Montgomery’s Beautification Committee Seeks Help to Build Bluebird Houses

Montgomery’s Beautification Committee has undertaken an ambitious project to assemble 50 bluebird houses on Saturday, February 18th from 9:00 a.m. until noon at the Public Works Building, 891 Knell Road, and is seeking volunteers to help with the work. This would be ideal for anyone handy with woodworking, people interested in birds and birding, and scout groups who might find this a fun community service event.

After assembly, the bluebird houses will be installed at various locations throughout the Village, starting with ideal bluebird habitat areas. Bluebirds like to be near water, tall grass and within easy flight range of trees. The Village’s naturalized areas, water basins, river bank and river island areas, and the Parkview Estates water management areas will be areas of emphasis initially.

Urban development and competition from other animals have discouraged bluebirds in this area, and the Beautification Committee hopes to attract them back with this project. Once bluebirds nest and hatch young in a particular area, the young tend to come back to their "birthplace" in successive years. If the bluebird houses are able to attract bluebirds back to this area, there is an excellent chance that they will continue to return each year and re-populate Montgomery again.

This program also needs volunteers to help manage the birdhouses once they are installed. This would include observing them from time to time to alert the Village to any vandalism or repair needs, cleaning the house in the spring as bluebirds prefer to start with a clean nesting place each year, and helping to photograph these beautiful creatures. Bluebirds especially like mealworms for food, and volunteers will also be needed to manage feeding stations to initially help attract migrating bluebirds to once again make their home in Montgomery.

The committee hopes to install 50 additional bluebird houses each year until the entire Village has been served sufficiently by this effort to restore one of nature's beautiful creatures to our community. For additional information, please contact Trustee Stan Bond atbond@ci.montgomery.il.us or (630) 440-1007 .