CONTRIBUTED

On a cold but sunny Saturday afternoon Daisy Troop No. 942 met at the Butterfly Garden on the Pinehurst Greenway Trail to learn about bluebirds and butterflies.

Greenway Wildlife Habitat Committee (GWHC) and Master Gardener Volunteer Marisa Back spoke to the 13 Daisies in attendance about the plight of bluebirds and what can be done to help them survive.

"The Daisies listened attentively to the presentation, and their questions demonstrated a natural curiosity in the beauty of the wild things around them," says a troop leader.

The girls learned how competition for nesting sites with other bird species, particularly the English sparrow, has made life more difficult for the colorful and gentle native bluebird. They learned how bluebirds build their nests in cavities instead of on tree branches like some other bird species.

They also learned that they can help nesting bluebirds by monitoring the nest box to discourage English sparrows and to make sure that the nestlings are safe.

"They should not be concerned if they find a chickadee, nuthatch, titmouse, or tree sparrow nesting in the box because these are cavity nesters too, and unlike English sparrows, are all protected by law," said Back. "They should enjoy watching those birds and never remove their nests."

The Daisies placed a bluebird nesting box in the Butterfly Garden. They positioned the box so that the opening faces east, the direction preferred by bluebirds; it is within a short flight to a row of hollies that the birds can easily reach on their fledging flight from the nesting box. As the Sandhills area emerges from winter, bluebirds have been searching for nesting sites where they can build when nesting season starts. A pair of bluebirds can raise two to three broods in the same nest box during the nesting season. The Daisies' bluebird box could provide a home in which to raise as many as 10-12 young bluebirds this season.

After learning about bluebirds, the Daisies planted muhly grass in the Butterfly Garden with help from Brian and Mark Bonville, two local teenagers who are active GWHC volunteers. The girls learned proper planting procedures and had fun getting their hands dirty in the process. They finished their day helping the GWHC volunteers with maintenance of the Butterfly Garden. The troop will learn more about butterflies on a future outing.

The Daisy Troop program is a part of Girl Scouting and consists of girls who are 6 years old; they will move on to Brownie Scouts next year. Daisy Troop No. 942 is led by Karen Sikes, Chantal Stanfield, and Amy Baker. The Daisies capped their day by warming up with a round of hot chocolate.