Lucien Rosenbloom joined the Norman Bird Sanctuary as a volunteer this Spring for our Nest Box Monitoring program, a chapter of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch project. Originally from Brooklyn, with roots in Vermont, Lucien now calls Newport his home. With a BA in Outdoor Leadership from Warren Wilson College and a professional background in outdoor education, he has always felt at ease on the trails and in wild places.
After enjoying our free Wednesday walks, Lucien was inspired to get more involved and found the perfect opportunity through nest box monitoring. He is now part of a dedicated team of a dozen conservation research interns and volunteers who track the growth of several bird species, including Tree Swallows, from hatchlings to fledglings. They also record when nest building occurs, the number of eggs laid, how many of those eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. The results not only contribute to broader studies conducted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology but offer valuable information on the health of our local habitats and ecosystems.
With a toolbelt full of essentials – screwdrivers, gloves and a mirror, Lucien explains his weekly routine: “We tap each box gently to make sure there are no adult inside, then count the eggs [or young] using the mirror and record what we find.” In fact, as Lucien was sharing this with me, he mentioned that he had counted 96 Tree Swallow babies in just the Beta field alone!
One memory from our box installation day stood out to him: “As we installed the first bird boxes in the field immediately south of the buildings, birds began descending down on the boxes as if a realtor had sent out an email blast!”. The team of volunteers had initially planned on only installing one field of boxes, but by popular demand of the Tree Swallows, they were able to start another field shortly after!
Though Lucien’s career has been centered around food security, waste and composting, he reflected that his work at NBS has reinforced a long-standing belief: that no part of the environment exists in isolation. How we manage food waste impacts more than just landfills – it influences soil health, contributes to runoff, and ultimately impacts waterways and downstream ecosystems that support both people and wildlife, including Tree Swallows. “It is great to work with a different population and be reminded that there can be no improvement without concerted effort. An effort that Norman Bird Sanctuary ensures.”
Holly Perdigao, a rising senior at Stonehill College studying Environmental Science and Biology and a native of Acushnet, Massachusetts, joined the NBS team as a conservation research intern this summer. Holly was drawn to the hands-on experience of monitoring nest boxes to complement her years of academic focus on conservation.
The Beta field in particular has offered Holly some amazing sights during her internship. “It’s been amazing to watch the baby birds grow over the last few weeks” She explained that because she is out in the fields every few days, she sees the full developmental cycle from newly laid eggs to fledglings ready to take flight.
While Holly has always been interested in conservation, this internship has been her first direct experience doing fieldwork. “This internship has been an amazing chance to get involved with some local conservation efforts and see first-hand the hard work that goes into these efforts.” Holly intends to stay involved with Norman Bird Sanctuary and other conservation groups to continue advocating for environmental protection.
Looking to get involved at the NBS? Check out the “Volunteer” tab under the “About” section of our website www.normanbirdsanctuary.org for the latest internship and volunteer opportunities!
