Wentworth Institute of Science & Health

05/19/2026

05/13/2026

to create the next generation of Scientists at winestem5k.org

05/12/2026

Hands-on STEM challenge!

Plan the restoration of a degraded habitat in your community so that it benefits native plants and animals.

05/09/2026

Call for SPONSORS, DONATIONS, & VENDORS! Find out more at wineSTEM5k.org

05/09/2026

What a fun weekend project!

🐦 Eastern bluebird populations crashed nearly 90% by the mid-20th century. Starlings and house sparrows invaded their nesting cavities. Dead trees were cleared from fields. Wooden fence posts were swapped for metal. The bird that once lived in every open meadow in America was disappearing from all of them.

Then ordinary people started building boxes — and the bluebirds came back.

🐦 The build:
- Interior floor 5" x 5", walls 8-9" tall
- Entry hole 1½" diameter — fits a bluebird perfectly, blocks every starling
- ¾" untreated pine or cedar
- Ventilation slots near the top, drainage holes in the floor
- Hinged side panel for monitoring and seasonal cleanout
- No outside perch — perches give house sparrows a foothold

🐦 The placement:
- 4-6 feet high on a smooth metal pole — never a wooden post or tree
- Open field, yard, or meadow with short grass
- Face the entry east or away from prevailing weather
- Space boxes at least 100 yards apart along a "bluebird trail"
- A predator baffle below the box keeps raccoons and snakes out

🐦 What to expect:
- Mount by early March — males scout sites before the females arrive
- A pair may circle the box for days before committing
- 4-5 pale blue eggs per clutch, often two broods per season
- Monitor weekly by opening the side panel — bluebirds tolerate careful checks

One species, nearly erased — brought back by people who gave them exactly what they'd lost: a 5-inch cavity with a 1½-inch door. 🌿