Southern Alberta invests in nest egg for the future of bluebirds
The Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society is thrilled to announce the establishment of an Endowment Fund (also referred to as a Charity Support Fund) with the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta.
For over 40 years, the Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society (MBTCS) has been dedicated to studying, conserving, and helping restore the natural range of the Mountain Bluebird across Southern Alberta, Canada.
MBTCS works to bring together Trail Monitors from across Southern Alberta – spanning Medicine Hat and Cypress Hills area in the east to Pincher Creek and Oldman River headwaters in the west, and north from the Calgary Bluebird Monitors to the southern Montana Bluebird Trails. We currently have a trail network of over 2,700+ nest boxes.
“Our team of 110+ volunteers maintain a vast network of Mountain Bluebird trails, increasing habitat and restoring the natural range of these beautiful birds,” says Jim Leitch, President of MBTCS, “We rely on support from our members and the community to continue to build, renovate, and maintain cavity nest box habitat that supports thousands of bluebirds each year.”
MBTCS can offer support in maintaining a healthy and productive Mountain Bluebird Trail. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to learn more and do their part for our wonderful bluebird neighbours. If you are interested in learning more about MBTCS, plan to attend the annual Spring Orientation on the first Saturday in June. This is a great opportunity to meet other members, ask questions, and share experiences with bluebird nest boxes.
Membership to the Society is free for everyone to join. Volunteers are always needed and encouraged. Donations to the Society help to build and maintain the nest boxes and Bluebird Trails.
Visit BluebirdTrails.org for more details and resources.
Endowment Fund donations are invested to generate a stable source of revenue. In doing so, they help us build a sustainable future by providing longterm support for our efforts to conserve and restore the natural range of the Mountain Bluebird across Southern Alberta.
MBTCS wishes to thank all donors that contributed over the years! Thanks to estate bequests as well as donations from members and supporters an initial contribution of $10,000 was invested with the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta. MBTCS hopes to grow the Fund with your continued and ongoing support.
Donations can be made online at CanadaHelps.org/en/dn/72048 or by cheque to the Community Foundation (#50, 1202 2nd Ave S, Lethbridge, AB, T1J0E3). This will help to provide an annual grant to support MBTCS’ work every year, forever.
Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society (MBTCS) was established in 1974 by Duncan Mackintosh and became a registered charity in 1995. The volunteer-run society maintains over 2,700 nest boxes across Southern Alberta thanks to an enthusiastic group of bluebirders who monitor thousands of bluebirds each year. The society also hosts workshops and conferences, and actively promotes the conservation of all native, cavity-nesting birds. Learn more at bluebirdtrails.org
Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta (CFLSA) is a registered Canadian charity and the ninth oldest of Canada’s 191 community foundations. We manage charitable gifts from donors, whose generosity allows us to create permanent, income-earning endowment funds. The income generated by these funds is distributed to the charities our donors wish to support. In doing so, the Community Foundation helps charitable organizations succeed in building the community of Southwestern Alberta.