At Volo Bog State Natural Area where I work, we are inviting “independent bluebird monitors” (folks who maintain boxes on private property) to contribute data from McHenry County to a state-wide network of bluebird data. If you’d like to participate, just print and fill in the data form at the end of the nesting season (late summer) and send it to us at Volo Bog.

As you may know, several native birds in our Deerpath Neighborhood may use your nest box(es) including bluebirds, tree swallows, house wrens, chickadees and nuthatches.

The non-native European house sparrow may also try to use your box(es) but they are aggressive and will even kill adult birds right in the box! As non-native species they are not protected and can (should) be controlled - see below.

The following web sites, along with the IDNR Bluebird Brochure, provide much information you should find useful in monitoring your box(es).

» Sialis
» Cornell Lab of Ornithology
» North American Bluebird Society

For more info on controlling house sparrows, go to:
» www.sialis.org/hosp.htm
» www.nabluebirdsociety.org/sparrowcontrol.htm

If you ever have any questions, we (at Volo Bog or “up the street” here in Deerpath) would be delighted to try to answer them. Please don’t hesitate to call. Good luck with your box(es)!

Stacy Iwanicki
Natural Resources Coordinator
Volo Bog State Natural Area
28478 W. Brandenburg Rd.
Ingleside, IL 60041
815-344-1294
dnr.volobog@illinois.gov
and
Moraine Hills State Park
1510 S. River Road
McHenry, IL 60051
815-385-1624

I’m your Deerpath Neighbor at:
9100 Marissa Trail
Wonder Lake, IL 60097

815-653-4926

Happy Bluebirding!