Here is an email from Keith Kridler that I received that seems to be worth sharing to help reveal the early history of bluebirding

...

Larry Zeleny worked with T.E. Musselman and W.G Duncan to compile this along with his own contacts these were ALL of the really early and well known bluebirders up until the late 60's early 70's that these men were in contact with. I still have a few of W.G. Duncan's newsletters somewhere in my files that he sent to me. I will try to get a "true" copy of his nestbox plans from one of them. There were lots of other backyard bluebirders but these were the early pioneers.

Here is the forward written by Dr. Lawrence Zeleny from Andre Dion's book The Return of the Bluebird

LE RETOUR DE L'OISEAU BLEU copywrite 1981
The Return of the Bluebird copywrite 1984 Editions Auto-Correct-Art Inc.
All rights reserved for all countries. No part of this book may be
reproduced or adapted without written permission from the publisher, except
by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages for Inclusion in a review.
Exclusive Distribution in Canada:
Editions Auto-Correct-Art Inc.
2,rue Sauve',
St-Placide, (Quebec) JOV 2BO
Legal Deposits: Bibliotheque nationale du Quebec, Montreal - Second
Quarter 1984 National Library of Canada, Ottawa - Second Quarter 1984
Printed in Canada ISBN: 2-920159-28-3

Foreword

From ancient times, man has been aware of birds and attempts have often been made to encourage them to nest where they could be enjoyed or where they would be helpful in controlling insects. With bluebirds especially, artists and writers have depicted their appeal to our senses and imaginations. Henry David Thoreau, the noted American naturalist, wrote in his diary for Septembre 29, 1842 "Today... the bluebirds, old and young, have revisited their box, as if they would fain repeat the summer without intervention of winter, if Nature would let them. " A remarkable new entry into the body of bluebird lore in song and story is now with us in Andre Dion's English edition of The Return of the Bluebird. Combining as it does
the true to nature art work of Richard Lemire with the story of Dion's "Bluebird" it will capture the imagination and delight the eye of the reader.

Andre Dion, who was born in the province of Quebec, credits his love of all nature, and especially birds, to his early education with the priests in his home town of Saint-Placide. Throughout his life while working professionally "with books" his inclinations towards birds took a back seat. Upon retirement, he rediscovered his youthful enthusiasm for birds by way of
the Nature Society News, a monthly periodical of popular focus which extends its readership across the continent. There he encountered my column "The Bluebird Trail", and his attention became focused on bluebirds. Purple martins had also benefited from his interest, and he has been a "purple martin landlord" for years.

With this publication Dion hopes to link the bluebird conservation efforts of Eastern Canada through the United States and finally join the efforts in Western Canada that were spearheaded by John and Norah Lane. Human concern for bluebird populations has been alerted since it became obvious that bluebirds were gradually disappearing. Many of the reasons are
woven into Dion's story. Chief among these reasons is the presence in North America of two alien species: the House Sparrow and the European Starling. The House Sparrow was first successfully introduced into North America in 1851 and the European Starting in 1890. Prior to these introductions the bluebirds had no particular need for human help. Man had done little if anything to interfere with their lifestyle and they were obviously quite capable of coping with their natural enemies - otherwise they would have disappeared long before. The use of bluebird nesting boxes prior to the 1900s, therefore, was primarily for the purpose of enticing the birds to nest close to human habitations where people could enjoy watching them,
rather than with any thought of helping a species in distress. Soon after the turn of the century it became quite evident that House Sparrows were a serious threat to some of our cavity nesting birds, particularly the bluebird. They would compete with the bluebirds for both natural cavities and nesting boxes, and because of their aggressive nature, they nearly always won these disputes. The sparrows would break the bluebird eggs, kill the nestlings, and often kill the adult bluebirds which were attempting to defend their nests.

My own concern with the plight of the bluebird began in 1918 when I found that without constant vigilance and interference on my part House Sparrows nearly always evicted bluebirds from the nesting boxes I had built for them. I wondered how bluebirds could possibly survive as a species without human help. And at that time starlings were unknown in my home state
of Minnesota.

More than a half century ago Frank M. Chapman, one of America's leading ornithologists, predicted that the starling, which in America was then confined to a small area within about 100 miles of New York City, would eventually become a serious threat to the bluebird. His prediction came true within a remarkably short time and, because of its even more aggressive
nature, the starling became a greater threat than the House Sparrow. Bluebirds usually found it almost impossible to nest successfully in any area where starlings were abundant. This situation has greatly increased the bluebirds' dependence on their human friends to supply them with starling-proof nesting boxes.

Thomas E. Musselman of Quincy, Illinois, is generally credited with being the originator of a bluebird conservation movement of more than local importance. Likewise he originated the concept of the "bluebird trail" as well as the name itself. He began making and experimenting with nesting boxes of his own design in 1926 and several years later established a bluebird trail along country roads in Adams County, Illinois. The success of this trail encouraged him to expand his activities until his trails in the county consisted of more than 1,000 nesting boxes. Musselman pioneered the effort to obtain widespread public participation in bluebird conservation partly through an article in Bird Lore in 1934 calling for the establishment of bluebird trails throughout the country. During his later years he devoted much of his time to lecturing and helping others get started in bluebird conservation work through personal contacts and correspondence. William G. Duncan of Louisville, Kentucky, like Musselman, is credited as a major bluebird conservation pioneer. From about 1930 until Musselmon's death in 1976, the two men were in frequent communication, exchanging notes, experiences, and ideas. Duncan designed his own bluebird nesting box, and his plans have been used widely with much success. He operated bluebird trails consisting of hundreds of boxes, mostly in Jefferson County, Kentucky. By means of talks and correspondence he spread the bluebird message to thousands of people throughout much of the country. Duncan's interests and concern with conservation issues are broad and deep. This led him in the 1950s to begin writing and distributing newsletters to interested persons. His mailing list increased rapidly and
now exceeds 1,500 names. These newsletters cover a wide range of conservation issues, but Duncan's first love was the bluebird, the plight of which he mentions more frequently than any other subject. Untold numbers of concerned people are now engaged in helping the bluebirds as a result of Duncan's urging.

A highly successful bluebird trail was established at Percy Warner Park, Nashville, Tennessee in 1936 by Amelia R. Laskey. This was continued for many years during which time Mrs. Laskey kept careful records and made numerous observations of scientific value which are recorded in the scientific literature. Later, with the cooperation of John S. Herbert, a similar successful trail was established along rural roads near Ashland City, Tennessee.

One of the most obscure yet most ambitious efforts in the history of bluebird conservation was the development of the National Bluebird Trail. It started with the Junior Audubon Club of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, organized by Mrs. Oscar Findley in 1938. Under her guidance the Club developed a successful bluebird trail locally. Soon thereafter Mrs. Erie R. Jackson of
the Better Garden Club of Kirkwood, Missouri secured permission from the Missouri Highway Department to place nesting boxes along Missouri highways. Her club adopted this plan as their project early in 1942 and began developing a state-wide trail. Later that year the trail was taken over by the State Board of Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri and the Missouri
Bluebird Trail consisting of 2,680 nesting boxes was officially dedicated. Within three years garden clubs in 23 states from coast to coast had joined the effort and on May 9, 1945 the National Bluebird Trail was formally dedicated in Springfield, Missouri. By 1946 a total of 6,728 nesting boxes had been erected.

Unfortunately interest in maintaining this mammoth project soon waned, probably because of lack of strong central leadership. The trail began to disintegrate and before long ceased to exist as an entity. Segments of it, however, in various areas were continued and the project no doubt served a useful purpose in arousing the interest of many people who have continued to help the bluebirds in local areas.

In 1951 Philip J. Hummel of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, established a small bluebird trail on his farm which, because of its success, attracted the attention of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. That Society urged 4-H Clubs to establish bluebird trails in their areas as club projects. The WSO issued a bulletin entitled Bluebird Trails Guide designed primarily for the use of 4-H Clubs.

Charlie Ellis started a bluebird trail on his 1&1/2 section farm near Red Deer, Alberta, in 1956. The trail eventually consisted of 279 nesting boxes. His remarkable success is attributed to the fact that he meticulously eliminated virtually all House Sparrows and starlings from his property.

William L. Highhouse of Warren, Pennsylvania, has maintained an active bluebird project know as "Operation Bluebird" in Warren County, Pennsylvania, since 1957. By 1974 he and some thirty others who have helped with the project had mounted approximately 400 nesting boxes along about 100 miles of Warren County roads. Since its inception this project has produced
roughly 14,500 Eastern Bluebirds and 6,900 Tree Swallows.

John and Norah Lane of Brandon, Manitoba in 1959 organized a boys club known as the Brandon Junior Birders whose members took it upon themselves to build bluebird nesting boxes and set them out along roadsides. News of the success of this project spread and encouraged others in the Canadian prairie provinces to establish bluebird trails. Eventually various of these trails were joined together into a huge network extending from near Winnipeg, Manitoba, westward to Indian Head, Saskatchewan, then northwestward to a point beyond Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The total length of the composite trail, including its numerous side trails, is approximately 2,500 miles. Some 7,000 nesting boxes have been mounted on the trail and, in a typical year, an estimated 5,000 young bluebirds and 10,000 young Tree Swallows are fledged. The bluebirds are predominantly Mountain Bluebirds although some Eastern Bluebirds are found along the eastern part of the trail. John Lane
was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by Brandon University in 1971 largely on the basis of his outstanding work in the field of bluebird conservation.

Among the various operators in addition to the Lanes who have contributed most to the mammoth Canadian Prairies Bluebird Trail should be mentioned Lorne Scott of Indian Head, Saskatchewan and Stuart and Mary Houston of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. By 1970 Scott was maintaining and monitoring some 2,000 nesting boxes virtually single-handedly. This was
possibly the most extensive one-person bluebird operation on record. The Houston's also organized an extensive trail which extends to the western terminal of the composite Canadian Prairie Bluebird Trail. Stuart Houston has published an excellent review of the origin and development of the entire trail.

Still farther west in Canada important bluebird trails were initiated in Alberta by Joy Finlay of Edmonton in 1971; by Harold Pinel of Calgary in 1973; and by Duncan Mackintosh of Lethbridge in 1974. Mackintosh's efforts have crossed the border, joining with a large Montana group led by Art Aylesworth of Ronan, Montana. Together they work with bluebirders in their
area under the banner of "Mountain Bluebird Trails".

In eastern Canada through the efforts of Leo Smith of Toronto, the Oshawa Naturalist Club, the Willow Beach Field Naturalist Club, and the Ontario Bird Banding Association established extensive bluebird trails in southern Ontario with a total of about 1,200 nesting boxes. The Robert Braley family, have put out hundreds of nestboxes at Pike Lake in Ontario. The author and most likely other people in eastern Canada are also maintaining bluebird trails.

Raleigh R. Stotz of Grand Rapids, Michigan, working with the Grand Rapids Audubon Club, organized a "Bluebirds Unlimited" project in 1962. An experimental bluebird trail was established in that area to study methods of predator control and other aspects of a successful trail. Educational material including an annual report of the project was distributed widely to interested persons, and more than 15,000 bluebird nesting boxes were sold virtually at cost.

Ralph K. Bell of Clarksville, Pennsylvania, a successful poultry farmer, started a bluebird trail in 1964 in the southwestern part of that state along the country roads he traveled weekly to deliver eggs. The trail consisted of approximately 200 boxes, nearly all of them mounted on utility poles with the permission of the local utility company. As many as 800 bluebirds have been fledged from his boxes in a single year, a rather remarkable record.

The National Association for the Protection and Propagation of the Purple Martins and Bluebirds of America (NAPPPMBA) was organized in 1964 by M.D. Anglin, an Arkansas attorney, and Charles C. Butler, a Kansas grocer. The organization issued monthly newsletters to its 400 members and distributed approximately at cost about 7,000 copies of bluebird nesting box
plans and instructions and 4,000 copies of my 16-page booklet Bluebirds for Posterity.

NAPPPMBA was dissolved in 1969 and its work passed into the hands of the Griggsville Wild Bird Society (now The Nature Society) which published Purple Martin Capital News (now Nature Society News). This paper has published a monthly "Bluebird Trail" column for many years. The column was written by T.E. Musselman prior to 1969, by Larry Zeleny from 1969 to 1981, and since then by Ben Pinkowski. This column has created widespread interest in bluebird conservation throughout much of the United States and Canada. A prime example of this is the present book.

The Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States (ANS) launched a bluebird project in 1967, and a similar project was begun in 1969 by the Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS). These two projects soon became integrated and some 75 collaborators participated in the work. By the end of 1978 about 3,100 nesting boxes were being maintained and an estimated 28,600 Eastern Bluebirds had been fledged from the boxes during the 12 years of the project.

Edwin T. McKnight of Bethesda, Maryland has operated bluebird trails in both Maryland and Virginia since 1967, the most successful of which is in Stafford County, Virginia. More than 3,000 young bluebirds have been fledged from his nesting boxes.

Instruction in bluebird conservation has been initiated in some public schools to show the children how they can become personally involved in helping a deeply troubled species of wildlife to survive. Richard M. Tuttle, a junior high school teacher in Delaware County, Ohio started his own bluebird trail in 1968. Inspired by the success of this operation he instructs his students by means of illustrated lectures and by having them construct and mount their own nesting boxes in a proper habitat. Some of these students then become sufficiently interested to develop their own bluebird trails.

Jess and Elva Brinkerhoff in 1968 started a small bluebird trail in south-central Washington which later developed into a trail of more than 800 nesting boxes scattered throughout an area of about 150 square miles. Practically all of the boxes are used every year, mostly by Mountain Bluebirds but with a few Western Bluebirds. This may well be one of the most completely successful large bluebird trails ever developed, particularly in view of the fact that there were very few bluebirds in the area before the trail was started. Alfred Perry operates a similarly successful 238 box trail near Boise, Idaho, further assisting the bluebird conservation efforts of the region.

Hubert W. Prescott of Portland, Oregon has long been concerned by the dwindling population of the Western Bluebird, particularly in the region of Oregon's fertile Willamette Valley. In about 1969 he began a serious study of the problem and concluded that one of the principal troubles was that, in the development of the Valley's land for intensive agriculture, the natural cavities needed by the bluebirds for nesting had been mostly destroyed. In 1973 Prescott initiated bluebird trails in three separate areas of the Willamette Valley. The project has been generally successful and with the blessing and support of the Portland Audubon Society has been considerably expanded.

In Illinois, Ralph M.J. Shook of Godfrey, remembering the abundance of bluebirds in his native Calhoun County during his boyhood, became appalled by how scarce they had become by 1970. Determined to do whatever he could to remedy the situation, he began building nesting boxes which he then set out in rural areas. Some he gave away to others who agreed to mount them in proper locations. By 1973 nearly 500 of his nesting boxes had been set out, roughly half of which were occupied by bluebirds, and the badly depleted bluebird population of Illinois' Calhoun County was making a substantial comeback. Unfortunately the almost unprecedented severity of the winters of 1977 and 1978 in Illinois nearly eliminated these gains. Since that time a gradual recovery in the bluebird population has been observed. Similar trends were noted in Indiana during the same period by Thomas Beasley of Oakland City who operated what was perhaps the most extensive and successful bluebird trail in that state.

The beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia lies between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Central range of the Appalachians. Most of it consists of excellent bluebird habitat with plenty of natural tree cavities that formerly provided homes for a thriving population of bluebirds. But for at least 13 years starlings have taken over most of these cavities and the bluebirds have all but disappeared in most parts of the Valley. In 1970 Ira L. Campbell of Timberville started setting out nesting boxes in the Valley and within a few years was maintaining more than 100 boxes along 32 miles of country roads. Bluebirds are now again common along the course of his Shenandoah Bluebird Trail.

Reuel Broyles of Springfield, Missouri has probably accomplished more than anyone else in helping to bring back to Missouri its state bird, the Eastern Bluebird. Broyles has his own successful bluebird trail, and, in addition, since 1971 he has made thousands of bluebird nesting boxes and given them to persons and organizations in Missouri who have agreed to make
proper use of them.

In 1973 the Camp Fire Girl organization (now Camp Fire, Inc. and not confined to girls) initiated its "Project Save the Bluebirds". This was an outgrowth of a small project started in 1971 by Mary D. Janetatos, now Executive Director of the North American Bluebird Society. Probably the greatest success so far achieved under the Camp Fire project was that of the
Camp Fire Girls Atlanta (Georgia) Council. Under the capable leadership of Mrs. C.D. Woodward and Col. W.R. Robertson, Jr. (Ret.) approximately 1,000 nesting boxes were set out in rural areas near Atlanta, and an estimated 1,500 young bluebirds were fledged from them the first year, 1975. Various Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops and 4-H Clubs have also organized bluebird projects. The importance of the participation of youth groups in bluebird conservation cannot be overemphasized since it is without doubt enriching the lives of hundreds of thousands of our finest young people at their most impressionable age by instilling into their minds greater love and respect for living things and an understanding of the serious problems that face some of our most cherished species of wildlife. The future of all conservation efforts lies in the hands of the coming
generation.

Jack R. Finch of Bailey, North Carolina organized the non-profit bluebird conservation corporation "Homes for Bluebirds", Inc. Through this organization Finch began building and setting out nesting boxes in carefully selected locations throughout much of North and South Carolina until eventually more than 2,000 boxes had been placed in more than 70 locations.
These included nesting boxes of several different original designs, most of which have proved to be successful. Large increases in the bluebird population appear to have occurred in many of the areas where his boxes are located.

Military reservations have often been found to be good locations for bluebird trails. One of the most successful trails in Maryland is located at the Aberdeen Proving Ground which consists of about 80,000 acres near the northeastern corner of the state, much of which is excellent bluebird habitat. A bluebird trail of approximately 300 boxes was established there in 1974 by Ellis Porter, game warden at the Proving Ground and Wilson Ford of Churchville, Maryland. An estimated 675 bluebirds were fledged on this trail in 1975. Ford also operates his own trail of more than 300 boxes near Churchville. Government properties have also been utilized for bluebird trails, notably by Chuck Dupree during his years as grounds manager at the
Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt, MD. Chuck was also a moving force behind the establishment of the North American Bluebird Society.

One of the most encouraging trends in the bluebird conservation movement is the gradual involvement of big industry. Perhaps the outstanding example of such involvement is that of the Bowater Carolina Company of Catawba, South Carolina. This is one of the worldwide family of companies involved in lumbering and in the production of wood pulp, paper, and other forest products. In 1975 Bowater began its participation in the bluebird cause by producing well-made nesting boxes and giving them with complete instructions to persons requesting them in the Carolinas and adjoining states who would agree to make proper use of them and report their results annually. More than 3,000 nesting boxes have been distributed under this program and the results have been highly encouraging.

In 1975 the Northern Neck of Virginia Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, initiated a "Bring Back Bluebirds to Virginia" project. Since that time the Society has sold through local merchants approximately 2,700 bluebird nesting boxes, each accompanied by instructions and a form to report nesting results. The project under the leadership of
Mary A. Marlar is proving to be highly successful. The Jackson, Mississippi Audubon Society is also doing a great deal for the bluebirds in a similar manner under the leadership of Reber Layton.

Utility companies in several areas have joined the bluebird conservation movement by permitting the placing of nesting boxes on their properties or by actually establishing bluebird trails. Both the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company and the Philadelphia Electric Company have established trails on their properties in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Robert M. Schutsky not only operates the trail on the property of the Philidelphia Electric Company but conducts one-day bluebird workshops several times a year for all interested persons.

Junius Birchard of Hackettstown, New Jersey in 1977 began a campaign to bring back the bluebird to that state largely through the public schools. He has given numerous illustrated talks on the subject of bluebird conservation both to school children and adult groups. In addition he has obtained and supplied at cost to interested persons precut lumber for constructing nearly 5,000 bluebird nesting boxes. Each person receiving this material is supplied with detailed instructions for building the boxes and selecting the most suitable places to locate them. Assistance and demonstrations are given when needed, especially to the school children.

By early 1978 interest in the plight of the bluebird had reached a high level largely as a result of the long series of "Bluebird Trail" columns in Nature Society News, publication of the book The Bluebird - How You Can Help Its Fight for Survival, an article on bluebirds in National Geographic, and numerous other magazine and newspaper articles on the subject. As a result a small group of experienced bluebirders got together in the Washington, D.C. area to consider the possibility of a continent-wide organization to promote the cause of bluebird conservation. Accordingly the North American Bluebird
Society was incorporated as a non-profit tax-exempt organization in 1978. Its founding board of directors included persons from geographic regions in which are found each of the three bluebird species. The Society has since functioned as a principal agency in promoting bluebird conservation. Among its activities is the publication of the well-received quarterly journal, Sialia.

An important development which shows great hope for the bluebirds in the United States is the enactment of legislation which will benefit non-game wildlife. In my native state of Minnesota the funds thus generated have been spent in part on publicizing the plight of the bluebird, printing literature for workshops in bluebird conservation, and on establishing
bluebird trails with the help of volunteers. It is hoped that this concept may spread throughout the United States and Canada to the great benefit of the bluebirds.

The foregoing accounts show how people are helping to prevent further decline in the bluebird population. Spreading the word about how people can help is of paramount importance. One excellent example is the well-written popular bluebird article by Joan Rattner Heilman that appeared in Parade magazine. As a result of that article more than 80,000 written requests for additional information were received by the North American Bluebird Society. The Return of the Bluebird by Andre Dion furnishes a beautiful vehicle for touching the heartstrings of its readers on behalf of one of the loveliest of God's creatures.

written by:
Dr. Lawrence Zeleny, Founder
North American Bluebird Society

March 11, 1984

For more information about bluebird conservation write to the North American Bluebird Society, P.O. Box 74,Darlington, Wisconsin 53530

The North American Bluebird Society. NABS is a membership organization for persons interested in bluebirds and other North American birds which use cavities for nesting. For membership information, send a message to nabluebird@aol.com or go to the NABS web site at http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/

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