Janice Hetzel, of the Bermuda Audubon Society, will give a lecture this month on saving the island’s bluebird population.

According to the Bermuda Zoological Society, the lecture, titled Wings of Hope: How You Can Save Bermuda's Bluebirds, is on April 15 at 7pm.

Ms Hetzel will give an insight into the bluebird's history in Bermuda, and how backyard bluebird boxes can help to save the population.

She will outline threats posed by the house sparrow and describe NestWatch, an online monitoring and data-collection programme.

The BZS said the lecture is free.

However, a donation of $10 will be gratefully received and shared equally between the two societies.

The species found in Bermuda is the eastern bluebird.

It is native to the island, which is the only location outside North America where the bird breeds.

The Bermuda Audubon Society said the bird is recognised as a distinct subspecies, noting it is totally dependent on artificial nest boxes for breeding success.

It said the bird’s survival in Bermuda can only be guaranteed with human help.

Anyone interested in attending the lecture can register here.

• For more information, e-mail Hollyanne Shirley at edadmin@bzs.bm or call 293-2727, ext 2181