Spring is coming and the return of migratory birds is on the horizon. This winter, The Vineyard Way was thrilled to welcome Rich Couse and Robyn Graygor from BiodiversityWorks as they installed a nesting box on the Martha’s Vineyard Commission lawn, as part of our ongoing Plant Local MVC yard transformation project.
BiodiversityWorks is a Martha’s Vineyard-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting local wildlife through science, education, and community action. One of their signature programs, Natural Neighbors, focuses on supporting cavity-nesting birds — species like Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, Chickadees, and House Wrens — which rely on hollow trees or man-made nesting boxes to raise their young. As mature trees with natural cavities become increasingly rare in developed landscapes, nesting boxes fill a critical gap.
The box installed at the MVC is designed specifically for the bird species native to our island ecosystem. Placement matters enormously: height, orientation, proximity to open foraging habitat, and protection from predators all factor into whether a box gets used. Rich and Robyn brought their expertise (and their drills!) to make sure this one is set up for success.
This installation is one small but meaningful piece of the Plant Local MVC project, which aims to transform the Commission’s grounds into a model of native plantings, habitat connectivity, and ecological stewardship. A yard full of native plants is only made better by the birds that help pollinate, seed-disperse, and pest-manage within it. This nesting box is an open invitation for them to stay.
Want to add a nesting box to your own yard? Reach out to BiodiversityWorks Natural Neighbors program to learn how to get started.
Photos by The Vineyard Way. Installation by Rich Couse and Robyn Graygor, BiodiversityWorks. Thank you to the Natural Neighbors program and the BWorks team!
