AviNest and Orleans CCE Team Up to Protect Native Birds – Open House Sept. 6

8/7/2025 By: Abigail Smith 

 

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County is partnering with AviNest to launch a hands-on conservation effort that protects native birds, restores local habitats, and gets the community involved—starting with a new Bluebird Trail at the fairgrounds. Cavity-nesting birds like bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens are losing safe places to raise their young, but a local AviNest is stepping in to help.

AviNest, led by Medina business owner hobby conservationist Dan Rosentreter, is now part of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE). Together, they’re expanding efforts to protect native bird species, restore habitat, and get the community involved in hands-on conservation work.

AviNest started with a simple idea: build and maintain safe nesting spaces for birds that need a little extra help. Today, Dan maintains a network of 47 nest boxes across Medina, including in State Street Park, Pine Street Park, Lyons Park, Gulf Street Park, and Boxwood Cemetery.

A couple of pink birdhouses on a wooden table AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Examples of cavity nesting bird houses made by Dan Rosentreter. Photo by Dan Rosentreter.

Now with support from CCE, AviNest is preparing to offer community classes and workshops covering topics like bird banding, nest box clean-outs, chickadee nest monitoring, invasive species management, working with 4-H youth, experimenting with new bird box designs, and eventually setting up a live-streaming bird box camera at the Orleans County Fairgrounds.

AviNest is also developing a new Bluebird Trail at the Fairgrounds and is currently seeking volunteers and donations to help bring the project to life.

“What began as a personal hobby with birds has grown into something much bigger,” said Rosentreter. “Now it’s about building community, supporting local wildlife, and making a real impact.”

In addition to leading AviNest, Dan is a director of the New York State Bluebird Society and a talented wildlife photographer. His photo of an Eastern Bluebird (below), taken right here in Western New York, reflects the heart of AviNest’s mission—giving birds a safe place to call home.

A bird flying next to a birdhouse AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Eastern Bluebird arriving at a nest box. Photo by Dan Rosentreter, Hi-Res Wildlife Photography

The AviNest Open House is happening on September 6th from 11:30AM-12:30PM. Everyone is welcome to attend, meet Dan, and learn more about how to support cavity-nesting birds in our region.

For questions, to get involved, or to donate, contact orleans [at] cornell.edu, call 585-798-4265, or donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WFVEH9CZHV2YC