Don's Jersey Birding: Community joins together to build nest boxes for swallows
Photo Credit: Myke Malzone
by Don Torino
The Bergen County Audubon Society, Ridgefield Environmental Commission, and community members joined together to help build tree swallow nest boxes. When completed, the nest boxes will be installed at Skeetkill Marsh in Ridgefield. The tree swallow is a cavity nesting bird, which means it would normally nest in natural holes in trees. The lack of natural cavities at Skeetkill would leave the tree swallow with nowhere to nest. Installing these bird houses will help these birds to have a successful breeding season and keep this beautiful swallow in the marsh.
Skeetkill Marsh, a 16-acre marshland, is a great little urban birding hot spot, which has been restored by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. Thanks to the Meadowlands Conservation Trust, who’s mission is to preserve, protect and enhance environmentally sensitive lands, and volunteers, such as Karen and Bruce Riede of the Ridgefield Environmental Commission, Skeetkill continues to be a wonderful place to enjoy wildlife right in our own backyard. 34 nest boxes were constructed during this great community event. This is a wonderful example of what conservation groups, local community organizations, and local businesses can accomplish when they join together.
This project was made possible by Bergen County Audubon Society through a collaborative funding grant from the National Audubon Society, Home Depot of North Bergen, and the Ridgefield Environmental Commission. A special thanks to everyone that brought their hammers, nails, screws and drills. Also thanks to Bergen County Audubon members and the parents, kids, scouts, and local town and community officials for making this project so successful.
The Bergen County Audubon Society, Ridgefield Environmental Commission, and community members joined together to help build tree swallow nest boxes. When completed, the nest boxes will be installed at Skeetkill Marsh in Ridgefield. The tree swallow is a cavity nesting bird, which means it would normally nest in natural holes in trees. The lack of natural cavities at Skeetkill would leave the tree swallow with nowhere to nest. Installing these bird houses will help these birds to have a successful breeding season and keep this beautiful swallow in the marsh.
Skeetkill Marsh, a 16-acre marshland, is a great little urban birding hot spot, which has been restored by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. Thanks to the Meadowlands Conservation Trust, who’s mission is to preserve, protect and enhance environmentally sensitive lands, and volunteers, such as Karen and Bruce Riede of the Ridgefield Environmental Commission, Skeetkill continues to be a wonderful place to enjoy wildlife right in our own backyard. 34 nest boxes were constructed during this great community event. This is a wonderful example of what conservation groups, local community organizations, and local businesses can accomplish when they join together.
This project was made possible by Bergen County Audubon Society through a collaborative funding grant from the National Audubon Society, Home Depot of North Bergen, and the Ridgefield Environmental Commission. A special thanks to everyone that brought their hammers, nails, screws and drills. Also thanks to Bergen County Audubon members and the parents, kids, scouts, and local town and community officials for making this project so successful.
Don Torino is the Education Chairperson for Bergen County Audubon Society.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 3/18/2011 6:00 AM 
Categories: Don's Jersey Birding
Tags: Bergen County Audubon Society Ridgefield Environmental Commission swallow boxes swallows nest boxes Skeetkill Marsh
Categories: Don's Jersey Birding
Tags: Bergen County Audubon Society Ridgefield Environmental Commission swallow boxes swallows nest boxes Skeetkill Marsh
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