Volunteer! Cavity Nester Volunteering at INWR

Purple Martin Nest Check Demonstration (Pre-Pandemic!)

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the cavity nesting birds program at Iroquois? There are opportunities awaiting you! As part of our organization purpose, the Friends of Iroquois are dedicated to educating the public about the plants and animals found at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. We advocate for the refuge and its programs and needs. One way we do so if to find volunteers. I’d like to tell you about a great opportunity to learn about the cavity nesting native birds at Iroquois.

4 inch eastern bluebird nest with three eggs. Bluebirds weave a nest with grass, plant stems and pine needles. The female constructs the nest, which is lined with hair, fine grasses or feathers. The female lays one egg each day until the clutch size reaches between 3-6 pale blue eggs.

After the female has incubated the eggs for an average length of 14 days, it’s hatch day in this eastern bluebird nest.

Here, the bluebird nestlings are a few days old. They are hatched helpless with just a little gray down and with their eyes closed. Notice the bright yellow beak, an adaptation of birds that allows the parent to easily and quickly deliver food to the young.

Now, the eastern bluebird nestlings are completely covered with feathers they have grown in the last week. They will be ready to fledge after 17 days in the nest.

Volunteers maintain and survey a wide assortment of housing for many species of native cavity nesting birds here at Iroquois. As you can imagine, there’s plenty to do! Volunteers also contribute to cavity nesting projects by assisting with bird banding and collecting data for research studies. Plus, it’s just plain fun to get the opportunity to work with these beautiful birds!

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Six white Tree Swallow eggs in a rather flat nest lined with multiple feathers. The feathers often completely cover the eggs!

These Tree Swallow nestlings are almost ready to fledge. When disturbed, they crouch in the nest and hold perfectly still as an innate defense mechanism.

Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows: The refuge has 91 boxes for Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows located all around the refuge. These are checked weekly during the nesting season. The housing is updated and cleaned in the off season. Opening the boxes and seeing the developmental stages of the nestlings is a very rewarding learning experience. Our team camaraderie is pretty great, too!
Purple Martins: At the refuge, there are two locations for Purple Martin housing that volunteers maintain. First, a house with a gourd rack right at headquarters close to the parking lot and an additional gourd rack along the Headquarters trail. Second, three houses and two gourd racks at the Job Corp site on refuge property.

Please think about this opportunity and whether you might be a good fit for helping with activities that contribute to the survival of the avian life supported by our volunteers. Just contact the refuge at 585- 948-5445;7036 and speak to Eric Schaertl to complete the refuge volunteer agreement. Eric can put you in contact with the cavity nesting team. We need you!

For additional volunteer activities, please visit INWR’s site.

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