Barb Allen breathes new life into bluebird conservation efforts

NORTHEAST WIS. – Known to her friends as ‘Barbie Bluebird,’ Barb Allen has been working hard for years with the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW) to track and promote population growth of bluebirds and other native bird species. Her efforts of monitoring over 400 nest boxes in Marinette, Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Oconto and Florence counties and being an award-winning county contact have made Allen one of the most accomplished birders in the state.

Despite never seeing a bluebird until much later in life, Allen’s interest in birding began in her childhood. She shared that she and her twin would “get up at five o’clock in the morning and go and look for birds.” While living in a busy area of Green Bay prevented her from seeing a wide variety of birds, her fond memories from birding in Girl Scouts stuck with her.

BRAW was formed in 1986 as a response to declining bluebird populations from the 1950s through 1970s. Allen first heard about the group in 2010 after reading an article about the importance of their work. Soon after, she began volunteering with the organization as a monitor.

The role of a monitor for BRAW includes checking nest boxes every seven to 10 days, taking detailed notes on the type and number of birds and eggs occupying the house and sending the information back to the association. Throughout her years within this organization, Allen has become very familiar with the habits of bluebirds.

“I watch them go from eggs to chicks and when they’re fledged, that means they leave the nest,” Allen said. “And they don’t come back to that nest box once they’re fledged. Bluebirds are really interesting because the male comes about 10 days before the female and starts looking for houses. He takes her to the houses he found and she picks out the one she wants. Then they build a nest and she starts having eggs.”

Barb Allen has been working with BRAW since 2010. Her monitoring work began with 30 houses spread out across a few trails in Brown County. During that first year she fledged 21 bluebirds. However, her efforts have only grown over the past 14 years.

Today, Allen monitors 428 nest boxes across five counties, through which she was able to fledge 666 bluebirds this past year. In total, Allen has fledged almost 3,000 bluebirds and 10,000 songbirds while working with BRAW. She has most recently added nearly 30 nest boxes within Governor Thompson State Park.

“It started small but got big fast,” Allen said.

Still, fledging hundreds of birds a year does not come without its difficulties. An important Allen works through each spring and summer is preventing House sparrows from nesting in the houses. As an invasive species prevalent particularly in Brown County, House sparrows are known to attack nesting bluebirds and songbirds as well as their fledglings.

Allen recounted a summer in which she dealt with one particularly persistent House sparrow.

“House sparrows take over the next boxes and will kill,” she said. “So, I’ve sat guard when the parents were getting food. I blocked the sparrow and waited for the parents.”

Allen’s 14 years of work and dedication within BRAW were recently recognized at the group’s annual awards ceremony. She was surprised to be bestowed with the Carol McDaniel Bluebird Award, named in recognition and remembrance of the former BRAW president.

“It was just a thrill because it means so much,” Allen said.

As the county contact for Marinette and Florence counties, Barb Allen is looking forward to bringing others into BRAW. Group members can sign up to receive the newsletter — however, Allen encourages anyone who is willing to sign up to be a monitor. Nest boxes can be added to houses in the city, but are highly encouraged for houses with more acreage.

“It’s fairly easy, just start small,” Allen said.

The Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin hosts 7,000 nesting boxes and 900 members across the state. Individuals from Marinette and Florence counties interested in becoming members, monitors or hosting a nesting box can reach out to Barb Allen at barbieabluebird@gmail.com, or anyone can visit www.braw.org to learn more.