Three Rivers Land Trust will host a Build Your Own Birdhouse event 5-7 p.m. July 25 at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center. This event is made possible thanks to a grant from the Stanly County Community Foundation.

Learn how to make and maintain a birdhouse as well as about songbirds in North Carolina and their life histories. This event is for ages 5-18 accompanied by an adult from Stanly and surrounding counties. Registration will be capped at 25 participants.

“The birds that visit your yard are part of your local ecosystem. Adding a nesting box to your habitat will benefit native bird species and allow you to enjoy bird watching from your home,” said Crystal Cockman, associate director of the Three Rivers Land Trust. “This gives you an opportunity to encourage different species to visit your yard, and you can
learn to identify birds by sight and sound. Bird houses provide a safe shelter for birds where they can build a nest and raise their young, and a protective cover from bad weather conditions and possible predators.

“Encouraging birds to visit your yard helps in controlling pests, since birds eat insects, as well as aids in flower pollination, as birds sip nectar from flowers which assists in pollination. Birds also help to spread seeds, as some plants depend on animals to transport seeds to new locations. Bird houses can be aesthetically pleasing as well as part of a garden or backyard retreat,” she added. “Many environmental factors have negatively affected bird populations in recent years, with the primary factor being habitat loss. Creating sturdy nesting boxes for birds provides them with habitat that may be missing in the form of tree cavities that they might otherwise be using for nesting and cover. There are many benefits to both birds and people of installing and maintaining bird boxes.”

To register for this event visit trlt.org/byo-birdhouse or call the TRLT office and speak with Emily Callicutt, senior land protection specialist, at 704-647-0302.