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Our Projects

Birds

Bird Migration The Democrat and Chronicle recently interviewed our environmental educator about spring bird migration at Hamlin Beach. Watch it here. 

The Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park participate with the Eastern Bluebird Conservation program. As volunteers we build, place, and monitor Bluebird nesting boxes in both Hamlin Beach State Park and Lakeside State Park.

Why the Eastern Bluebird?

In 1970 New York State selected its state bird as the Eastern Bluebird. The Eastern Bluebird is a song bird that nests in cavities of dead trees.  In the mid 1900’s the Bluebird population was found to be in serious decline; this was due to several reasons. The growth of suburban housing led to the loss of natural nesting sites. The suburban sprawl led to the loss of semi open grass land with widely spaced trees which the Bluebirds prefer. With its natural habitat shrinking, the European House Sparrow posed the next challenge. The European House Sparrow, believed to be first introduced to the US in Brooklyn in 1851, are fierce competitors of native songbirds such as the Eastern Bluebird. They out compete for the nesting cavities, destroy the eggs of songbirds, and aggressively defend the nest.

In 1982 the New York State Bluebird Society was formed. The society worked to educate the public on the dangers faced by the Bluebirds. The group also worked to increase the population through the statewide Bluebird nesting box program.

You can pay for your membership by using PayPal or a credit card using the donate form.

If you prefer, you can mail a check to:

Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park
P.O. Box 65
Hamlin, NY 14464

Please make checks out to the Friends of Hamlin Beach SP.

Join

Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park members benefit the park in dozens of ways. Learn more.

Volunteer

Bluebird monitoring, maintaining gardens, crafts and educational events. Learn more.

Donate

Your generosity helps us to preserve, conserve, and improve and develop the park. Learn more.

Upcoming Events

  • Invasive Swallowwort Removal

    August 26, 2026  10:00 am - 11:30 am
    Area 5 West end

    Invasive Swallowwort Removal
    Take action to protect pollinator habitat! European Swallowwort is an aggressive, non-native plant that disrupts the food web by outcompeting native species. Each stem pulled or cut helps to restore habitat and prevent the spread of this invasive species. How much swallowwort do you think we can remove? We'll weigh our bags at the end of the morning to find out! 

    Participants are encouraged to bring their own tools and gloves, though all necessary tools, garbage bags, and prizes will be provided! These programs are 1 mile or less. Meet at the front left of the Area 5 parking area. Join us for one, some, or all of these programs, which will meet between 10:00am-11:30am on the following dates:
    Friday, August 21
    Wednesday, August 26
    Friday, August 28

  • Invasive Swallowwort Removal

    August 28, 2026  10:00 am - 11:30 am
    Area 5 West end

    Invasive Swallowwort Removal
    Take action to protect pollinator habitat! European Swallowwort is an aggressive, non-native plant that disrupts the food web by outcompeting native species. Each stem pulled or cut helps to restore habitat and prevent the spread of this invasive species. How much swallowwort do you think we can remove? We'll weigh our bags at the end of the morning to find out! 

    Participants are encouraged to bring their own tools and gloves, though all necessary tools, garbage bags, and prizes will be provided! These programs are 1 mile or less. Meet at the front left of the Area 5 parking area. Join us for one, some, or all of these programs, which will meet between 10:00am-11:30am on the following dates:
    Friday, August 21
    Wednesday, August 26
    Friday, August 28

  • Seasonal Saunter

    August 29, 2026  12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

    SEASONAL SAUNTER
    Slow down and enjoy what each season has to offer, on our journey to better understand and appreciate the natural world. Join us on one or all of this series of guided walks at Hamlin Beach and Lakeside State Parks, where we will explore the many wonders each walk holds. Walks at Hamlin Beach State Park are on Saturdays, are 1 mile or less, are approximately two hours long and meet at 12:00pm at the front left of
    the Area 5 parking area. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome to join.
    The dates of the walks at Hamlin are as follows:
    Saturday, August 1 
    Saturday, August 29
    Saturday, September 5

See All Events

Who started the Bluebird nesting box program at Hamlin Beach and Lake Side?

Jim Lugert, Jackie Galle, and Mary Ann Hurlbutt would meet and take frequent walks at Hamlin Beach. About 2010 they were talking about Bluebirds and if they could do something to help bring them back to the Hamlin Beach area. They put their minds together and developed a plan. They would have Bluebird nesting boxes placed around both Hamlin Beach State Park and Lakeside State Park. They would monitor the Bluebird nesting boxes, count the eggs and fledglings, and update the NYS Bluebird Society.

The plan comes together.

Working with the park managers of both parks, sites were selected for nesting boxes. A Hamlin based Boy Scout troop, overseen by the Zaremba family, assisted with building the nesting boxes. Jack Hayward volunteered to help by building three Purple Martin nesting boxes.

How many nesting boxes are in place and monitored by the volunteers?

At Hamlin Beach there are 39 Bluebird nesting boxes and two Purple Martin condos with 14 units each. At Lakeside there are 18 Bluebird and one Purple Martin condo with 14 units.

What is involved in monitoring?

Checking each box is fun and exciting. Between the beginning of April to the end of August, each Bluebird box is checked weekly for signs of Bluebird progress. Invasive nests such as House Sparrow are removed. For Bluebirds, the boxes are monitored for evidence of nest building, laying of eggs, hatching, and fledging. Our volunteers collect and track the number of eggs, successful hatching, and number of fledglings for each box.

At the end of the monitoring year the data is sent to the NYS Bluebird Society. As an example, for 2022  there were 103 successful Bluebird fledglings. Following nesting season, the volunteers clean the boxes and make any needed repairs.

How else does the Friends group help the Bluebirds?

Our group builds and sells wooden Bluebird nesting boxes. We also make and sell wooden nesting box kits that one can build; instructions are provided. We have expanded the number of bluebird volunteers from the original three to eleven with more expressing interest. Most of our volunteers now have bluebird boxes on their own property.

Our group is involved with conducting education programs regarding Bluebirds. A popular program we support is with the Kendall School district.

Has the work helped?

Yes, the NYS Bluebird Society has found that the population has slowly rebounded. Our work continues to help maintain this success. Visitors can easily spot bluebirds in Hamlin Beach State Park on a regular basis.

How can I get involved?

Go to our Volunteer page to sign up.

 

Photo credit: Pictures at the bottom of this page were graciously provided by Kathy Habgood.