Led By: Steve Minard and Ruth Fridsma

One way we can help our local nesting birds is by providing places for them to nest.  Jim Ponshair aided the birds for many years with a number of bluebird box trails at the Muskegon Wastewater.  This does add up to a large number of boxes to clean every year and we need a good size group to do the job.  The annual bluebird box cleaning is a great way to learn your way around the Muskegon Wastewater.  It’s also a good way to learn about bluebird boxes, how to clean them, and see how the type of box and habitat affects who uses the box.  Since we’re at the Wastewater, we usually see some good birds while we work.  You may even get to meet mice or Flying Squirrels up close and personal.  And you get to help the bluebirds, swallows, chickadees, wrens and other birds that use the boxes.  This year you can meet the group, or head directly to clean your group of boxes.  Send Steve an email at sdminard@gmail.com to get a group of boxes to clean.  If you want, we will meet at the Maple Island Road entrance to the Muskegon Wastewater System at 9:00 am.  Lunch is one your own this year.  Following lunch, some participants may bird the nearby Muskegon State Game Area to look for early migrants.  This can be an all day trip, or you can head out before or after lunch.  For all the carpenters and builders out there, we always need more bluebird boxes.  Boxes suffer damage over the years and new boxes are always needed.  Send Steve an email at sdminard@gmail.com if you have new boxes to donate.

Essentials: Meet at the Maple Island Road entrance to the Muskegon Wastewater System at 9:00 am.  This is a bit north of White Road.  If you have an area, you can head there directly.  Come dressed for the weather.  Bring some tools (screwdrivers, pliers, scrapper, hammer and nails) and gloves for cleaning out the bluebird houses.

Safety Hazards: Driving in a caravan can be hazardous.  Get directions from the leader for travel to the next stop.  Please exercise caution on the roads at all times, and watch the car ahead of you when driving in a caravan.  Please have a passenger handle all radio or phone communications while in a car.