Many people who are passionate about bluebirds and other small cavity nesters want to help others understand why it is important to help them survive and thrive. Here are some free handouts you can download (and customize) if you are giving a talk, have a booth at an event, or just want to share some information with others. (Double side handouts to save paper and money.) To open PDF documents, you need free Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don’t have Microsoft Word on your computer, you can use Google Documents.
- Helping Bluebirds Survive and Thrive – a four page brochure with basics on putting up nestboxes, recognizing nests and eggs, controlling predators and House Sparrows, providing food and water, and monitoring and maintaining boxes. Includes drawings of a baffle and sparrow spooker. Another 8.5 x 14″ brochure from The Bluebird Nut is available for download here.
- Recognizing Nests and Eggs – a PDF file that includes descriptions of nests and eggs of common cavity nesters, to help with identification.
- Nestbox Plans – four page PDF file with plans for a NABS, Peterson and Gilberston box. Also see links to other plans.
- Children’s Activities – webpage that includes coloring pages, games, puzzles, etc.
- Suet Recipes – four of my favorites. More are available here.
- House Sparrow Advisory – a one page handout that explains why it is important not to allow House Sparrows to use nestboxes, and offers some options.
- Other information from Sialis.org – You are welcome to use anything else on this website for personal or educational purchases, as long as there is a link back to www.sialis.org or a citation to the author. No permission is granted for commercial use. Photographs are copyrighted, and may not be used without the express permission of the photographer.
- Other suggestions: It’s a good idea to show a video, and to bring along some things people can touch – a well designed nestbox (even better – several variations), some books (marked “Do Not Remove” – so people can decide what they want to purchase or just flip through pictures), a sparrow spooker example since it’s kind of hard to visualize. If you are going to talk about House Sparrows, you might bring along an inbox trap and ground trap. Another nice item to have is a Breezy Singers animated bluebird – a realistic looking life-size plastic bluebird, with a motion detector that triggers song and chatter.
More information and resources:
- Contact your State or Local bluebird society, as they often have great resources available. The Michigan Bluebird Society has a nice tri-fold brochure.
- Advice for New Bluebirders – links to information or other pages on this website for people who are new to bluebirding.
- The North American Bluebird Society (NABS) has free fact sheets, and a booklet, educational posters, a pocket field guide, and a PowerPoint slide presentation with script that you can purchase for a nominal fee.
- Videos: There are a variety available for purchase. See list, reviews and sources here.
Anytime you lose a bluebirder …you realize how important it is for us to reach out like they have over the years and share their knowledge with the younger generation or actually ANYONE interested in helping these small cavity nesters.
– Keith Kridler, Bluebird_L, 2006
