AviNest
Protecting Birds, Restoring Habitat, Building Community
AviNest is a hands-on conservation effort right here in Orleans County, dedicated to protecting native cavity-nesting birds, restoring local habitats, and getting the community involved.
Our Story
AviNest began as the personal project of Medina business owner and hobby conservationist Dan Rosentreter. What started with a single idea—building and maintaining safe nesting spaces for birds—has grown into a countywide effort to support wildlife and inspire people of all ages to get involved.
Today, Dan maintains a network of 47 nest boxes across Medina, including State Street Park, Pine Street Park, Lyons Park, Gulf Street Park, and Boxwood Cemetery. With the support of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County, AviNest is now expanding its reach to include education, youth involvement, and large-scale conservation projects.
Why It Matters
Cavity-nesting birds such as bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens are losing the natural spaces they need to raise their young. AviNest steps in to fill that gap, creating safe, sustainable nesting options while teaching the community how to protect and preserve local species.
What We Do
With community support, AviNest is building:
- Bluebird Trails – including a brand-new trail at the Orleans County Fairgrounds.
- Workshops & Classes – covering nest box clean-outs, chickadee nest monitoring, invasive species management, bird banding, and more.
- Youth Engagement – working alongside 4-H to inspire the next generation of conservationists.
- Innovation in Birding – experimenting with new nest box designs and planning a live-streaming bird box camera for the Fairgrounds.
Get Involved
AviNest is powered by volunteers and community support. We’re currently seeking:
- Volunteers to help maintain nest boxes and trails
- Donations to support new projects and materials
- Community members interested in learning through upcoming workshops
Contact
Call 585-798-4265 or email us at orleans [at] cornell.edu (orleans[at]cornell[dot]edu) for more information.