Ten bluebird nest boxes were installed during February at Holly Point Nature Park on the grounds of the Deltaville Maritime Museum (DMM). On Feb. 12, volunteers with Virginia Master Naturalists-Middle Peninsula Chapter placed poles in the ground and mounted baffles and nest boxes to each. The population of bluebirds dropped as much as 90% decades ago due to habitat loss. Citizens everywhere have been putting up boxes to help their numbers bounce back.
Materials for some of the boxes were donated by Roland Anderson and the Deltaville Maritime Museum Boat Shop. Others were donated by Ed Pels, along with much of the hardware needed. Project participants include Pat Anderson (project captain), Luann Johnson, Mike Grose, Chris Conley, Miles Wong and Patty Campbell.
The nest boxes on Holly Point’s nature trail will be monitored by trained members of the Master Naturalists through the spring and summer. They ask that visitors watch from a wide distance and give the new families some peace — the babies may be sleeping.
Holly Point Nature Park is open dawn to dusk daily on the DMM campus at 287 Jackson Creek Road in Deltaville. Visitors can enjoy exercise along the many roads and trails or enjoy a quiet lunch at one of the many picnic tables. Entry is free. 776-7200.
