Bluebirds have houses

Last Friday afternoon was one of those windy, snowy days in the Sisters Country. But that didn't stop three stalwart young men from Sisters Boy Scout Troop 188 from braving the blowing snow, cold and wind. They took on the much-needed project of establishing safe houses for bluebirds out in the old Delicious Burn.

Miriam Lipsitz, of Tumalo, and Rachel Cornforth, of Sisters, have spent several years monitoring and replacing bluebird nesting boxes that Don McCartney put up in the burn originally. The information they have collected for well over 10 years of monitoring has all gone to the data bank at Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

Several of the boxes have been destroyed by shooters using them for target practice, and others have been crushed by dead trees toppled by high winds. Additionally, as the burn evolved, changes in vegetation attracted a growing number of pine chipmunks that have started preying on baby bluebirds and taking over boxes for their own purposes.

When Lipsitz and Cornforth asked for help, the scouts pitched in. Nesting boxes torn up by gunshots, and others that were crushed, have been replaced with boxes mounted on treated poles with metal flashing to keep the chipmunks

out.

The poles and flashing would have been a big out-of-pocket expense for the volunteer box-keepers, but Miller Lumber of Bend donated the poles and flashing, and the new nesting boxes were donated by a group of box-builders in Bend.

Due to other commitments, and the lengthy commitment of caring for the boxes, both Lipsitz and Cornforth have turned their respective areas over to the Girl Scouts of America Troop 50777, to monitor and continue reporting to Cornell.

Of the work the Scouts from Troop 188 accomplished, Cornforth said, "Thank you to all those involved in getting the boxes made, put on posts, and finally getting the posts sited and put in the ground. Against considerable odds you persevered and won, and I am most impressed.

"It has been my wish to see bird (nesting) boxes protected from predators in the Delicious Burn for several years. I hope this is the start of a successful project to protect the mountain and western bluebirds and ensure that they can continue nesting in the burn."

Both Lipsitz and Don McCartney echoed Rachel's thanks, and Lipsitz demonstrated her appreciation by fueling up the young men with homemade cupcakes that kept the scouts from suffering with the cold snow and icy winds.