CNRP Success Stories

In 1997 SCVAS initiated a program to help restore local bluebird populations as part of the California Bluebird Recovery Program (CNRP), which is jointly sponsored by Audubon California and the North American Bluebird Society. Volunteers built, placed and monitored nest boxes in local parks and open spaces to provide safe nest sites for bluebirds. Bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds have suffered population decline because of habitat loss and nest-site competition from aggressive non-native birds. The program proved to be immensely successful, and was expeanded to help other native species such as the Chestnut-backed Chicadee, Ash-throated Flycatcher and Violet-green Swallow.

Western Bluebird
©Peter LaTourrette

Since then many volunteers in Santa Clara County have devoted countless hours establishing and monitoring nest box trails. During the breeding season the boxes are checked weekly for parasitism, predation, number of eggs, nestlings, and number of young fledged. At the end of the nesting season results are reported to county coordinators and the state coordinator for the California Bluebird Recovery Program.

Volunteers are also helping cavity-nesting birds of prey such as Barn Owls, American Kestrels and Western Screech Owls. To support these important raptors, Eagle Scouts and other volunteers have been building raptor boxes and even bat boxes.

In the first season of our Cavity Nesters Recovery Program, eight species of birds found high-quality cavity nest sites where none previously existed using 229 nest boxes. Now many seasons later, we installed and monitor over 500 boxes. Chicks fledged from our boxes reached over 7300. SCVAS coordination of the program ensures that boxes are properly maintained so they continue to house and nurture birds rather than harm them. Our CNRP program has submitted many years of valuable information about our cavity nesters to the statewide California Bluebird Recovery Program and other interested organizations.

Read some of our success stories and then join CNRP to start monitoring your own nest boxes.

• A Bluebird Trail Leader's Experience by Dave Cook.
• Current Fledging Results (PDF).

Last modified in August 2010