[CT Birds] Recovery Wing upcoming event, and HELP needed!

[recoverywing at cox.net]

Hello CT birders,

Please join us at the Aqua Turf Club on Sunday, March 25, for our third annual Benefit Dinner and Auction.  With two successful fundraisers behind us, this event promises to be another fun-filled afternoon that CT songbirds benefit from! This year I will begin the afternoon with a presentation on the ever fascinating, but declining chimney swift, complete with video of them in the wild and at TRW.

This year's event has a special theme and appeal to the public revolving around the chimney swift.  I am so excited to announce  a new project we have begun to undertake designed to not only benefit chimney swifts, but barn swallows as well. In addition, we hope to improve habitat for a variety of birds TRW property sees each year or would like to attract. These birds include Blue winged warbler, eastern towhee, brown thrasher, american woodcock, indigo bunting, eastern kingbird and prairie warbler. 


The plan is to build a pavillion -type structure to attract nesting barn swallows, with an attached artificial chimney to attract nesting/roosting chimney swifts. We plan to to center this structuire in the cleared area and mow the perimeter, graduating to meadow then shrubs. 

The land clearing  and preparation( tree cutting and removal, stump grinding, and leveling) is well under way aqnd after several snow delays should be completed within the next two weeks. At this time we need to devise a building plan for the pavillion and chimney  to present to the building department  along with getting the lumber and masonary products and the manpower lined up to build it. 

Our completion date goal is the last week in April before the birds arrive. First swift in our house chimney last year was April 22nd. Due to our house fire last January we had to line our chimney and it is no longer available to swifts much to our dismay after 15 years of them nesting here.

I am asking if anyone  would consider offering expertise in any of our areas of need,  drawing up of the plans, donations of supplies needed, or manpower for the actual construction day. Any help would TRULY be appreciated with this project.

For more information contact Jayne at (860) 276-8433.

Sorry for the long email!

Jayne Amico/Southington