FLORIDA TRAILS-GROUPS

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CHRISTY'S BLUEBIRD PROJECT

FLORIDA TRAILS-GROUPS

AVON PARK AIR FORCE BLUEBIRD TRAIL

100 BOX TRAIL

Started 1970 by Donald Ford

The Bombing Range is located at the very end of State Road 64. So 30 miles below Tampa, FL you should find SR 64 coming out of Bradenton, FL, follow that to the middle of the state and it actually dead ends at the gate. The gate is to the Avon Park Correctional Facility, and also Youthful Offender Facility. The Bluebird Trail starts on the other side of the military airfield. The day I visited the airfield was on lockdown because of one of the terrorist alerts. We were given a military escort through the airbase and across the airfield to the monument.

The 100 Box Trail was built from metal piping of the old watering system used in the orange groves, which used to be there. The boxes are all purchased boxes from Jack Finch, of the Finch Bluebird Boxes. The predator guards are very large circular heavy metal welded pieces which were made by the prisoners. At first the prison system said they would make 30 but Donald Ford made a promise that he would get 600 Bluebirds for them in a year if they would make 100 guards. It was agreed and the correction system donated the guards. I believe only once have they reached that total but do make it to over 500 Bluebirds per year.

Willie and Kacky faithfully monitor the boxes weekly. It was only until 2002 that they had to make it a two day task. Kacky drives a park truck and takes the notes, and Willie jumps in and out of the truck. Willie uses sign language for what he sees which makes for faster monitoring.

There is one more individual who does help monitor at times. Both Willie and Kacky after 12 years of monitoring, are ready to retire. But they do not really have anyone to carry on the monitoring. In their area they do give talks on Bluebirds and raise money for replacement boxes, but they have never involved the young or youth to get involved with Bluebirds.

544 BLUEBIRDS FLEDGED IN 2002

527 BLUEBIRDS FLEDGED IN 2004

The Donald Ford Monument is found right before Box #1. With $1,500.00 in donations and a matching fund, for $3,000.00 the monument was built.

Avon Park Donald Ford Monument

Willie & Kacky were married in the military and actually lived on this Air Force Base years ago. In 1990 they started weekly to monitor with Donald Ford. And has continued to weekly monitor the 100 box trail ever since.

Willie & Kacky 10 Year Monitors

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HARDEE COUNTY

ONA, FL 25 BOX TRAIL

John Maddox Monitor

Yearly Trail Reports:

1995 10 Boxes 26 Fledged

1996 16 Boxes 65 Fledged

1997 17 Boxes 85 Fledged

1998 25 Boxes 151 Fledged

1999 25 Boxes 150 Fledged

2000 25 Boxes 155 Fledged

2001 25 Boxes 131 Fledged

2002 25 Boxes 175 Fledged

2003 25 Boxes 169 Fledged

2004 26 Boxes 165 Fledged

The Hardee County Bluebird Trail is found just a few miles from the East county line of Manatee County. Located on the University of Florida Cattle Experimental Range. The boxes are all hand made and on a 1 1/4 thick walled PVC pipe. The predator guards are 4" PVC which Mr. Maddox says are really useless and would like to see the guards replaced. Predators are not really a problem on this Trail. There boxes are from 1 to 15+ years old. They tried before to place them on other roadways, but found that the boxes were just disappearing.

There is one other couple who monitor the Trail but all would like to step down from all these years of monitoring. The local Audubon has disbanded and there are no young to take over. If you are interested in Monitoring or helping, please call me.

Inside the monument are windows about Donald Ford and maps of the 62 miles of Bluebird Trails. Plus information about Bluebirds. In 1970 only 17 boxes were put up and maintained by the Boy Scouts.

Inside Donald Ford Monument

Willie & Kacky Monitors

Willie is showing some of his baby Bluebirds from a second nesting. The box bottoms are up about 5 1/2' and Willie is a short fellow. That is why they prefer to use the nesting cups. He justs lifts each of them out to take a look and sets them back. The cups also save them in cleaning.

Willie Holding Baby Birds

Notice The Nest in one of Finch's Molded Cups

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John Maddox Trail Monitor