April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 56

Park Bench
Crafting Homes for Wake County Bluebirds
South Wake Conservationists (SWC), a chapter of the North Carolina
Wildlife Federation, has taken another significant step in their
ongoing mission to support local wildlife and conservation efforts. On
March 29, 2023, SWC members gathered at Wake County's Crowder
County Park in Apex to unveil their latest contribution to the community:
a series of custom-branded bluebird houses.
The initiative was a collaborative effort between SWC and myself,
the park technician of education at Crowder County Park. Together, we
identified 11 aging and deteriorating bluebird houses that were no longer
suitable for nesting. It was time for these old structures to make way for
new, more hospitable homes for the local bluebird population.
At the heart of this project was Jeff Allen, an SWC member. Allen's
unique pole and critter-guard design, handcrafted in his own home,
became a central feature of the new bluebird
houses. Not stopping at the housing,
he also branded each of the new boxes
with the SWC logo, giving them a personalized
touch that reflected the care and
dedication of the conservationists.
The team removed the aging structures
and worked diligently to install the new
bluebird boxes throughout Crowder Park,
strategically placing them in locations conducive
to bluebird nesting and breeding.
Since the installation of the new bluebird
houses, Crowder Park has experienced
a dramatic increase in bluebird sightings
and reported nests. The 11 new houses
Bluebirds are thriving
in Apex, North
Carolina's Crowder
County Park following
local conservationists'
efforts to install new
bluebird houses.
have been instrumental in hosting a total of 78 bluebirds
during the current mating season, and it's anticipated
that more feathered tenants will move in soon.
SWC members added native berry-producing plants to
Crowder Park's gardens, providing a natural food source
for the local birds, and an interpretive bird sign to educate
visitors about the local bird species. The team assisted
in the removal of invasive plant species, ensuring the
bluebirds would not only have a beautiful new home, but
also bountiful meals.
These efforts have provided a new lease on life for the
local bluebird population and created a beautiful and educational
space for park visitors to enjoy, demonstrating
how community-driven conservation efforts can have a
profound and lasting impact on both the environment and the wildlife that calls it home.
- Sarah Goldsmith, Park Technician of Education, Wake County (North Carolina) Parks, Recreation and Open Space
56 Parks & Recreation | APRIL 2 0 2 4 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SARAH GOLDSMITH
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM RAY

April 2024 – Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2024 – Parks & Recreation

April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 1
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover1
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover2
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 1
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 2
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 3
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 4
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 5
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 6
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 7
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 8
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 9
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 10
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 11
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 12
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 13
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 14
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 15
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 16
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 17
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 18
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 19
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 20
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 21
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 22
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 23
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 24
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 25
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 26
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 27
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 28
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 29
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 30
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 31
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 32
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 33
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 34
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 35
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 36
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 37
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 38
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 39
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 40
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 41
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 42
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 43
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 44
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 45
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 46
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 47
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 48
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 49
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 50
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 51
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 52
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 53
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 54
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 55
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 56
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover3
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover4
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2021
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com