Boy Scouts Erect Birdhouses in Union County
Boy Scout Troop 23
Eastern Bluebirds were once common in New Jersey, thriving in areas that were open and had sparse ground cover. Not to be confused with the common Blue Jay, Eastern Bluebirds have a brilliant blue plumage and a flash of brick red on their breast.
Due to the negative effects of pesticide use and habitat loss, the number of bluebirds declined dramatically from the 1930s to the 1970s. Aggression from non-native birds like House Sparrows and starlings also took a toll.
However, a survey of breeding birds for 2005-2015 showed the number of bluebirds in New Jersey to now be increasing by about 7% annually. This is due in part to the efforts of environmentalists and bird enthusiasts who have provided better habitat and nesting sites.
James Whelan, a resident of Mountainside, recently joined that effort. As a member of Boy Scout Troop 23 in Elizabeth, Jimmy is working toward earning the Eagle Scout rank. His interest in birds led him to work with the Union County Parks Department on his Eagle Scout service project requirement by constructing and installing twenty-five birdhouses in three county parks: Lenape Park in Cranford and Snyder Avenue Park and Passaic River Park in Berkeley Heights.
The birdhouses erected in Lenape Park and Passaic River Park were built to specific dimensions that favor bluebirds and discourage or prevent use by non-native birds. All of the poles on which the houses were mounted now have metal baffles to discourage predation or entry by squirrels or raccoons. The new birdhouse in Snyder Avenue Park will be welcoming to several species of native songbirds.
Jimmy searched online for plans for a birdhouse that would be sturdy, long-lasting, attractive to songbirds, and be easy to clean out and maintain annually. He developed a list of the lumber and fasteners that he needed for the County to purchase. And he recruited other scouts, Scout leaders, family and friends to cut the wood, assemble and seal the birdhouses, erect poles, and install the birdhouses and baffles. Working with a master carpenter, Jimmy learned a lot about woodworking and project management.
