Busy bluebirds in Kimberton Hills

from guest blogger John Tower, Kimberton Hills coworker

This is a busy time of year for bluebirds and tree swallows. They have to find a safe place to build a nest, collect just the right materials they need like dried grass, pine needles and white feathers. To have the energy to build a news and produce eggs, they need to eat a lot of bugs.  Right now, the bluebirds have gone so far as to lay five eggs in their nests and are beginning to sit on them day and night to warm them up so they will hatch in about 16 days.

John and Marilyn checking bluebird boxes.

Bluebirds were in decline until efforts were made to provide nesting habitat in the form of the boxes you see here in Kimberton Hills.  This is the labor of love that Marilyn Michalski, "the bird lady," has been providing us as a volunteer for many years.  You may see her with me on Monday afternoons in her red station wagon, checking the 58 boxes in operation this year.  She is happy to answer any questions on birds you may have.