In our last newsletter, we discussed our work to build and place new bird and bat boxes around the Preserve, particularly in areas where we are doing forest health work and have completed replanting. The bat boxes were provided by Bremerton High School AP Science students and some of our other volunteers made the bird boxes.
If you’re wondering why we’re adding bird and bat houses, let me share a bit about the importance of these little structures. A healthy forest environment has many places for birds and bats to nest but in the areas that we’re restoring, we need to provide a little help. Birdhouses are being made for species (e.g., Screech Owl and Chestnut-Backed Chickadee) that we believe may be at the Preserve due to the habitat they prefer. The bird box designs for these species are based upon USDA specifications. Boxes will be installed in Hidden Valley and in areas where we have recently completed forest health thinning work. These newly restored areas just need a little time to allow trees to grow fuller and new plants to establish roots. Until that happens, the bird and bat boxes will serve as homes for those creatures.
The boxes will also attract new birds and bats because they’ll have good nesting sites. These new residents will have a beneficial effect on the restoration efforts helping to improve environmental health and restoring a great balance in nature – the cycle of life on our landscapes and in our waterways. Next time you’re out in the Preserve for a walk, take a look and let us know what you think.
Finally, thank you to all of you who participated in the Kitsap Salmon Tours on Nov. 2nd. We always enjoy hosting community members and sharing our work to restore healthy salmon habitat on Lost, Wildcat, and Chico Creeks. It is not only a great educational opportunity to learn about salmon spawning, but to meet fellow conservationists that share our goal of environmental protection. This takes place each year and we hope you’ll join us again in 2025.
-Jeff Wirtz, Vice President