Celebrate the return of our nesting bird species at NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center and Wildlife Sanctuary! We’ll be hosting a series of activities throughout the day to kick off the nesting season, from building birdhouses and short bird walks to learning more about our nesting bird species at Massabesic and discovering how to become a volunteer NestWatch monitor. With an activity for every age and ability, come for 30 minutes, or stay for the whole day to learn with us!
NestWatch Volunteer Training: Eastern Bluebird and Tree Swallow Monitoring, 9am-11:30am
This workshop will teach you how to collect conservation data as a NestWatch Monitor. You’ll learn detailed identification skills for bird species and nests most often encountered in the nesting boxes at Massabesic, including Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, Black-capped Chickadees, and House Wrens. We’ll review predator and disease control methods, invasive species mitigation, and information about nest protections afforded by migratory bird laws. We’ll touch on terminology and general life history information, and we’ll celebrate the sanctuary’s nesting success with a summary review of this 25-year-long project. Home to almost 80 monitored nest boxes; can you guess how many Tree Swallow fledglings have taken flight at the Massabesic Center over the last twenty years?
We will begin in the classroom at 9am for a 2.5-hour presentation, with a short break for snacks (bring your own snacks or lunch and water). After the break, we’ll head outside to learn the trails and nest box locations, clean out residual nest materials from last year, and practice field identification of early season birds.
If you’d like to join our volunteer team after learning what it takes, we’ll collect your information and start you down the path to becoming a NestWatch Monitor with NH Audubon. Attendees are not required to become volunteers; you can learn the process and take your new skills with you anywhere! Space in the volunteer program is limited, so we cannot guarantee every attendee a spot in our program.
This adult-focused presentation is required for all new NestWatch Monitor volunteers at the Massabesic Center. Minors who wish to become volunteers must be accompanied by trained adults to ensure robust data collection. Established volunteers are welcome to enjoy a refresher but are not required to repeat the training course.
NestWatch Monitors are expected to contribute one to two hours each week from May to August to record data in their designated zones.
Build-A-Birdhouse, 11:30am-1:30pm
Get hands on with power drills and rough pine boards in a safe family-friendly environment. Learn basic carpentry skills as you assemble pre-cut and pre-drilled kits suitable for a variety of species, including Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, Black-capped Chickadees, and House Wrens.
You’ll learn how to attract these species to your backyard and how to promote successful nesting. We’ll teach you how to build and install the boxes, how to protect against predators and pests, and how to provide the best habitat for your preferred bird species. We’ll also provide resources, including up-close nest examples, to help you identify the birds that take up residence in your new birdhouse.
Cost: All programs at Massabesic on April 11th are FREE to attend. If you feel inspired to support New Hampshire Audubon’s work, please consider a gift to our Annual Fund at nhaudubon.org/donate. Your contribution supports priorities like environmental education for people of all ages across NH, stewardship of nearly 10,000 acres of conserved habitat, science-based environmental policy and advocacy, and statewide conservation research and wildlife monitoring.
Registration for both headline events is required by April 9, 2026. Each event must be registered separately. Refer to the event listings for full details and RSVP instructions.
Short, informal 20-minute bird walks will take place on the All Persons Trail throughout the afternoon from 11:30am-1:30pm, if the weather allows. Look for Eastern Bluebirds and early migrants newly arrived from their spring migration to display courtship and nesting behavior in the Massabesic Center’s hayfield and gardens. You’ll witness the sanctuary’s network of over 80 nest boxes in action!
The Nature Lab, Nature Shop, Art Exhibit, gardens and trails will be open to all visitors throughout the day’s events, from 9am-5pm! Explore the center and sanctuary before or after you build your birdhouse. Contact Massabesic Center Coordinator, Corinne Cloutier, for more information.
Cover photo by Chris Kenney.