New SUNY Fredonia President Dr. Virginia Horvath requested a Day of Community Service as part of her Inaugural Week Celebration. Dozens of local businesses and organizations sponsored actions that gave back to the community. Greystone Nature Preserve used the opportunity to initiate the Beverly and John Ruska Bluebird Trail.
Twenty SUNY Fredonia students constructed 17 bluebird nesting boxes during the cool and rainy Saturday afternoon.
Greystone Board of Directors member, Claudia Ansel, commented as she motivated the students to their task, "I was impressed with the enthusiasm and diligence of the students, and by the overall creative and organizational abilities of those who planned the day."
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Pictured above is the first installment of boxes to be placed on the trail, from left: Bill Moran, manager; Diane Clark, director; and Little Bear, mascot of Greystone Nature Preserve.
Special speakers from the Lake Erie Bird Club were Carol Hardenburg, Marty Sanden and Terry Mosher, who offered the students many facts to stimulate appreciation of the bluebird. They also spoke of the real need for the New York state bird to have suitable nesting cavities, and of the danger of invasive species.
The day was dubbed a success by Corinne Frederickson, a summer intern at Greystone Nature Preserve who designed and produced the event.
"Now, thanks to these students, our bluebirds will have a 'wing-up' on the competition," she said.
All involved are grateful to Dr. Horvath for initiating this environmental project and are looking forward to a spring, when the real benefactors of these efforts will return to find plenty of housing along the new bluebird trail.
