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For a PDF version of this letter please go to: Permission Letter (PDF)

Friends of the Bluebird in Laytonsville

January 2003.

Dear Neighbor,

I am the person at the end of Sunnyacres Road that you often see walking up and down the yard checking and tending Bluebird houses.  Some of these houses also had tree swallows nesting in them.

The Bluebird has been and continues to be endangered by two invaders,  the starling and the house sparrow.  Both were imported from Europe in the latter part of the nineteenth century.  The nestboxes both on my property and in trails in public parks are helping the Bluebirds make a comeback.  So far this year I have already raised more than 30 bluebirds in my few nestboxes at home.

I plan to add more nestboxes for the coming breeding season.  If you would be interested, I'd be happy to install a nestbox on your property.  This box will be a new one similar to the one shown to the right.  I will be monitoring it on a weekly basis during the breeding season (March through July, 2003.)  Each week a written record is made of the state of the box and its occupants.  Boxes will be installed in February, 2003, or earlier.  I will also be glad to show the nests, eggs and baby birds to you and your family as they hatch and begin to grow.  This is a fine way for children and adults to enjoy nature and learn about conserving a very beautiful bird.

Your approval of this request will be much appreciated.  Please call me at home to let me know if you have any questions, or if you want additional information.  Let us make this a "Bluebird" neighborhood!  Thank you for your help. 

[Photography by Wendell Long (from Ohio) and Fawzi P. Emad]

Please feel free to send me, Fawzi Emad, any corrections, observations, comments or questions.  Thank you!  (The tail feather on the left is from Koko, our Blue-Front Amazon Parrot.)