What do bookshelves, dollhouses, and nest boxes share in common? If you guessed Andrew Hutchinson and his woodworking classes, then you probably read Efteen.
I first noticed Mr. Hutchinson in the news back in 2012. His senior woodworking students were building a couple of bookshelves for the Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy. These were then used to offer free children’s books in both Williams Lake and 100 Mile House. Ten years later, Mr. Hutchinson and his Lake City Secondary students were in full swing, hammering together a variety of donations for our community. In June of 2022, for instance, an LCSS woodworking class constructed dollhouses for the local fire departments, so firefighters could learn how flames and smoke move within a burning structure. When Angie Mindus interviewed Mr. Hutchinson about the project, this quote stayed with me: "I’m always looking for things we can do out there in the community."
True to his word, when I approached Mr. Hutchinson on behalf of the Williams Lake Field Naturalists in December 2023, without hesitation he agreed that the construction of nest boxes for our Mountain Bluebird Program would be an excellent project for his class.
On February 14, 2024, the big-hearted students loaded 64 boxes into my pick-up. One student in particular—Sam Holmes—did the lion’s share of the work. Using an ingenious jig to hold the pieces in place, Sam swiftly and accurately nail-gunned the walls and floor together, leaving only the door and roof to be screwed on later. This year, the same jig provided another 73 houses for the Bluebird Program. I didn’t even need to ask. Hutch just knew we would need more houses.
But why so many?
Currently, the Mountain Bluebird Program has 32 volunteers who manage over 1,000 nest boxes on more than 30 routes. Most routes are located throughout the Becher’s Prairie, as they were in 1978 when the program began, but other routes now exist closer to Williams Lake, and others still are farther afield, for example, along the Dog Creek Road as far as the Empire Valley Ranch. Every year, the volunteers clean, repair, and replace nest boxes in readiness for the influx of mountain bluebirds in March and April. And every year, at least thirty-five to forty boxes are required, usually due to old age, woodpeckers, squirrels, and cattle. Last year, one manager not only replaced aging and damaged houses, but also expanded his route into new areas. This required 24 extra houses, so by the end of 2024, only three of the 64 LCSS boxes remained to meet the needs of 2025.
And judging by what I have heard and experienced to date, 2025 will be an atypical year.
Do you remember the classic Far Side cartoon that portrays two polar bears opening an igloo?
Gary Larson’s caption reads: “Oh hey. I just love these things, a crunchy outside with a chewy centre.” Well, that is how I imagine the black bear that gnawed his way through 30 of the 60 nest boxes on my route last year. Fourteen contained mountain bluebirds, 11 contained tree swallows, one a mountain chickadee, and three were undetermined. Incredibly, the mountain chickadees were still alive, even though the box was on the ground. The other birds were not so lucky. Roughly calculated, the bear ate 70 mountain bluebirds and 66 tree swallows. Other managers have reported bear damage on their routes as well, meaning the number of birds lost will be above normal.
Thankfully, I was able to repair many of the boxes, but as I did this, I wondered about improving the design so that the “chewy centre” would be less accessible. “No reward, the bear gets bored;” that’s what I believe.
Hutchinson and his class were very accommodating. I requested heavier plywood, extra glue, longer screws, and more nails. We had to build something that wouldn’t readily pop open with the bat of a powerful paw. On the occasions that I visited the woodworking class, I was very impressed by the coordinated assembly line of activity. Before January was even over, 73 small fortresses were ready for the spring of 2025. Thank you student woodworkers.
So, what’s next for Mr. Hutchinson and his LCSS students?
It appears that "Hutch" now has bears on the brain. If our local conservation officers are open to the idea, his woodworking class will construct bear-resistant shelters for garbage—a timely plan, since the hungry bears will soon be coming out of hibernation. Remember: “No reward, the bear gets bored.” This is a project worth doing. And it will be done well.
Want to see some of Mr. Hutchinson’s work first hand? Visit the ski lodge at Bull Mountain. LCSS woodworking students constructed all 12 of those beautiful tables and accompanying benches for the grand opening in October 2023. The tables are so sturdy even a bear could dance on one!
Amateur birder Loyd Csizmadia currently coordinates the Mountain Bluebird Program on behalf of the Williams Lake Field Naturalists. To become a member of the Williams Lake Field Naturalists, pick up an application at the Scout Island Nature Center, or contact Sue Hemphill at shemphill@xplornet.com. Applications are also available on our web site: https://williamslakefieldnaturalists.ca/
