NestWatch
Monitoring nesting and breeding activity at Westcave through citizen science.
NestWatch is a citizen science program run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that tracks the reproductive biology of North American birds. At Westcave, staff, interns, and volunteers monitor nesting boxes on the preserve and contribute observations to long-term bird conservation research.
Why NestWatch Matters
Bird conservation depends on protecting nesting habitat and understanding reproductive success. Monitoring nests helps researchers track nesting frequency, fertility, hatch rates, and fledgling success while identifying environmental pressures such as habitat loss, climate change, and urban development.
At Westcave, NestWatch helps us better understand how birds use nesting boxes across the preserve and how successful each nesting attempt is from egg laying to fledging. Westcave Preserve has been a proud participant in the NestWatch program since spring 2016. Dedicated staff and interns regularly monitor nesting boxes on the preserve.
A Look At NestWatch
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Nesting Box 44
04/09/2025
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Nesting Box 44
04/16/2025
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Nesting Box 44
04/23/2025