The Florida Bluebird Trail Rebuilding Project
A Report

In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan tore across the Gulf of Mexico and into Pensacola, Florida. The damage from the storm was unimaginable. Along with the damage to human habitation came the destruction of many Bluebird nestboxes, the work of many years by dedicated Bluebirders like Phil and Jackie Berry from Gulf Breeze, Florida, just off the Pensacola coast.

Bluebirders around the country rallied to assist in the rebuilding efforts. Nestboxes were donated by organizations such as the New York State Bluebird Society. With the funds raised from the sale of the 2005 Bluebird Calendar, the Bluebird Gift Shop was pleased to be able to donate $185 to the trail rebuilding project. Phil and Jackie have been working tirelessly to rebuild their Bluebird Trail at the Tiger Point Golf Course. We asked Phil to give us some history of the Tiger Point Trail, and a progress report on the rebuilding project. Here's what he told us:

We started in 1993 with one box. I was told by old timers that we could not get EABL to nest there, too close to the Gulf. The first box was up 20 minutes before a pair claimed it. Over the ensuing years we have added boxes, 5 and 6 at a time, until our current (normal) number of 55. This is probably the highest we can go and stay manageable. 

The Tiger Point Golf Course management works with us by allowing us to use their equipment any time we need it, and had plans to revamp the trail this year (before Ivan changed it all). They want our boxes to be "more visible" to the golfers, as they do make lots of positive comments about the boxes and the birds. Many golfers stop and talk to us about "their" Bluebirds. We let them take ownership of them, and they in turn watch out for them. This way we have dozens of eyes out there instead of just two pair. We learn quickly from them if anything goes wrong. 

Pre Ivan we had 55 boxes on the golf course trail. We have 4 more at the zoo and 5 at a local cemetery. None of the other boxes were destroyed, but 40+ on the golf course were.  So far we have replaced nearly 50 boxes and posts. The posts and necessary hardware were bought from the calendar proceeds. Thanks to all who contributed.  

We are currently running with 45 boxes, and this may be too many. One was uprooted last week in our 14" + rainstorm (directly in back of my house, across the course - a new box and post). The rain was so heavy it must have been quite a current going down that small hill. 

We fledged 275 birds last year, and will do well to make 100 this year. At least that is my best guess right now. As the years go by we are going up in numbers of other species as well, including Great Crested Flycatcher, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Brown Headed Nuthatch, and the fastest growing of all, Carolina Chickadee. We also raised Carolina Wrens last season. 

Since we live right on the course, it is a relatively easy task to stay on top of it. Right now, I have a long drive just to get there. We will be moving home by April's end whether we are ready or not, so I can get back on top after that date. 

Our zoo boxes are maintained by school children. Jackie and I taught them how to be good trail monitors. They keep records faithfully, and have a membership in NABS. This is a group of home-schooled kids from Santa Rosa County who have one morning each week at the zoo to study nature. They have guest lecturers, studies of animals, birds, and plants, and this way they get their requirements out of the way for Science classes. There are about 100 or so of them, from Kindergarten to 12th grade. 

With the money that the [Bluebird-L members]* sent us we donated to the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center (in [their]* name) to establish a Bluebird trail on their property. This is a large tract of land that has been turned in to an environmental center for the school children of Escambia County (Pensacola). Largely wooded, but the donation will help cover the costs of clearing areas to make it suitable for Bluebirds. 

KimMarie and Tony, from the Buffalo, NY area, traveled to Florida and along with JoAnn and Frank Gossett from Milton FL, they were able to help Phil and Jackie with the trail rebuilding project. The Gossetts remembered Phil from his posts on Cornell's Bluebird Mailing List, but they had never met in person. KimMarie shared some thoughts with us about their experience.

Why did you decide to go to Gulf Breeze/Pensacola and help?
I knew that Phil had received donated boxes to help repair the trail, but then I also started thinking "Who is going to help him get them up?"  After giving it some thought and discussing it with Tony we decided it would be a nice to help Phil and Jackie and have a short “winter get away” at the same time.

What did you see when you got to the trail?
Words really can't describe some of the home and golf course property devastation we saw while we were there.  Also loss of landscaping poses a problem because traditional perching spots/trees are just gone.  Jackie gave me the estimate that the course lost approx. 900 trees. 

On our first day "working the trail", Jackie took us around the golf course to check "ok" boxes and reset poles that had either been "loosened" by Ivan or had been taken out of the ground.  One of the biggest challenges was trying to find ideal places to reset posts.  With no convenient perching spots and/or "hiding" places for new fledges some boxes can't be replaced right now. 

On our second day we checked posts that we had set the day previous and replaced boxes. 

Both Tony and I wished we could have stayed a couple more days to help with even more. 

Did you see anything "special" that you would like to share?
It was wonderful to see and hear Bluebirds while we were on the trail/course both days (especially since it was snowing and cold back here in Western NY).  But I do have a wonderful memory from our second day.  We had put up a new post in one area the day before (where the original post and box had been taken out by Ivan, no sign of it anywhere) and as we pulled up to put up a replacement box we spotted a male Bluebird singing that beautiful song.  We watched him fly off to a nearby tree and SURPRISE! he had joined a female already perched there.  It was as if they were waiting for their new home.  That brought a big smile to my face!  (I hope they went back to claim their new home).

How do you feel about your experience?

I've read Phil's messages to the list for years and I've always respected and admired him even though prior to this I had never met him (he's given me some great advice and help in the past, he may not remember, but I do).   

I admit, I didn't know how he would react to a "stranger" offering help, and we didn't know what to expect when we got there.  But I have to say that this has been one of the most positive experiences I've ever had.   We were welcomed with open arms.

I not only got the opportunity to pitch in, lend a hand, and  feel like I was doing some good, I also got to meet two terrific people, Phil and Jackie and A BONUS!, meeting JoAnn (a Bluebird bud from another list) and her husband Frank who live nearby (in Milton).  If they'll have me back, I'll be there again next February/March. 

I learned a lot while I was there.  Different parts of the country, different techniques and problems.  Tony is starting to make some new guards for Phil (they have woodpecker problems there) so we plan on continuing to help, even if it's from miles away.  And I hope that we will all be able to get together next year and work even more to help get this trail back to where it was. 

We don't have the trails that others have in our area of Western NY but over the past five years we became involved with Bluebirds, other natural cavity nesters, songbirds and local wildlife because we have a committment to local environmental conservation and preservation.  Tony and I feel very privileged and honored to have been able to do what we could in our short time there.

Phil and KimMarie both shared some photos with us of the Trail rebuilding project.