For the fifth year in a row, clients of Spectrum for Living adult training centers have built some beautiful Tree Swallow nesting boxes for the Meadowlands — ranging from simple wooden nesting boxes with perches to some really creative works of art.
   One box from the Ringwood A.T.C. featured a ladder and a little bird swing (pictured at right ). In all, the clients built two dozen new boxes, several of which are already providing housing by the Lyndhurst Nature Preserve at DeKorte Park.
   "This has turned into a wonderful annual event," says the NJMC's Gabrielle Bennett-Meany. "All the centers work had to have the most decorated nesting box — some are way too beautiful to put in a marsh."
  Bennett-Meany says that the centers also contribute some basic well-built basic boxes to be put to use at the water’s edge.
   According to Jerry Kearns of the Spectrum for Living, the project serves two great purposes: "Besides helping the birds, our clients just love making these boxes. It builds their confidence and self-esteem."
    The adult training centers are located in Ringwood, Westwood, Teaneck, Norh Haledon and Edison.
    Link to a blog post on this project from last year is here.