What is a Bluebird Trail? It is a series of bluebird nesting boxes, set up at appropriate intervals in keeping with the bluebird's territorial requirements. Bluebird trails have been established in many areas and are monitored by volunteers to maximize nesting success and record data on nesting box usage and the results of nesting attempts by both bluebirds and other species. Over the years, bluebird trails have played a major role in bringing bluebird populations back after they had been decreasing for many years. For more information on bluebird trails throughout the United States, and to learn what you can do in your own yard for bluebirds, check out the North American Bluebird Society's website or the New York State Bluebird Society's website.

Florence Germond began the Dutchess County Bluebird Trail in 1962 and continued to coordinate it until her death Oct. 13, 1994. During the first year, 1962, 4 boxes were not used, one was damaged, and one was stolen. In the one box used by bluebirds, two broods were raised.

Peggy Fasciani was coordinator in 1995 and Dorcas Brower has been coordinator since 1996.

You can browse the data below to see what a difference the Dutchess County Bluebird Trail has made over the years. Please see the explanatory notes at the bottom of the chart.

296

332

241

256

457

639

473

520

Notes:
Numbers in red are counts of boxes used; numbers not in red are individual bird counts.
Second (and occasionally third) broods count in eggs / hatched / fledged numbers but only once in box count.
Many more boxes are mounted than monitored, and some monitored were not used.
Non bluebird usage not accurately tracked in most years.
Average bluebirds fledged per box based on total number of boxes monitored, whether used by bluebirds or not.