Established in the 1940s and incorporated in 1972, we serve the Greater Hillsborough County region, including Tampa, Lutz, Plant City, Brandon, Riverview and Seffner.
Bluebird Boxes
The Flatwoods Park Bluebird Trail is one of more than 500 trails in North America that has helped the once-threatened bluebird population rebound from its serious decline. Flatwoods Park is a park in Hillsborough County park with a 7-mile paved bike path and many unpaved wilderness trails. Forty or so bluebird boxes are located along the bike path to provide nesting cavities for bluebirds, whose numbers declined after long-term habitat loss, pesticide use, and their natural nesting cavities being taken over by more aggressive and invasive English house sparrows and starlings. Monitored weekly by TAS volunteers since 2005, the trail has been maintained by TAS volunteers and Parks staff for over 30 years. In addition to bluebirds, other native birds like Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice and Carolina wrens also nest in the boxes.
In 2021, we added three more trail locations to our monitoring program: Lake Conservation Park in Lutz, Balm Boyette Scrub Nature Preserve in Wimauma, and John B. Sergeant Wilderness Park in Thonotosassa. And in 2022, we added two more, bringing our total trail count to five: Lettuce Lake Conservation Park in Temple Terrace, and Hunter's Green Recreation Park in new Tampa.
Nest boxes are relatively easy to MAKE (instructions), INSTALL (instructions), and MONITOR (data sheet sample), but you can also SPONSOR A BOX on the trail.
White pine and/or cedar are good choices for boxes. NOTE: Boxes should never be constructed of pressure-treated wood because it is toxic to birds. The entrance hole can face in any direction except west toward the hot afternoon sun. When possible, face the hole toward a nearby tree or shrub about 8 feet away so fledglings will have a safe place to fly to avoid predators. If they land on the ground, they are easy prey for cats, snakes, and birds of prey.
