On March 5th, at 7 p.m., join Michelle Campanis, education coordinator at the UT Arboretum, and local naturalist and author, Stephen Lyn Bales, for a look at these beautiful Eastern Bluebirds, their comeback, and things you can do at home to support all of our birds. In the 1920s, the Eastern Bluebird population declined due to habitat loss. The beloved sky-blue bird was becoming rare until one man started a movement to place thousands of nest boxes across eastern North America. This effort helped rescue the Eastern Bluebird.

With bluebirds considered to be rare in 1926, retiree Thomas Musselman of Quincy, Illinois, took it on himself to build bluebird nestboxes and to speak to civil groups and schools about the need to build more.

The Eastern Bluebird was becoming a ghost of its former self, its population decimated by a changing world and a loss of nesting grounds. Its survival seemed unlikely until Musselman proved that local action could solve a continental crisis. Today, we celebrate the bluebird not just for its beauty, but as a living testament to the power of community-driven conservation.

A retiree with a mission, Musselman didn’t just build birdhouses; he built a movement. By teaching everyday people—from students to social clubs—how to provide a home for these birds, he laid the groundwork for a recovery that continues to inspire naturalists today.

This Zoom presentation class is free, but you must register to receive the Zoom link and recording to watch at your own convenience. To register, go to Programs – The University Of Tennessee Arboretum Society  If you are unable to watch at the scheduled time, the program will be recorded and sent to everyone who registers. Closed captions are available. For questions or registration issues, contact Michelle at mcampani@utk.edu.

This program is co-sponsored by the UT Arboretum Society (UTAS) and The American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) as part of their ongoing Citizen Science Birding Program.

Melanie Staten is a public relations consultant.

To learn more about the Arboretum Society, go to website here.

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