Land Stewards get cabin fever too! You might not expect that, given our jobs and locations, but most of us are thinking about all the work that is waiting for us under the snow. We love winter, but are getting tired of the plowing and shoveling, just like you.
So, about this time of year an email goes out suggesting a nest box building day. Joe Vinton, Bear Creek's preserve manager, started the push this year. It wasn't long before we had a date, location and a stack of wood. The lumber was milled by NLT staff, with NLT's portable sawmill, on NLT preserves where trees had fallen, or were cut because they were hazards.
We met on Tuesday at Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve. The location is central, and the shop is well equipped. Joe Vinton (Bear Creek), Darin Groff (Binky Lee), Dan Barringer (Crow's Nest), Tom Kershner (Gwynedd), Mike Coll (Hildacy), Tim Burris (Mariton), Preston Wilson (Paunacussing), Sean Quinn (Stewardship Assistant), and Steve Longenecker (Building Stewardship) were the work crew.
By noon, we had cut and built 55 Bluebird nest boxes. We call them Bluebird nest boxes, but they might be used by Tree Swallows, Chickadees, Titmouses, wrens and even flying squirrels. After lunch, we built 14 nest boxes that could be used by Kestrels or Screech Owls. It is pretty amazing, because there is no boss. Every one gravitates to a station and starts working. Whether it was ripping boards, cutting pieces, drilling holes or pounding nails, we all found a job and jumped in. Our job is providing better habitat for wildlife and we love our job!