In the hustle and bustle of day to day life, few of us have much time to ponder the plight of Pelham’s feathered residents, but for David Kratz, birds, and bluedbirds in particular, are a big part of his spring. Mr. Kratz builds and maintains bluebird houses in his spare time, doing his best to give the native species a place to live as their natural habitat continues to dwindle.
Mr. Kratz got started building houses on his childhood farm with his Uncle. “Back then, we’d just find scrap wood and put it together to make a birdhouse,” he said. And though his childhood days are behind him and his uncle has since passed on, Mr. Kratz continues the tradition, working to improve his houses and methodology every year.
“I know a lot more now than when I started. There’s a lot of science behind it these days,” he said. “Now, all the houses are built to the North American Bluebird Society’s specifications. For example, if the house is a dark color it will get too hot and the eggs won’t hatch. If the holes aren’t the right size you’ll get different species moving in and pushing the bluebirds out.”
Now, Mr. Kratz has bluebird houses all over the town, anywhere with suitable habitat and willing property owners. He is constantly on the lookout for new sites, and while building houses no doubt keeps the bluebirds happy, there is also something cathartic about the process, he claims. “It’s good exercise, walking these hills. When you’re out here you can forget about everything else for a bit, you can temporarily let go of any problems you might be facing and just enjoy your surroundings.”
