CERCA's Estuary Swallow Recovery Project

Building nesting boxes

Early March marked the start of our Estuary Swallow Enhancement Project. On March 3 Robert Flach, Bernhard Fritz, Beate, Barry and myself built over 50 bird houses to accommodate cavity breeding swallow species in Cowichan Bay. We used long-lasting yellow cedar boards for the construction of the nesting boxes graciously donated by Murray Logan, the owner of Dogwood Lumber. Beate numbered the nesting boxes which will be placed along the trail and on Mariners Island for easy monitoring during the breeding season and to facilitate their annual clean-out.

Barry will arrange optimum locations with the help of birders from Cowichan Valley Naturalists. The boxes have to be hung prior to the breeding season possibly starting earlier than usual this year (end of March). Monitoring will start by mid April, recording species and total numbers of boxes occupied.

CERCA's Estuary Swallow Recovery Project

Building nesting boxes

Broom removal, brush cutting, parking area along the nature trail

Kickstarting the Cowichan Estuary Nature Trail - Open Air Classroom Project