Trail Master Spring Report

By Steven Shumborski

Is your nest box in need of renovations? Wait until the end of the season (August/September) to start.

Thank you to all monitors for caring for the bluebird nest boxes. I am accepting requests for nest box renovation to be done after the 2024 nesting season. I have boxes to upgrade at Magrath Golf Club and I have a record of more than 1,400 boxes upgraded or replaced, just over half of the boxes in service. 

Setting up a new trail can be done on private property for landowners who are enthusiastic about supporting bluebirds and providing more nesting sites. This is a way to get more boxes installed since almost every suitable road in southern Alberta already has nest boxes. There is also more native grassland going under cultivation for crops. 

 If you are unable to continue monitoring, let me know and I will check your boxes and renovate if I find fixed floors, then return the boxes to service with full roof and drop down floors. 

Over the fall and winter I sent personal emails to most of the email addresses I have for monitors who did not report to Joe with their summary last fall. I was able to get responses from most monitors but no response from 25 per cent. 

I am curious about what keeps people from replying. If anyone has ideas, please let me know. I would like to hear from every monitor at least onceTrail Master a year.