'Speake'-ing of birds

By MaryHelen Swanson
The twittering you heard as you entered North Branch High School last Saturday morning was the sound of the bluebird.
As if cued, the little birds appeared in time for the 22nd Annual Bluebird Conference.
Several hundred visitors, bluebird lovers mostly, were on hand for this event to hear speakers, learn about maintaining bluebird houses and habitats and meet with others who are concerned about the survival of the little bird.
Among the speakers that day was KARE11ís Ken Speake who told the audience of bird enthusiasts that what they are doing to help the bluebirds is also very important and helpful for those who do not make the effort.
He shared clips of his numerous bird stories, under the name of his Speake Softly program, to the delight of conference goers.
The group not only learned about how Speakeís program highlighted the Bluebird Recovery Project, but got to see clips about trumpeter swans, osprey relocation, and even one about a hunter who fed birds at his stand during deer season.
Speake said his visits with bird lovers were among his ìthank-you Godî moments. He said they were ìlittle miraclesî that he gets to experience because of people like those seated in the auditorium.
Other speakers last Saturday included Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Non-game Supervisor Carrol Henderson who spoke on landscaping for wildlife.
Keith Radel, of the Bluebird Recovery Program (BBRP) gave information on starting new and improving existing trails.
Local resident and BBRP member Dick Hjort, talked about helping other native cavity nesters.
Ralph Johnson shared how to deal with house sparrows.
Boy Scouts from Troop 141 were on hand to help out during the day. Their interest in the bluebirds includes maintaining the bluebird houses along the Sunrise Prairie Trail.
Girls Scouts from the area joined other youths in the afternoon for a special program with Dick Hjort who talked to them about preserving wildlife.
The girls also learned how to build bluebird houses with the help of Joe Sausen and other scout leaders.
Each girl got to take home a bluebird house.
According to local bluebird enthusiast Robert Walz, one of the conference organizers, there are hundreds of bluebirders in the area.
The BBRP maintains a bluebird trail along I-35 from Forest Lake to Rush City. There are also bluebird trails in Wild River State Park, Riverwalk Park in North Branch and many other locations in the area.
In the 19th century, the clearing of land for housing, industrial parks, shopping malls and crop land nearly wiped out the natural nesting cavities making it difficult for the bluebird to survive.
In the 20th century, bluebird enthusiasts formed societies and organizations to help the little bird. Besides promoting construction of bluebird houses, the enthusiasts encouraged the establishment of bluebird trails.
The trails are so successful that the bluebirds are making an impressive comeback.
Last week Walz informed the Post Review the bluebirds are back.Those attending the conference heard them chirping hello as they entered the school.
Take a look around, perhaps you can catch a glimpse of the little blue bird with the red-orange breast, too.

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