Student Activists and Environmental Advocates Unite!
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After a hiatus, the FFHP Junior youth group is back and looking for new members to join our mission! In the past, the group was composed mostly of middle and high school students; however, we are now encouraging all school aged children that live in or around Forest Hill to join us in taking care of the park and learning more about nature. Students from Westover Hills Elementary, Patrick Henry, Good Shepherd and other schools in the area are all welcome.
Laura Bradlee, Director of Outdoor Education at Good Shepherd Episcopal School (GSES), has taken the reins as the FFHP Junior Coordinator and joined the FFHP Board as of November 2023. She has been organizing monthly trash pick-ups in the park since October that coincide with FFHP volunteer days and has gotten the GSES Eco Club involved in holiday decorating at the Stone House, setting up an eco craft table at the Santa at the Stone House event and in the removal of harmful invasive species such as burning bush and English Ivy in various locations in the park. The Junior group plans to bring back Halloween Howl this October and to resume assisting with the bluebird trail activities in Forest Hill Park. There has been a steady increase in participation of these meaningful youth group gatherings and we are so excited to reimagine FFHP Junior under the leadership of Ms Bradlee to promote community, connection, activism and service! Please use the form below if you have a child/children interested in becoming a part of this wonderful community youth group and would like to stay informed about future FFHP Junior events. Any additional questions can be directed to Laura Bradlee ([email protected]). |
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Forest Hill Park Blue Bird Trail
Forest Hill Park has had a bluebird trail for at least the last twelve years through the Virginia Bluebird Society. There are 10 bird houses throughout the park which promote an increase in the blue bird population. Due to urbanization, predators and the invasive sparrow taking over blue bird nests, the blue bird population has been on the decline. By having designated trails, people can promote the bluebird's increase in population by setting up the best possible conditions. All of our bird houses (boxes) have baffles to prevent snakes and other animals from climbing into them. The boxes have wire predator guards around their entrances so that raccoons and other animals can’t reach eggs or babies.
The blue bird trail is monitored weekly by volunteers beginning in March/April through August. Trail monitors soap the interior of the boxes to prevent wasps from building nests, as well as remove wasp nest attempts. Monitors also put a ring of vaseline under the baffle around the pole so that ants can’t climb into the boxes. Trained monitors are allowed to remove sparrows’ nests because sparrows are an invasive species. Weekly monitoring allows us to remove sparrows’ nests early before they lay any eggs. The boxes in the park are reserved for blue birds and native species such as chick-a-dees and tree swallows.
Trail monitors also record the condition of the boxes each week and note partial nests, full nests, eggs, hatchlings and how many birds fledged into the park. It is important for a trained monitor to open the boxes because as the little birds grow, they can fall out when the box is opened. The trail coordinator submits statistics each year to the Virginia Blue Bird Society on the number and type of nests, number of eggs, hatchlings and fledglings. Blue birds will nest more than once in the season and lay up to five eggs per nest. Blue birds build their nests out of pine needles and fine grasses, and their eggs are distinctively blue. Forest Hill Park has had both chick-a-dees and blue birds all four years and a very high rate of fledglings into the park. If you are interested in learning about trail monitoring, or attending a monitor session, contact Laura Dysart.
The blue bird trail is monitored weekly by volunteers beginning in March/April through August. Trail monitors soap the interior of the boxes to prevent wasps from building nests, as well as remove wasp nest attempts. Monitors also put a ring of vaseline under the baffle around the pole so that ants can’t climb into the boxes. Trained monitors are allowed to remove sparrows’ nests because sparrows are an invasive species. Weekly monitoring allows us to remove sparrows’ nests early before they lay any eggs. The boxes in the park are reserved for blue birds and native species such as chick-a-dees and tree swallows.
Trail monitors also record the condition of the boxes each week and note partial nests, full nests, eggs, hatchlings and how many birds fledged into the park. It is important for a trained monitor to open the boxes because as the little birds grow, they can fall out when the box is opened. The trail coordinator submits statistics each year to the Virginia Blue Bird Society on the number and type of nests, number of eggs, hatchlings and fledglings. Blue birds will nest more than once in the season and lay up to five eggs per nest. Blue birds build their nests out of pine needles and fine grasses, and their eggs are distinctively blue. Forest Hill Park has had both chick-a-dees and blue birds all four years and a very high rate of fledglings into the park. If you are interested in learning about trail monitoring, or attending a monitor session, contact Laura Dysart.