Nest box success stories

By Ilana DeBare
In 2015, our Eco-Education program in Richmond added a component on Bird-Friendly Schools, where elementary school students enhanced their schoolyards with nest boxes and native plants.
This year, we expanded the nest box program to nearby park lands!
Fourth graders from Montalvin, Stege, and Lake Elementary Schools built twelve wooden nest boxes and installed them in nearby Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, where our Eco-Ed field trips introduce them to creek ecosystems. We designed the nest boxes for Western Bluebirds and crossed our fingers that a pair or two might show up.
We were not just pleasantly surprised. We were blown away when seven out of the twelve boxes were occupied… by four different species!
The student-built boxes attracted families of Ash-throated Flycatchers, House Wrens, and Tree Swallows, as well as Western Bluebirds.

Girls from Bayview Elementary with box that the flycatchers used / Photo by Anthony DeCicco
Girls from Bayview Elementary with box that the flycatchers used / Photo by Anthony DeCicco

Nesting pair of Ash-throated Flycatchers / Photo by Miya Lucas
Nesting pair of Ash-throated Flycatchers / Photo by Miya Lucas

Ash-throated flycatcher with dragonfly / Photo by Miya Lucas
Ash-throated flycatcher with dragonfly / Photo by Miya Lucas

Looking in on newly-hatched Ash-throated Flycatcher chicks / Photo by Anthony DeCicco
Looking down on newly-hatched Ash-throated Flycatcher chicks / Photo by Anthony DeCicco

In addition, two of the schoolyard nest boxes installed in 2015 drew Western Bluebird and Tree Swallow families this year. The nest box at Lake Elementary School even hosted two bluebird broods in one season. “The children were totally thrilled and proud,” Anthony said.
The broods in the Wildcat Canyon boxes hatched too late in the school year for the children to see them. But Anthony returned to monitor the boxes and took photos to share with classes next year.
Girls from Stege Elementary erecting the box that Western Bluebirds used / Photo by Anthony DeCicco
Girls from Stege Elementary erecting the box that Western Bluebirds used / Photo by Anthony DeCicco

Female Western Bluebird / Photo by Miya Lucas
Female Western Bluebird near the nest box / Photo by Miya Lucas

Bluebirds (about nine days old) inside box erected by the girls / Photo by Anthony DeCicco
Bluebirds (about nine days old) inside box erected by the girls / Photo by Anthony DeCicco

We also plan to expand the nest box program to our Eco-Ed schools in Oakland and San Francisco next year — with boxes targeted for Knowland Park in Oakland and Glen Canyon Park in San Francisco.
“It’s absolutely thrilling to know that some simple actions can create new generations of resident and migratory birds,” Anthony said.
 


Golden Gate Bird Alliance’s Eco-Education program provides hands-on nature education to ten Title I (low-income) elementary schools in Oakland, Richmond, and San Francisco. Since its start in 1999, Eco-Ed has served over 15,000 students and family members. Want to get involved? We need volunteers to help on field trips. Very flexible schedule. Volunteer trainings will take place in September: Contact Anthony at adecicco@goldengatebirdalliance.org for details. 

Nesting pair of Tree Swallows on Eco-ed nest box / Photo by Miya Lucas
Nesting pair of Tree Swallows on Eco-ed nest box / Photo by Miya Lucas

Tree Swallow eggs / Photo by Anthony DeCicco
Tree Swallow eggs / Photo by Anthony DeCicco