Friendship Quarry

About the Program
Friendship Quarry is located in Buford, Georgia, approximately 40 miles northeast of Atlanta. A mixture of woods, roads and residential areas borders the quarry; this surrounding area has seen dramatic urbanization in recent decades, which has caused a decline in available habitat. In response, the quarry team manages on-site habitat, including a meadow, wetlands and a pond.

Practices and Impacts

• The project has installed 17 nest boxes since 2011. The nest box design follows the recommendations of the North American Bluebird Society (NABS) for eastern bluebirds and other small native cavity nesters.
• Boxes are checked once a month during nesting season. Adults, eggs, hatchlings and fledglings are counted and noted along with the species. The boxes have also been supporting native chickadees and possibly wrens.
• Box condition and maintenance or replacement needs are noted.
• Monitoring data were provided for August 2021 and June 2022 for each nest box. In 2021, eight nests were noted, and in 2022, 10 nests have been recorded.
• The area provides meadow and water to the birds as well as native plants that attract insects for food.
• Native plant species include white oak, loblolly pine, mockernut hickory, serviceberry, black cherry, poke weed, common ragweed, Carolina cranesbill, cattails and goldenrod. The team plans to increase monitoring to ensure any problems are addressed, such as wasp nests, which will prevent bluebirds from nesting.