Dottie Haley is the Henry County coordinator for the Virginia Bluebird Society.  Please contact her if you are interested in helping with bluebird monitoring this year. 

I Can’t Imagine a World Without Birds

It is hard to believe that when I first showed an interest in monitoring Bluebird boxes, it was mainly to accumulate VMN volunteer service hours.  That was 12 years ago.  Although I am still monitoring, it is for very different reasons. 

My mentor was a man named Jimmy Doyle.  He began his quest to help the Bluebirds in the 70’s.  He was seeing the decline in the Bluebird population and wanted to do whatever he could to help.  He became the Henry County Co-Ordinator for the Virginia Bluebird Society and devoted his life to the cause.   He spread the word about Bluebirds and taught others who wanted to help what to do.  Jimmy was getting older and was no longer physically able to do everything that needed to be done.  I met with him on a beautiful spring morning so that he could show me the trail that he was handing off to me.  His excitement and enthusiasm were contagious so after an hour spent with Jimmy, I was officially a fanatic. As a monitor, it is exciting to see the progress in the life cycle of the Bluebird each week and a good feeling to look back at the end of each nesting season and see how many Bluebirds (and other nest box dwellers) that you helped fledge.  Each one makes a difference. 

My fanaticism quickly spread to include all birds.  I became obsessed with learning as many species names as possible and still get super excited to see a species that I have never seen before.  They come in such a wide array of sizes, colors and patterns.  What’s not to love?  I have spent many snowy days staring out the window at my feeders admiring all of those who visit.  

A new nesting season is right around the corner.  If you are interested in becoming a Bluebird box monitor, please contact me.  Since this is an outdoor activity, we are able to carry on with no Covid concerns. 

Photo by Dottie Haley:  Three-day old Bluebirds waiting for food.