BLuebirds!

[sassysu3]

Our kitchen window overlooks our back deck, and on a fairly regular basis, a bluebird will come and sit on the railing. I love that fact that there are some nearby and would like to put up a birdhouse since they are aparently comfortable with this area.

Does anyone know anything about the particulars of bluebirds. I know they can be picky about location, but that's as far as my knowledge goes with them.

Thanks!
Susan

[KimK]

I'm no expert, but I do know a couple of things, as we are putting some up soon, too. The best time to put up the houses is no later than February and March. You want to put up the house in such a way that a wild animal, such as a raccoon or skunk cannot climb the pole and raid the box.

Additionally, I found this online:

"To attract bluebirds to your birdhouse, be sure to use the proper dimensions when constructing the house. You can find the appropriate specs in the Build Birdhouses link to the right. Always face the house so that it looks out onto open areas - it seems that bluebirds love it this way. If you are putting up more than one house, space them apart about 100 feet. Be sure to monitor your house, checking inside on a regular basis to make sure that House Sparrows or other birds have not moved in.

There are two major house designs for bluebirds. There is the traditional square house and also a design called the Peterson Bluebird House that has a steeply sloped floor and roof. Free plans and directions for both types can be found in the Build Birdhouses link on the right."

Source: http://birding.about.com/library/weekly/aa110100a.htm

Hope this helps.

[kim21]

Susan! Hi! How fun that you have bluebirds visiting you. I am a bluebird "landlord," and with the right TLC you will enjoy them for years to come.

As KimK has shared, the housing issues are key, as is the willingness to monitor the boxes regularly and "evict" birds (especially sparrows) who attempt to nest in the box. Sparrows are very aggressive and will go into the box and take over, destroy the eggs, and even kill the adult birds. Sparrows have a variety of options for nesting, whereas the bluebirds really do need the box. You will be able to quickly identify a bluebird nest, as it is a little neat and tidy nest. Their eggs are pale blue or white The sparrow nests are loose and messy, and the eggs are speckled. When I see the beginnings of one, out it goes.

I have several boxes on our property and often will have swallows in one and bluebirds in the other. The swallows are "cool," they can stay. The sparrows cannot. Kim shared a good link for you, and here is another...
http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/

It is fun to see you on the boards. I have been AWOL from our CL supper club...as I am still working on my little "hobby:D " I'm working on the dissertation, and so...there is a light! There is! I hope that you and your family are well, and do keep us posted on the bluebirds! Be well, Kim

[Beth]

I love bluebirds. We had them at the last house but have not gotten them here -- maybe half a mile away. They like to have open areas areound their boxes, so make sure the opening faces out to a clearer area and not into more trees, etc.

If you have some nesting and want to spoil them, they love the mealworms I bought at Wild birds. They also seemed to make the paenut butter suet cakes we made for our birds. I think they predated us at that house, so I'm not sure how to get them to notice us here.

[sassysu3]

Hello to you Kim!
Thanks to all for your information. I didn't know that about the sparrows. I would love to put up a house for the bluebirds, and think I may have a good spot for them. I was surprised at how often I've seen them outside my kitchen window! It's such a nice view to have while washing dishes or preparing dinner! :)

Thansk sfor the links also. Before purchasing a house, I'll read up on what would be best for them. Hope the little guys make a home here. :p

Susan

[sparrowgrass]

Another interesting thing about bluebirds is that they will use the box in the winter, too, to keep warm.

One cold winter morning I saw SIX bluebirds come, one after the other, out of the box on the back deck.