Observation on New Bluebird Trail Monitors Recruitment
By Steven Shumborski
Recruiting monitors is an ongoing requirement to maintain the trails and keep the nest boxes in usable condition for bluebird nesting.
Proximity to the mountains, recreational areas and parks provides a draw, bringing people to the foothills for recreational activities. Monitoring a bluebird trail can be one of the activities that people and families engage in when they are in bluebird habitat.
Retiring from monitoring is the inevitable consequence of aging. In some cases, family members take over care of the trail. In other situations the family members have moved to town or distant cities.
What can you do to help recruit monitors? As a monitor, you can invite others to join you on your trail.Share the newsletter among friends and family. Spread the word. There are trails available. If you let me know which area you are interested in monitoring, I will keep you in mind when a trail comes available. It may take a year or two before a suitable trail is available.
I’m happy to report that 18 monitors joined the MBTCS ranks in 2018. Welcome to all the new nestbox monitors.
Four dedicated long term monitors retired in 2018. Ray and Ardell Harris, Shirley Redford, Gerry Kyllo and Ruth Le Roux have given up their trails. Thank you for your many decades of bluebird conservation activity in building boxes, monitoring, maintaining trails and spreading the word about bluebirds. We will carry on with what you have established.