Bluebirds are beautiful, beneficial songbirds that can add color and life to your yard. Installing a bluebird house is a great way to attract these lovely birds and enjoy their presence. With some basic knowledge, you can create an ideal habitat for bluebirds in your own backyard.
Choose the Right Location
Finding the optimal spot to mount your bluebird house is key. Here are some tips for picking a good location:
- Place the house in an open area surrounded by short, sparse vegetation. Bluebirds like a clear flyway to their nest.
- Orient the entrance hole facing east to southeast to avoid prevailing winds and storms.
- Mount the box 4-6 feet high on a tree, post, or pole with no branches, vines, or vegetation nearby that could enable predators to access the box.
- Avoid areas near bird feeders or busy human activity which may disturb nesting birds.
- Make sure there are suitable perches like overhead wires, fence posts, or dead snags nearby for adults to perch and watch for predators.
Select a Well-Designed House
Not all birdhouses are created equal when it comes to meeting bluebirds’ needs. Look for a box with these features:
- Dimensions of 5×5 inches floor, 8-12 inches deep, with a 1.5 inch diameter entrance hole about 5-6 inches above the floor. This prevents larger birds from entering.
- Ventilation holes near the top under the roof and drainage holes in the floor.
- No perch or ledge on which sparrows can sit and attack.
- Untreated natural wood interior with coarse sawdust or pine shavings (not straw) 3-4 inches deep for nesting material.
- Slanted roof and raised floor to shed rain and discourage predators.
- Removable side, top or back panel for easy annual cleaning between broods.
Proper Mounting
Mount your bluebird box properly using these tips:
- Attach the house firmly to its post or pole at eye-level using screws or bolts. It should not wobble.
- Add predator guards like PVC pipe or a metal cone below the box if needed in high risk areas.
- Install a cut branch or wooden dowel above the box for a handy perch.
- Face the house east to southeast with the entrance hole angled down slightly.
- Make sure the entrance is unobstructed by branches and clear for easy entry.
Maintain Your Bluebird Home
With a quality bluebird house installed in the right habitat, your work has just begun. Plan to:
- Keep the house clean and dry by removing old nests and debris annually after baby birds fledge.
- Check weekly and clean out competing bird nests like sparrows or wrens. They may fill cavities or peck new entrance holes.
- Discourage wasps and bees from building nests by filling holes with caulk if needed.
- Ensure rain and drainage holes remain open and clear.
- Repair or replace damaged houses and deteriorating posts or poles.
- Refresh nesting bedding by adding new pine shavings each season.
Attract Bluebirds to Your Yard
Try these tips to entice bluebirds to take up residence:
- Offer enticing natural foods like mealworms, live crickets, sunflower chips, shredded suet, and fruit.
- Ensure fresh water is available in a birdbath, fountain, or ground tray.
- Reduce competition by removing other old birdhouses. Houses should be 100-200 yards apart.
- Put up houses early, before spring migration. Early arrivals claim the best habitats.
- Be patient! It may take weeks or seasons for bluebirds to find and claim your nest box as their own.
Monitor Bluebird Nesting Activity
Here is how to watch over your bluebirds during nesting season:
- View nests from a distance using binoculars to limit disturbance. Don’t approach or open occupied houses.
- Keep activity near the box to a minimum while eggs are present or young nestlings are still featherless.
- Check a box 1-2 times per week for eggs, hatchlings, and to remove dead nestlings if necessary.
- Don’t handle live nestlings. Healthy birds do best when left alone by humans.
- Don’t offer food or water near an active nest which may attract predators.
- Remove old nests after young fledge and keep the box clean and dry between broods.
Common Issues and How to Resolve Them
Despite your best efforts, problems arise. Here are some common bluebird challenges and solutions:
Non-Native Birds Taking Over
- Monitor boxes weekly and remove non-bluebird species’ nests promptly. House sparrows and European starlings are the most common culprits.
- Try deterrents like rubber snakes, scare-eye balloons, aluminum reflectors.
- Replace wooden boxes with PVC or metal alternatives less preferred by sparrows.
Wasps Building Nests
- Inspect boxes frequently and remove any small starter nests right away.
- Lightly coat interior surfaces with bar soap or vegetable oil to deter nest building.
- Seal cracks and crevices using caulk. Replace wooden boxes with PVC or metal.
- Attach a wasp trap nearby to draw wasps away.
Ants or Mice Invading House
- Elevate box higher up on a smooth pole or pipe with a predator guard below.
- Apply a 4″ band of petroleum jelly around pole below the box.
- Use PVC or metal houses with very tight seams. Seal any gaps with caulk.
- Keep vegetation cleared below pole and box.
Fledglings on the Ground
- Leave them alone – parents continue caring for them out of the nest. Monitor cats/dogs.
- Only interfere if baby is injured or in imminent danger. Call a wildlife rehabilitator for help.
- Let youngsters rest on the ground 1-3 days learning to fly before intervening.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bluebird Houses
Here are answers to some common questions about attracting bluebirds using birdhouses:
How soon will bluebirds use a newly installed nest box?
It may take a few weeks to a year or more for bluebirds to find and start using a nest box. Be patient. Try more boxes in good habitat.
What months do bluebirds nest?
Most bluebirds rear 2-3 broods per season from April through August. Some may nest as early as February or as late as October in warmer southern climates.
How often should I clean out my bluebird house?
Clean out old nesting materials annually after baby birds fledge, usually by the end of August. Then prepare the box for the next season.
Can I open nest boxes to monitor them?
It’s best not to open occupied boxes. Monitor activity from afar using binoculars. After young fledge, inspect and clean out the box.
How do I stop other birds from taking over my bluebird box?
Check weekly and promptly remove nests and eggs of non-native species like sparrows and starlings. Deterrents can help too.
Should I offer mealworms once bluebirds nest in my yard?
You can offer live mealworms in feeders or trays near nest boxes. But do so with caution as they can also attract predators.
Conclusion
Installing and caring for bluebird nest boxes takes knowledge, vigilance, and dedication. But the reward of hosting these colorful insect-eaters in your backyard makes the effort worthwhile. Follow these tips to create an ideal home for bluebirds. With patience and the right habitat, you’ll have the joy of seeing vibrant blue flashes outside your window as bluebirds take up residence.