are not nesting, as well as a host of other problems from ants to wasps.
Trained monitors will be checking weekly and recording data to be turned in to the Virginia
Bluebird Society at the end of the nesting season. Houses will remain up during the winter after
their fall clean up to allow bluebirds to have a shelter from the cold. As many as 5 or more
bluebirds will roost in the houses on cold nights to keep warm as they combine their body heat
inside the nest box.
| Interested in adopting a bluebird box? You may purchase bluebird boxes at Raywood Landscape Center 165 James Road, Danville, VA 24541 Phone: 434-822-1400 You may click here to download the Trails for Schools Adopt-A-Box form. To access the Adopt-A-Box form for the Riverwalk, click here. Mail in your completed form and check made payable to Raywood Landscape Center. Please include your phone number so that we may inform you of the location of the box after it is installed. For additional information you may contact Vickie Fuquay. Cost for the bluebird box, baffle and installation is $65.00 per box. Memory plaques are available for an additional $5.00 Adopt-A-Box School Coordinator Lisa Coyne 434-793-9333 lcoyne1@verizon.net Adopt-A-Box Riverwalk Coordinator Dianne MacMahon 434-836-9118 VBS Pittsylvania County Coordinator Vickie Fuquay 434-822-0930 |
Daniel Fuquay installs a bluebird box at W. Townes
Lea Elementary School.
Lea Elementary School.
