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Nesting Boxes for Prothontary Warblers

Making It Grow Minute
SC Public Radio

Jay Keck, who works for theSouth Carolina Wildlife Federation, called recently to thank me for re-upping my membership. As we chatted, he told me his group has partnered with Andrew Jackson High School whose students build bird boxes not only for screech owls but for Prothonotary warblers, as well.

A migrating species, the yellow Prothonotaries sometimes travel two thousand miles a year; overwintering as far south as Mexico; before returning in spring to mate and raise young. They have specific requirements for nesting sites; preferring holes in dead trees in fairly extensive swampy areas. Many of these sites have been logged or drained resulting in habitat loss. Fortunately, they will use properly placed nesting boxes as alternative places to raise their young. Call South Carolina Wildlife to see if your property might qualify. 

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Amanda McNulty is a Clemson University Extension Horticulture agent and the host of South Carolina ETV’s Making It Grow! gardening program. She studied horticulture at Clemson University as a non-traditional student. “I’m so fortunate that my early attempts at getting a degree got side tracked as I’m a lot better at getting dirty in the garden than practicing diplomacy!” McNulty also studied at South Carolina State University and earned a graduate degree in teaching there.