Eastern Bluebird Factsheet | Next Box Plans

Keith Saucier puts the final nail into the 1000th bluebird box, while other EASL members look on.

EASL's "Bluebird Nest Box Program" had it's humble beginnings in 1987 when early that year the Board of Directors considered a proposal by a relatively new member named Keith Saucier.
Saucier informed the group of the serious decline in population of this beautiful native bird, & proposed that the organization finance the materials to construct 30 specially designed bluebird nest boxes. The boxes would then be offered for sale to EASL members 'at cost' in order to reimburse the club's expenses.

Since Saucier was a relatively unknown newcomer to the organization, & most Board members had never even seen nor heard of 'bluebirds', many were skeptical. But longtime Board member & mentor VJ Bourque convinced the group that, even though he doubted there were any eastern bluebirds left in Ascension Parish, the club didn't really have anything to lose by letting Saucier try his project. The Board agreed. No one realized it at the time, but it was a decision that would launch one of the most popular & successful projects in the club's 50 year history, & would alter the destiny of eastern bluebirds in Ascension Parish.

More boxes were built & distributed every year & in 1992, EASL decided to establish it's own "bluebird nest box trail". Two roadside trails were created that criss-crossed the parish following Hwy's 30 & 73. Combined, they are over 20 miles long & have a total of 80 nest boxes.

Now over a decade later, EASL has built & sold over 1000 bluebird nest boxes & members are still calling for more. The beautiful little bird that had not been seen in our area in decades is now a common sight year-round in neighborhoods, yards & fields in almost every corner of Ascension Parish. An even more common sight are the boxes themselves. Since they were built of cedar & galvanized nails, even the earliest ones are still around, & still producing baby bluebirds. As you drive around you can see them on roadsides & around people's homes almost everywhere.

To learn more about bluebirds and what you can do to help them, see our eastern bluebird 'fact sheet' and nest box plans. Or even better, contact EASL via this website to find out how you can become involved in our "Bluebird Nest Box Project."