Bluebird Monitoring Program at Copper Falls State Park

The Friends of Copper Falls State Park (FoCFSP) sponsors and conducts a bluebird monitoring program. The Friends program began in 2024 to provide enhanced nesting habitat and data that helps protect the species and track their continued success.  

Program volunteers constructed and placed 15 cedar cavity nesting boxes in a variety of open locations throughout the park. In support of the program, the Ashland County Land and Water Conservation Department provided materials and instructions for 8 more bluebird houses. Mellen High School students constructed the additional houses in their woodshop class and located the boxes just outside of the park’s boundary. 

Beginning in April, volunteers monitor each box every ten days during the nesting season. Thus far, the efforts have proven successful. Bluebirds occupied as many as 7 houses during the program’s first season. Other nesting birds made use of the new nest boxes too. Volunteers reported chickadees and tree swallows taking up residence. 

In general, Bluebirds in Wisconsin are doing well after a decline in the 1980’s. According to Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources bird team leader, Ryan Brady, “Even as the species is now common and widespread, work to erect and monitor nest boxes is essential to sustaining populations and detecting signs of change in the years ahead.”