Conservation Corner: May 10, 1999

North American Bluebird Count This Weekend
by James L. Cummins

Where are the bluebirds? That's exactly what the North American Bluebird Society and Cornell University want you to tell them by logging onto http://birds.cornell.edu and joining them for the Great North American Bluebird Count on May 14 - 17, 1999.

This four-day Internet-based count is part of Birdhouse Online, a new web site sponsored by Cornell and the North American Bluebird Society. Since March 1, 1999, Birdhouse Online has been collecting information from across the continent about cavity nesting birds (birds that nest in holes in trees and in nest boxes or birdhouses), such as chickadees, swallows and, of course, bluebirds.

The site regularly features updated maps for each species, illustrating reported numbers and any indications of breeding (nesting material, eggs, young). The site also features information of the different cavity-nesting species, tips for building or choosing a good nest box and more.

According to Dr. Andre Dhondt, Director of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's Bird Population Studies Program, "There are thousands of nest boxes out there. We need to know what is going on inside each one. We can use what we learn about one species of cavity-nesting bird to better understand all cavity-nesters."

The Great North American Bluebird Count was developed to focus the Nation's eyes on cavity-nesting birds for one weekend of the year. Although the count encourages participants to submit sightings of more than 30 species, the count was named for the bluebird because of its symbol of conservation success throughout the United States.

Bluebirds suffered serious population declines in the early part of the 20th century. This decline was due to loss of nest sites and competition with non-native cavity nesting birds, such as House Sparrows and European Starlings. Now, their population is increasing.

For more information, contact the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Great North American Bluebird Count, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, 1-800-843 BIRD or cornellbirds@cornell.edu.

The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology is a membership institute whose mission is to interpret and conserve the earth's biological diversity through education, research and science.

The North American Bluebird Society is a private, non-profit conservation, education and research organization promoting the recovery of bluebirds and other cavity-nesting bird species throughout North America.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.