The Bluebird Restoration Project of Eau Claire has recently launched a new website! SLD is incredibly happy to be a part of the Bluebird Experience this year. Their co-founder, Shelly Sutley, has a beautiful story to tell that has been inspiring many people in the Chippewa Valley and beyond. Their organization needed a place to share their story & purpose and allow them to easily update & promote their events. Shelly Sutley wanted to build a website as a way to connect with volunteers and those who wanted to learn more about BE.
The Bluebird Experience is a group of volunteers that has worked very hard over the past six years to restore Bluebird habitats in the Chippewa Valley. Their first Bluebird Trail is located on the Hickory Hills Golf Course. The Bluebird Experience has been involved in many scout programs over the years and has found it’s way into classrooms around our community. Sutley’s primary message with BE is to teach others of the importance of nature. She’s taught me that it’s important to have a healthy balance of technology & the simple things in life. I’ve also learned that sometimes you need to take a moment and just BE. We all get so caught up in “doing” we don’t take a moment to stop and smell the flowers or view the bluebirds 😊
Ease of Growth & Sharing Her Story
Since she was 25, Shelly has been suffering from MS and it has taken a toll on her body and spirit. Shelly wants to spend time in the community telling her story and helping others appreciate nature and all it has to offer. But this isn’t always possible for as long as she would like each day. The Bluebird Experience website now allows her to share her story without exerting herself. She also has a tool that anyone within their organization can use to promote their events, products and so much more! If you’re interested in learning more about Bluebird Restoration, I personally suggest you check out the Bluebird Festival on May 20, 2012 from 1-4 pm at Hickory Hills Golf Course in Eau Claire, WI.
Branding
Over time, the BE Organization has utilized many different logos. One of the goals they had was to streamline the branding and utilize one logo vs. 3 or 4. This will help the group be more recognizable in the community. One of the challenges with the Bluebird as an icon is that it often looks similar to the Tree Swallow. The differences between the two is that the Bluebird often has a orange, rusty chest (males) and the Tree Swallow carries a white chest. Tree Swallows also make their nests in nest boxes like the Bluebird so they can become a nuisance when trying to revive a community of Bluebirds. We’ve enjoyed working with Sutley and her dedicated team! Take a look at their website for more information on how you can take part or get your own Bluebird Nest Box!
