Local project to help enhance bluebird numbers

Sparrows and starlings have been devastating the population of the beautiful songbird the bluebird. But there’s hope to counteract that with an Oconee County partnership that involves the Friends of Lake Keowee, the Advocates for Quality Development, Oconee County, and the South Carolina DNR. Fees from lake use permits paid by the public, along with contributions from Duke Energy, in turn, have purchased 75 Eastern Bluebird boxes. A handful of those boxes are being put up at the NEXT School in Salem and on the campus of the DAR School in Tamassee. Mike White, chairman of “FOLKS”, says these boxes will help increase bluebirds in Oconee and Pickens. The data collected from the nesting boxes will provide valuable insight into the overall health of the birds and, more important, give students the chance to learn to appreciate and to protect the environment. They will be able to monitor nesting birds and their birth rates. Much more details of this project can be heard in a future Sunday ‘Community Soundoff’ on 101.7/WGOG.