Bhavana Thelakkat, an 8th grader at Community Middle School and a member of Troop 70051, has completed the Girl Scouts Silver Award with a project at Plainsboro Preserve to support conservation efforts for Eastern Bluebirds.
Overdevelopment and removal of dead trees have decreased the availability of natural nesting spots for the birds.
An ongoing conservation effort that the bluebirds have responded well to are man-made bird houses, which provide a place for bluebirds to raise their young. The Plainsboro Preserve has close to 80 such nesting boxes for cavity dwelling species, such as Eastern Bluebirds.
Although there are feeding stations for the bluebirds in the spring and summer, they still need a sustainable food source during the fall and winter months
Thelakkat’s project was to select and plant native shrubs that will produce berries during the colder months to help feed the bluebirds at the Plainsboro Preserve.
Thelakkat, a resident of Plainsboro, worked with Nancy Fiske, the Plainsboro Preserve director, and Anna Hill, the Plainsboro Preserve Naturalist, to do extensive research on non-invasive native shrubs of New Jersey that produce berries that will benefit bluebirds in the fall and winter months.
With the help of her advisors and troop mates, she introduced American Holly to the Preserve and transplanted Staghorn Sumac near selected nesting boxes.
To educate the public, Thelakkat organized information and presented at three events, on Earth Day and Native Plant sale day at the Plainsboro Preserve and at Plainsboro Founders Day.
At these events, she talked about how to attract bluebirds, the importance of native plants and how homeowners can get their back yards wildlife certified.
“Bhavana’s Silver project reflects her appreciation for the natural world,” said Shreelakshmi Ramasamy, Thelakkat’s Girl Scout advisor.
“Through her presentation she has educated local residents about bluebirds and the steps that they can take to help bluebirds survive through the winter” Ramasamy said. “I’m glad that she could achieve her objective of creating interest among both adults and children to play a role with environment protection.”
