Sept 9, 2004 - An industrious team of GBLC volunteers installed 3 Bobolink Signs at the McAllister Wildlife Refuge. Thanks to the design work of Ben Barrett, double locust posts were used to support these information signs located at key positions for observing Bobolinks when they are nesting (May - August).
SEE PHOTOS: Bobolink Signs installed at the McAllister Wildlife Refuge
Many Thanks to Ben Barrett, Ben Nickley, Bob Kraus, Greg Ward, and Christine Ward. Together they donated over 30 services hours to complete community work! The signs were an adaption of signs shared by John Felton of the Hoffmann bird club.
Along with our Bobolink Community Program in July (see: Thanks to a collaborative educational program at the McAllister Wildlife Refuge - Twenty Folks know more about Bobolinks!!) these signs are making a difference; people who use McAllister regularly (mostly for dog walking but also for exercise and relaxation), seemed not only to respect the need to stay out of the fields but also were very interested in the Bobolinks once they learned about them.
The project was led by Great Barrington Land Conservancy as collaborative effort with the Great Barrington Conservation Commission, Friends of the McAllister Wildlife Refuge, and the Hoffmann Bird Club. Many thanks to all for bringing greater awareness to the protection of this declining bird species. We look forward to continue to monitor this invaluable nesting area in years to come.
A high count of 40 bobolinks were recorded this season at the McAllister. Here is this year's date from Ebird records:
- May 5: 4 (C&G Ward)
- May 11: 19 (C Ward)
- May 29: 6 (J Felton & M Gottron)
- June 11: 9 (J Felton) photos
- June 20: 1 (E Dropkin)
- June 27: 10 (6 males and 4 females) ((J Felton & M Gottron)
- June 20: 14 (8 males, 6 females) (C&G Ward)
- July 3: 10 (including one carrying a fecal sac) (J Felton and Wednesday Morning Birding group)
- July 13: 3 (C&G Ward)
- July 14: 38 (mostly males) (C&G Ward and community walk)
- July 16: 10 (A Louie)
- July 17: 1 (female/juvenile) (A Louie)
- July 20: 6 (D Edson)
- July 24: 20 (2 males, rest females/juveniles) (J Felton)
- August 3: 1 (male) (J Felton)
