Last year, students in Dr. Moyer’s Environmental Science class had 27 babies.

Bluebird babies, that is.

2016 was the first year of Environmental  Science teacher Dr. Brett Moyer’s project building bluebird nesting boxes on campus.   This year, that project will expand to the San Marco neighborhood.

Moyer explained over email that six nest boxes will be placed in San Marco Parks through a partnership between the Bolles Environmental Club and the San Marco Preservation Society.

“My Honors Environmental Science class will place around half a dozen on the Bartram Campus and will put a few more on the Ponte Vedra campus,” wrote Moyer. “And, we are discussing other partnerships that would erect bluebird nest boxes elsewhere.”

The project, which provides an enclosed nesting space perfect for bluebirds, proves an excellent fit for the Environmental Club’s community service needs. “I was looking for a project that was feasible, affordable, and local, one that could involve ongoing monitoring by the kids in the club, and, of course, everyone loves bluebirds.” said Environmental Club sponso, Mr. Andrew Dickson.

Bluebirds prefer hollow trees for their nests but the ones built by the Bolles Carpentry shop have proved successful. According to Moyer, the bluebird boxes that will be placed in the San Marco parks were made for the Florida Bluebird Society by a local carpentry group.

Moyer wrote, “We will purchase the boxes from the bluebird society for a donation of $25/box.  Including the special poles and predator guards on the poles, the total cost is about $100 per set up.”

Because Moyer knows that the boxes last for years, he predicts a possible fifty percent return rate for nesting boxes inhabited this year.

Moyer stated he was optimistic about the project’s expansion.

The Environmental Club will place the nesting boxes all over San Marco, starting at River Oaks park, on Sunday, October 16th.