Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) populations have declined dramatically in recent years due largely to decreases in savanna and other grassland habitats that have been turned into farmland or other developments. The establishment of nestboxes in good nesting 
habitat is one of the most effective measures helping to maintain and restore bluebird populations.
Beginning with the building and establishing of 40 nestboxes in 1993 by biology major Dawna Wright, the St. Olaf Bluebird Trail has peaked at 64 boxes that are placed around the Natural Lands on the St. Olaf Campus, with 44 boxes in use today. Successful nesting has occurred every year ranging from. The trail is monitored by Student Naturalists every spring and by student Natural Lands workers every summer. Reproductive and nesting data from our field research are sent to the Bluebird Recovery Program of Minnesota every year. This organization collects long term information studies on this species.
Three types of bluebird nestboxes are used in our trail system: Peterson, Gilwood, and PVC boxes.
Links:
Monitoring the Trail
Other Nest Inhabitants
North American Bluebird Society
Minnesota Bluebird Recovery Program
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