Welcome to the fascinating realm of the Colleton River Bluebird Box Group — a community dedicated to the vibrant, azure‐winged wonders that grace our stunning compound. Join us as we unravel the secrets of bluebird nesting, why they need our help, and how you can dive into this joyful experience to enhance your connection with our beautiful community.

Bluebirds are not the new guys on the block. Bluebirds have a large history and cultural significance in the Eastern United States. They continue to play an important role in protecting crops from insects, ensuring a reliable food source for people. Farmers plant bluebird boxes around agricultural fields to feed on insects that can otherwise destroy crops.

Their vibrant blue plumage and sweet melodies have made them symbols of happiness, hope, and renewal. Folklore often associates bluebirds with positive omens, making them a beloved and iconic presence in the region's cultural fabric.

Why Bluebirds Need a Helping Hand in Nesting: Picture this: a brilliant burst of blue against the sunlit sky! Bluebirds, with their enchanting hues, have faced habitat challenges, leading to a decline in their populations. They're like the recyclers of the avian world, moving into abandoned cavities crafted by other birds, like woodpeckers. We are helping to bring them back to center stage at Colleton River with our Bluebird boxes!

History Unveiled: Our Bluebird Box Group's tale began in the early 2000s when Jim Grove, the visionary, hung a few bluebird boxes across the golf courses, inviting these winged wonders to call Colleton River their nesting haven and hunt for insects along our grass golf course buffers. The brilliance of bluebirds under the sunlight is a spectacle that simply delights the soul.

Around 2010, a group of members expanded the number of boxes and established monitoring teams. This data was shared with the SC Bluebird recording group. Having data makes planning and results so informative.

In 2023, we've evolved into what I will call 'Bluebird Nest Developers,' boasting a grand total of 49 home boxes scattered across the 2 golf courses—a true testament to the explosion of Colleton River bluebird homes maintained by our engaged agronomy team led by Jeff Kent! In collaboration with Cornell Labs, we've gotten box GPS coordinates, and Owen Hartman meticulously logs data into Nest Watch for a journey through species trends over the years.

How We Keep Tabs On Our Feathered Friends: Get ready to be part of the action! Our monitoring teams, armed with passion and tenderness, patrol the golf courses once per week from March 1 to August 1, or until the third brood takes flight. (Cornell may call it a 'nest attempt,' instead of brood). It's important to remember that bluebirds are very accepting of human interaction and will never abandon a nest because of monitoring.

The magic lies in the timeline photos—from the gathering of each stage captured in a visual log. Join us in celebrating the rebound nesting material to the brilliant blue eggs to the first flutter of wings, of the bluebird population, and be prepared to be captivated by the enchanting world we're creating at Colleton River! 

2023 Data at a Glance: Hold on to your hats! Web’e witnessed 359 successful fledgling events with a whopping 90% hatch rate from a total of 467 eggs. Bluebirds, under our watchful eyes, are thriving, and you won’t believe the joy that comes from seeing these nests and birds in action. We are so fortunate to have Karen Anderson to be the ‘flock’ leader. And, she has breakfast meetings which are renowned for fun and food!

If you wish to learn more and/or join the team, we would love to hear from you. Participation is 1 hour per week, for as few or as many times as you can! Please contact Karen Anderson at golfand75@gmail.com for more information.