Secretary  -  Jenyfra Nelson

     Jen Nelson was raised by her parents to love all living things – wild and domestic - and that included birds. As she raised a family, in Morris County, her love of birds shone through photography, a hobby that turned into a business of wildlife and landscape photography she shares with her husband, Neal.

    While still living in Morris County, Jen became a facilitator for  NJBBS Morris County coordinator Jim Newquist. Jen helped with a nice-sized trail at the public library in their town, and another site or two in that county. While working in the field, photographing the progress and growth of the bluebirds and assisting with presentations at the library, Jen grew to know and enjoy the beautiful Eastern Bluebird. As a result she became a member of the NJBBS.

     Jen and Neal moved to Mays Landing, in Atlantic County, New Jersey, in 2016, and Jen met with Jim Watson of the same town and county, and has been doing field work and photography for the NJBBS and Jim. Impressed by the number of Eastern Bluebirds in this area, Jen jumped in – both feet and one camera – to help with counting, banding and documenting bluebirds in her new hometown and area. With her sights set on the work of Secretary of the Board, Jen plans to continue sharing her work and photography, and is delighted to take on the tasks of Secretary – welcoming new members with information packets, attending meetings, and keeping the minutes and other records of the Society. She looks forward to meeting the other members at the next meeting, and enjoying all that the NJBBS and our beautiful feathered friends have to offer.

Vice President - Bernnie Visalli

& County Coordinator: Gloucester & co-Coordinator Salem

    Bernnie Visalli is a farm girl through and through. Growing up in South Harrison Twp, Gloucester County on a hundred-acre farm was filled with animals from an early age. Horses were her focus from an early age. Her father Sam always had purple martins and tried to get bluebirds though the infamous "prison box" program. He always saw Bluebirds while hunting in the fall but didn’t seem to be able to attract any with those boxes.

    After his death in 2011, Bernnie sold her house and moved back to the farm. She went to a purple martin seminar that fall, given by CU United with guest speaker Allen Jackson. He also brought up Bluebird management and the rest is history. After a site visit by Allen and following his advice, the one box on 100 acres grew to 12! In 2022 that trail fledged 50+ bluebirds.

    After growing her own trial, Bernnie became involved with doing site visits and soon became county coordinator for Gloucester and Salem Counties. Her interest is in big trails and resolving site issues. Being the "bluebird whisperer" has proven to be very rewarding in helping create new trails and educating new monitors. Banding has also been added to her activities and the numbers increase every year. She feels “Hands On” with young birds is very important, as some nestlings get into situations that would not allow them to survive and fledge if we didn't look at each one while banding.

    Bernnie also monitors 50 boxes over 7 sites in Gloucester and Salem counties logging over 3,000 miles a season!

    Bernnie was elected to Vice President South in 2022 and is excited in growing the southern region. Meeting with county coordinators and seeing the differences in habitat is very interesting. Plans are in the works for a fall get together with monitors and county coordinators to plan for next season.

Treasurer -  Louise Cockey

     My interest in bluebirds began when my husband and I moved from Bergen County to Ocean County in 2014.

I have fed birds for many years and when we moved to our house in Waretown, I continued that practice. I was thrilled to see bluebirds at our feeder and birdbath and have been enamored with them ever since.

     I contacted Allen Jackson when my first attempt at establishing a bluebird house turned into a disaster. Since then, I have learned a lot from reading the information on the NJBBS site, watching them in my backyard and of course, from Allen.

     I became more involved with NJBBS when I assumed the responsibilities of treasurer. This has allowed me to be more involved with the group and to get to know many of its members. Recently with the help of Bernnie Visalli and some members of my community, we erected 3 bluebird houses along the community’s golf course. Eventually we hope to establish a ‘Bluebird trail”.