The Mountain Island Lake Wildlife Stewards, a chapter of the NC Wildlife Federation, has taken on a project in conjunction with the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation department – build forty nest boxes for the Prothonotary Warbler in the nature preserves around the lake. It’s significant that these birds only nest in a water environment like those preserves have.
As we began shopping for supplies it became apparent that this was going to be financially significant for our young budget. The Meck naturalist optimistically thought we would be able to have the materials donated. Then the member who accepted that challenge, had to step up to some intense situations at work.
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry is based here in Charlotte. They are well appreciated for many notable philanthropic contributions to this community. Tomorrow, I’ll try to contact them for help on this. If anyone reading this can help that effort – please contact me.
We’re nearing nesting season and promised to have these ready for installation next week. Retail at Lowes for the materials is $526 – (40 each, schedule 40) 4″ to 2″ couplers, 4″ end caps, 4″ test caps. Mecklenburg County is providing the 2 inch pvc posts and 4 inch pipe bodies that I’ve already drilled.
As a young chapter we’re still in the pioneering phase – simply a way of saying our meager funds are already budgeted for our other wildlife and youth programs. This is a heckuva opportunity to make a difference in our wildlife population at Mountain Island – sure hope we can find some help with this.
Great Project-Kudos to the volunteers of Mtn. Island Lake Wildlife Stewards for raising the bar on citizen science monitoring. The Prothonotary warbler is a targeted cavity nesting species for data collection and is a species of concern within the NC Wildlife Action Plan. Good partneirng and collaboration opportunity (need some supplies to implement). The watershed that provides Charlotte and surrounding cities their drinking water, is fortunate to have much protected lands and a diversity of flora/fauna. All should be proud of the Stewards for enhancement efforts for this particular project as well as efforts to benefit: ospreys, herons, fish, turtles AND the water we all depend on!
This is a great project and the data collected will be provided to Cornell University. We’ve tried several other types of boxes but had problems with wasps. This one is a new prototype that we hope will result in fewer wasp invasions, more successful nests, and more warblers around the lake. If successful, it could become Cornell’s new sanctioned design.