Need some advice on bluebird houses (for a newbie)

Hi--I'm a newbie to this forum and have only been backyard birding for some months. I spotted my first bluebirds a few days ago--SO exciting-- and now wish to set up some bluebird houses in the Spring, and possibly a trail.
My questions are:
1. How important is it to have a sparrow-resistant nesting box (with the slotted entrance)? We do have lots of house sparrows around my backyard.
2. Can I mount the boxes onto the trunk of pine trees, or is this too enticing to raccoons (as the NABS site mentions)? Somehow I am having difficulty picturing myself out there greasing poles instead, although you never know. . .
3. Do people prefer to use mealyworms in attracting bulebirds? My pair were snacking on my mixed wild bird seed, but if they attract more birds. . .
Oh yes; I live in a suburban area of Cape Cod, with a conservation-land forest behind my house. I also have an area of lightly-forested land bordering my back yard.
Any other advice is welcomed. I loved the photos of bluebirds I saw on this forum!

Cape Cod Gardner...
Welcome!
I loooove bluebirds. Here's a great site to get you started on some of your questions:
http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/
As far as mounting boxes, I've found the blues like the box away from feeding areas and high, without a lot of limbs, etc., around it. So I wouldn't put it on a tree trunk. I have one on a fence post way in the back of my yard. It's hosted blues for the past two years.
I feed mealworms... like you, I had bluebirds when I was just feeding sunflower seed, etc., but it was NOTHING like what I got when I started springing for mealworms. Warblers, wrens, titmice, chickadees and other birds also love mealies. Some people only feed mealies when it's cold/snowy. I dial it down during the summer and don't offer as many but I still feed mealworms even in the summer. Added bonus> Squirrels won't eat 'em!
Have fun! It's a rewarding, fun, albeit expensive hobby!
Enjoy it and I hope you attract several beautiful blues!
Judy

Keeping the house sparrows out is important. So is ensuring that raccoons and snakes can't gain easy entrance to the nest - for that reason, a pole is preferable to a trunk-mounted box.

DH found freeze-dried meal worms and has been putting them out all winter; they seem to be scarfing them down, especially when there's nothing else readily available to them. (I'll ask a dumb question: do they really stay that far north in the winter?)

Hi CapeCod, Welcome to the forum!


Heres plans for making your own baffle which are quite easy.
http://sialis.org/baffle.htm
My DH made the metal type and I still have them out there.

Heres another page from the Sialis site that shows pros and cons of different nest boxes.
http://sialis.org/nestboxproscons.htm

It would be good if 1 of your houses was the slot design with no perch on the front.

Bluebirds do Love live mealy worms and they have essential vitamins for them so that would be the best thing to feed them along with some crumbled Homemade suet. If they will eat the freeze dried worms then use them along w/ the suet also.
If you look in the Sticky at the top of the page (Helpful Guides and Tips 3rd post) you'll see a little more info about Mealy Worms and in the second post there is a link to suet recipes for Bluebirds.


Pelle:-)

Thank you, everybody! I appreciate all the pragmatic and detailed advice, along with the helpful websites. They are such charming birds and I want to encourage them.

I had mine at 5 feet.

Ours are at about 5'

I haven't had bluebirds (yet. . . just got into birding a couple months ago) but like you I've been reading a bit. It's my understanding that they like big open fields. My place has woods behind the house, but it's pretty open in front of the house, with just scattered oak trees. I had been wondering if it was open enough here for blues. I guess if you've already seen them, you know they're around, but I wonder if they'll nest in a wooded or semi-wooded area. Please keep us updated on how it goes!

Thanks again for the information on the preferred height for the boxes. . . I'm glad they can be at around 5 feet because that means I can observe them a lot moremore easily than in my bat nesting box [grin].
And I've learned a lot from you all--think I'll place my "trail" in the less forested areas. The NABS site also suggested golf courses, which I have right next to my house--but people pass by in the carts and while walking, and I have to wonder whether the birds might be too shy to nest where people are within hearing distance?
As you can see, I'm pretty new to backyard birding. I have joined Project FeederWatch (Cornell Ornithology Lab) and it's fascinating to keep tabs.

I would like to see some of those bluebirds, do they come this far south?

Thanks for that info - I shall keep looking, they would look very nice sitting on my fence with the cardinals, quite colourful.

Hi CapeCodGardener! I don't think that activity on golf courses bothers the blues at all. I've seen many very successful trails in golf courses. I've got a trail in a nearby cemetery - cemeteries are ideal for a number of reasons - mown grass, lack of predators (no house sparrows or wrens), lots of open space, and plenty of perches. Last summer, 21 baby blues (and 7 chickadees) fledged out of my four cemetery boxes......I've added 3 more boxes & am looking forward to the end of March (when the blues arrive here in Minnesota). You will love helping these beautiful birds!

Thank you, muddylou. I've learned so much on this thread. Mainly that bluebirds LIKE open spaces rather than thickly forested areas. I'm about to order several boxes--AND do the mealworm thing.
Wish I had a cemetery (or graveyard) nearby so I could establish a really long trail. I'll have to make do with the golf course. ("Golfers, you are SO lucky that you have bluebird boxes set up near the greens!" LOL)

The golfers ARE lucky! They'll get to see those gorgeous birds. Here's an excellent book that you may want to check out: "The Bluebird Monitor's Guide", Berger/Kridler/Griggs, sponsored by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the North American Bluebird Society. I'm pretty sure that you can order it through the Cornell Lab (just google the Lab name) - it has been extremely helpful for me.

FYI

Eastern Bluebird winter distribution map link: http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/htm96/cbc622/ra7660.html

I'm surprised they range so far north in the winter too. Haven't seen any around here and I'm watching, for sure...

There are many nest boxes on the golf course adjacent to us and also along the stream and in the prairie/meadow in the park. None in our yard, though, but I'm putting one up this week...

Here's another great link for bluebirds: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/bluebirds/. It's the "Bluebird L" reference guide - click on the archives on the left of the page, and you'll find TONS (and tons & tons) of bluebird info. Hmmmm not sure how to put a hyperlink in here, but hopefully you'll be able to find the website.........

Yes lots of great info; thanks guys!!

Hi again, bluebirders--

So how are we doing with the Bluebirds, CCG? I haven't seen a one around me yet and it's about time for them to be nesting here....

I have scoured the Bluebird NABs links above (thanks everyone) for all the details on how to attract them but haven't had any luck.

One interesting approach I read about was to put a small 'bluebird blue colored' 'flag' or 'decoy' on the nest box to catch their eye.

Another person said that playing a recorded bluebird 'call' might draw them into your property. Others said this approach would cause the birds to be unnerved and uncomfortable and shouldn't be used.

I set up my blue heated pet bowl with a fountain bubbler in it months ago and I have rarely seen any bird using it, much less a blue bird!

So any luck with the bluebirds this spring?? Do tell us about it! t.

Hi Tabasco! I will be checking my nest boxes tomorrow to see if I have any nest building. I have lost tract for the past several days with all the nasty rainy weather we were having. I know for sure the Bluebirds are in one of the nest boxes but have to inspect it to see what is inside. I have all my supplies to make some Sparrow Spookers also. The other boxes I have seen both Blues and House Sparrows entering them so I will have to see if anyone is making a nest. From what I have read after the Blues lay their first egg you put up the Spookers before one o'clock in the afternoon. Prior to the rains I observed a lot of "wing-waving"...and if it was the same male...well, what can I say? I will let you know what I find out!

I saw a pair of bluebirds yesterday at my heated birdbath. . . the second time I spotted them since early February. I put out a feeder with some freeze-dried mealworms (read somewhere that sometimes bluebirds will accept these) and though I didn't see the bluebirds frequenting them, the titmice seemed to like them!

Mine have finally decided to get started. Got the first egg yesterday, so I put up the sparrow spooker and the blues had a fit! It was so windy the strips were blowing all over the place. The blues wouldn't go inside the box and the male repeatedly snapped at the mylar strips. This morning it was still windy so I tied back all the strips except one and they were much more comfortable with that arrangement. They went in the box without hesitation and today we got the second egg. If the wind dies down tomorrow I will untie a couple of the mylar strips.

Here the male pulls on one of the strips. Sorry for the lack of picture quality. It was very overcast and raining off and on.

Dave thank you for that pic. I guess the spookers worked for you since you have had success with your BB's.

I checked the nestboxes this morning and one of them definitely has a Bluebird nest! No eggs so far but I will monitor daily now so that I can get the spooker up at the right time. One of the other boxes has a nasty looking nest and I'm sure it is a House Sparrow nest. The other three have just a few pieces of grass but I observed the BB's going in and out of one of them this morning. It is farther away from all the ruckus and I hope they decide to nest in it. I see t arohe BB's around the house in trees and getting grubs so I know there are several around.

Delrose and Dave, that is so great! Congrats on establishing some active nests! (Well, the bluebirds actually did it, but you were pretty important in the process!)

Very exciting about your nest box successes! You will have a very fun springtime watching the BB family antics.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for my boxes but no interest in them yet.

Wow! You are all WAAAAY ahead of me - the bluebirds haven't even arrived here in Minnesota yet. Last year, "my" bluebirds arrived on April 1. But it's been SO cold & SO snowy here this winter that I think they'll take their time getting up here (I sure would). Still, I plan to get over to my cemetery trail this weekend & make sure the boxes are all cleaned out. Dellrose, the pieces of grass that you see in some of your boxes is a great sign - that's the way that bluebirds "reserve" a box. Fingers crossed!

Hi muddylou...I love your name! Good news...we have three BB eggs! I got the spooker up and so far so good...except when I checked the box today the Mama was still in it! Oh my gosh...I felt so bad I quickly put the lid back on and left in a hurry. Later on I noticed she was in the tree closest to the box so I think all is well. Whew...I hope I didn't make her mad at me. I will have to be more careful in the future...I'm such a lamebrain and I'm sure she will agree!

Hi Dellrose! MuddyLou is in loving memory of my dog - I wonder how many screen names here are for pets? Alot, I bet. Please do NOT worry about finding Mama in the box.....it happens all the time. A mom in one of my cemetery boxes NEVER would leave the box even after lots of clapping & calling on my part, so I never did determine how many eggs she had. This was a later season nesting, and I got the impression that she was a first time mom & didn't really know what she was doing...at the end of the season, there were 2 unhatched eggs (another reason that I figured she was new at this.....). Once eggs are laid, bluebirds become very attached to their boxes. And they are very tolerant of people. Particularly people bearing mealworms! ; )

Yes MuddyLou...I'm sure there are lots of screen names here for pets! Thanks for the info on the BB's. I would like to feed mealworms to them but they have never visited the banquet I set for them when they first showed up in Jan. during cold weather (they came to drink from the heated water bowls I had set out)! I am thinking about putting a cage closer to them as they are in the field and not in our yard. I see the Male getting grub worms in the back yard all the time so I don't think they are hurting for food but would love for them to eventually visit the set up outside the window. Right now I just happy to have them here!

Here is a pic from the very first visit the BB's made over 2 months ago. I was lucky to have camera in hand while standing at the garage door when they showed up to drink water. I've never gotten this close since but I keep hoping!

I love that picture Rose.

Everything appears to be going well at our nestbox. They should hatch come Thursday.

My blues have always perched on the roof of the nestbox but since I put up the spooker, they have a hard time perching there. So now, several times a day, Papa will land on the sparrow spooker and call to her. She will pop out and they will visit for a few minutes on the arms of the sparrow spooker

But then, duty calls and she heads back to the nest.

Very sweet; love the catch of the female!

Wow, I cannot believe that in less than one week you will already have baby bbs Dave!! Still no sign of any bbs here, although I look for them every day (today was actually sunny & "warm" (high 40s) & the snow is melting HURRAY!!

Dellrose, here's an idea to get your bbs to come to your feeder. Start by bringing to mealworms to THEM. By this, I mean put your mealies in an escape-proof dish (I use a glass pyrex baking dish) & walk slowly towards your box, whistling. Put your dish where you KNOW they will see the moving worms relatively quickly (i.e., before other birds spot them), but not on the box itself (you don't want to draw the attention of other birds to the box). Keep whistling, ESPECIALLY when they see the mealies & go to get them (you may not reach this point for awhile, maybe 4-5 days).

After a surprisingly short amount of time, when you come out of your house whistling with your mealies in hand, your bbs will appear & wait for you, and make very short work of the mealies. When your bbs are used to this rather odd procedure (yes I've had some strange looks from neighbors but they're used to it now), you can start moving your mealies closer & closer to the desired location of your feeder. And not only will THEY come to it, they will eventually bring their babies.

BB pairs remember my whistle from year to year, so I usually don't have to do much "re-training". Last year, I had a brand new couple in my backyard (or perhaps returning babies?), and had to start from scratch.....took about 4-5 days before the bbs recognized the whistle.

Dave...thank you so much!! It was the picture that has driven me for over 2 months to lure the BB's to my yard. After the above pic was taken I went outside and sat in my car before the crack of dawn just to wait for them to show up!! They didn't disappoint me and I had as many as 9 show up at one time just to get the water. I will never forget that feeling I felt as they came flying in just at the first crack of dawn..it was awesome! Did I say I did that for over 3 weeks? LOL! Obsessive, compulsive and just plain nuts!! I love the above pics of your happy couple together...how long does she stay away from the nest?

Muddylou...I will try what you have suggested...except I will have to get a whistle as I can't whistle anymore (old, ya know)! I must order more worms tomorrow as I am almost out and they aren't very nice looking anymore. I would love to have them close with the new babies!! Thanks for all you advise I am such novice and I'm sure the BB's would agree!

I confessed on the Daily Pic thread so I might as well spill the beans here too...I interrupted her AGAIN today!!! If I had a brain I would be dangerous!! Anyway...4 eggs now and I hope she starts setting on them. I wish I could do it for her just so I don't have to worry but I don't think that is gonna happen!! The Daddy came to visit this eve and let me get closer to get a pic...he doesn't fly off as soon as he used to!

Beautiful pic Rose!!

Like that sparrow spooker idea. We don't seem to have the sparrows here but in NY they are thick as thieves...in fact they ARE thieves and they drove the only BB's we ever had there away. Guess I'll have to plagiarize 2C Dave's design when we go back this year. I made these baffles to keep the predators out.

Good job! Hope their working well for you!

Four Eggs! Very cool Rose. Your mom will start brooding her eggs when she is done laying all of them. Clutches are often 4-5 (sometimes more, the first clutch of the season is the largest, I've never had more than 5 eggs in Minnesota) so I bet she will start brooding SOON! And then you can be sure that you will interrupt her. Always happens.

I was a total wreck the first year that I had bbs nesting in my yard. Total, horrible, nerve-wracked wreck.

You will come to find out, though, that these birds are born to do exactly what they are now doing. They are quite good at it!!!!! So please try not to worry too much; que sera, sera; and the fact of the matter is that you are doing ALL that you can do by (1) putting up the box in the first place and (2) monitoring the box & watching for blow flies, etc.

I'm off to do clean-up/final check on my cemetery trail tomorrow - haven't seen any bbs in the backyard but I wonder if they've arrived in the cemetery...........probably not, blasted weather..........

Your daddy bb is a very handsome gentleman.