Allamakee County Conservation partners with area schools ...

The Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) has partnered with Postville Community Schools and Eastern Allamakee Community Schools to build bluebird houses for distribution to the public. Students in the industrial arts programs with instructor Todd Neal from Postville Community Schools and instructor Ray Rankin from Eastern Allamakee Community Schools used the project to learn basic woodworking skills including layout design, planing, sawing and assembly while providing a service for the residents of Allamakee County. The students were also given the opportunity to install birdhouses around their schools and houses. Materials for the bluebird houses were provided free of charge by the Yellow River State Forest Sawmill, and Luster Heights Correctional Facility also helped with planing of the rough-sawn lumber. Without the help of these organizations, the project would not be possible.
The remaining bluebird houses will be available free of charge to the public fully assembled with information on the installation and maintenance to anyone who is interested in attracting bluebirds around their home. The bluebird houses will be available for pick-up from several locations throughout Allamakee County on a first come, first served basis, but it is asked that each household limit itself to taking two birdhouses. Pick-up locations are as follows: Allamakee County Conservation Board Headquarters in Harpers Ferry, Northeast Iowa RC&D in Postville, Allamakee County Rural Recycling in Waukon, Meehan Memorial Library in Lansing, and the New Albin Public Library in New Albin. For more information on this program or a complete listing of upcoming public programs that the ACCB offers contact the ACCB headquarters at 563-586-2996. Submitted photo.