| This trail will reach from
the western tip to the eastern tip of Kentucky. This will be accomplished
by counties having registered bluebird trails. These counties will connect
with each other, and this will eventually connect the western-most county
in Kentucky with the eastern-most county. A county must have at least one
trail to qualify as a Trans-Kentucky Bluebird Trail (TKBT) connecting county.
To date, 81 trails
are part of the TKBT.
A trail consists of at least
5 bluebird nesting boxes in one general area. There is no maximum limit
on the number of boxes on a trail.
The following qualifications
must be met for a trail to be part of the Trans-Kentucky Bluebird Trail:
-
nesting boxes should be at least
100 yards apart
-
entrance holes of boxes should
be at least 4 feet above the ground
-
the bottom of the entrance hole
should be at least 6 inches from the outside bottom of the box (to help
protect young birds from predators)
-
nesting boxes should be made as
waterproof as possible to keep young birds from getting wet and chilled
(especially in the early spring)
-
nesting boxes should be cleaned
out as soon as young fledge so they will be ready for another nesting attempt.
-
nesting boxes should not be placed
in or near (within 100 yards of) brushy or heavily wooded areas (House
Wrens may be found in such areas)
-
nesting boxes should not be placed
on trees (because predators can easily climb trees)
-
nesting boxes should not be placed
in areas where House Sparrows are found (such as in cities or near feedlots)
-
accurate records must be kept
for each box by checking them weekly and recording findings on a trail
monitor form to be furnished by KBS. Records are maintained throughout
the nesting season (April 1 - August 1).
-
the number of fledglings must
be reported to KBS at the end of the season
In addition, you must be a member
of the Kentucky Bluebird Society to have your trail certified. The above
qualifications will make boxes more attractive to bluebirds and increase
their chances of successfully raising young. Boxes on some trails may need
some type of predator guards to reduce the risk of predation by snakes,
raccoons, and other predators.
To register your trail, please
fill out a Trans-Kentucky
Bluebird Trail application form.
Back
to KBS Homepage |