Nestbox Academy

Saturday, February 1, 2025
9 AM to 12:30 PM

Johnson County Extension Office
11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite 1500
Olathe, KS 66061

Join us for our second annual Nestbox Academy (formerly Bluebird Academy)-- a fun learning opportunity for everyone!

As we get close to the start of another nesting season, we invite you to join us and learn something new! There will be three concurrent levels of presentations that morning:

• beginner
• experienced
• topics beyond bluebirds

These levels are only a guideline to help you choose. You are free to pick amongst the presentations based on your interest. Snacks and beverages will be available throughout the morning. Between presentations, you will find information tables where you can learn about projects associated with Kansas natural resources.

Event Schedule

Time	Room 1055	Room 1060	Room 1070
8:30	Registration in lobby
8:45	check-in	Snacks in social area	Tabling in lobby
9 am	Welcome
9:15—session 1	Keynote address: 3 Billion Birds Lost & What to Do about it Jackie Augustine		Overflow seating
10—break	Tabling and Snacks	Tabling and Snacks	Tabling and Snacks
10:30—session 2	Bluebird 101	Uncovering Mystery of Purple Martin Migration Bill Warnes	Photography in the Field Heather Cwach
11:15—break	Tabling and Snacks	Tabling and Snacks	Tabling and Snacks
11:45—session 3	Nest Box Predator Control Jack Corrigan	Peeking on the Prothonotary Ann Tanner	Conservation of Bird Habitat Matt Garrett

 

Speakers, Titles, Descriptions:

Keynote: Jackie Augustine--3 Billion Birds Lost & What to Do about It

A recent study revealed that we have lost one in four individual birds since 1970, amounting to nearly 3 billion birds. However, not all species declined and some habitats experienced more declines than others. Dr. Jackie Augustine, Audubon of Kansas Executive Director, will explain how this was estimated, describe trends in the data with respect to species and habitats, and share ways you can prevent further losses in your own neighborhood and with your nestboxes.

Speaker TBA--Bluebird 101

This hands on session will walk through the how-to’s of monitoring nestboxes with opportunity for discussion and questions.

Jack Corrigan--Nest Box Predator Control

This presentation will cover methods and stategies to reduce nesting box predation. Nesting box construction, mounting, and placement, as well as add-on guards and tools will be shown and discussed.

Bill Warnes—Uncovering the Mystery of Purple Martin Migration

It is only within the past few years that the migration routes of the Purple Martin and other migratory birds have been discovered through the use of modern tracking devices. The session will discuss the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. It requires attaching a tracking device to the bird, and movements are tracked as it passes by a Motus Tower.

Ann Tanner--Peeking on the Prothonotary

This presentation will discuss Prothonotary Warblers’ population trends, range and migration pathways, and ongoing work to install nest boxes in wetlands in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Learn about the local work to band and place barometric pressure geolocators on Prothonotary Warblers in partnership with Prothonotary Warbler Working Group Study out of Mississippi and Louisiana and how this information can be used in planning wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Heather Cwach--Photography in the Field

Learn how to effectively use your camera to get great shots of birds and other wildlife. There will be an opportunity to try your hand and ask questions.

Matt Garrett-- Building a County Conservation Success Story – The JCPRD Natural Resource Plan

JCPRD developed a natural resource plan in 2019 to better manage the almost 9,000 acres of natural areas in Johnson County. An update in 2024 focused on new restoration priorities. Learn about large scale habitat projects, wildlife research, public hunting, art residencies, and all the other innovative programs happening in JOCO.

 

This event is hosted by Extension Master Naturalists.
Learn more about the EMN's Bluebird Steward program here.