President’s Message from Sandy Seibert

Bluebirds Across Nebraska (BAN) has come a long way and accomplished a lot in the 13 years it has been in existence. The organization has been blessed with wonderful volunteers and a great partner in The Nebraska Environmental Trust.

Since 1995, BAN has been fortunate to have received four grants from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, totaling almost $40,000. These monies have been used in many different and creative ways by the organization.

In 1995, BAN was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Trust. This funding came when the organization was still getting on its feet. It provided the opportunity to purchase wood for bluebird nesting boxes. Two to 10 boxes and poles along with educational materials were given to those interested in establishing a bluebird trail. From that point on, BAN has not looked back.

In 1997, BAN started a county coordinator project. It is the goal of this program to have at least one person in every county who is trained to put on workshops, work with children, help people determine good bluebird habitat, help put up nesting boxes and make people in their community aware of the plight of bluebirds. In 1998, The Trust gave BAN another $5,000 grant to educate and furnish educational materials for the county coordinators. The coordinators have become the heart of BAN. There now are 58 coordinators representing 57 counties. The coordinators have been responsible for the growth in the organization’s membership from the original 24 people to nearly 1,900 members, making BAN the largest state/provincial bluebird association in North America.

In 2000, with the growth of the organization came a need to build more bluebird nesting boxes, create more educational materials and erect educational kiosks in public areas. The Trust granted BAN $14,820 to carry out these pursuits. The organization has been very resourceful in its purchasing of wood by buying cedar “cut-offs” in truckloads from lumber companies at very reasonable prices.

Education has always been a top priority for BAN. Many different brochures and hand-out sheets have been developed to teach members how to become successful at helping bluebirds survive. This information is given to people when they become members. The literature is also available at workshops, the state and county fair booths, plant shows and other festivals around the state. Bluebird education is also available in the “Banner,” from the website bbne.org, at quarterly meetings and at the yearly statewide conference.

Bluebirds Across Nebraska’s mission is not only to help bluebirds but also other native cavity nesting birds. In 2004, The Nebraska Environmental Trust awarded BAN $15,000 for a project to restore wood duck habitat. During a three-year period 250 wood duck nesting boxes were built by volunteers. These boxes, along with a specially designed pole system and predator guards, were distributed to BAN members with proper habitat for wood ducks. Each of the
three years a wood duck workshop was presented to teach the participants about wood ducks and their nesting habits. A wood duck basics brochure was researched, developed and printed to aid participants in their endeavor to help these cavity nesters.

Another cavity nester BAN is helping is the American kestrel. With the permission of the Environmental Trust, BAN used some of its grant-funded lumber to build the kestrel nesting boxes. The boxes were erected by volunteers at several I-80 rest stops and exits. These boxes are monitored by volunteers during the nesting season.