Attracting Bluebirds (6601)

Bluebirds are friendly, gentle creatures. Once threatened, bluebird populations are now starting to make a comeback throughout the United States.

The decline of bluebirds was mostly caused by the reduction of its habitat. Bluebirds prefer to nest in cavities of older trees and wooden fence posts. But more intensive farming practices, more use of metal fence posts, and the sprawl of urban development have reduced the available habitat for bluebirds.

If that wasn’t enough, two aggressive species of birds were introduced from Europe into the United States. These species, the house sparrow and starling, kill bluebirds and take over their nesting sites. The decline of bluebirds has been so severe that most people have never actually seen one of these special birds.

The most effective way to restore the bluebird population is to provide adult bluebirds with good nesting conditions so they can successfully raise their young.

Building a bluebird nesting box is a fun project. Many designs are available. Some common features are: the use of one-inch-thick wooden boards, holes at the top of the box for ventilation and at the bottom of the box for drainage, a one-and-one-half-inch diameter entrance hole in the front of the box, and a door that opens for monitoring the progress of the nest. Don’t open the box after the nestlings are 14 days old. They may get frightened and leave the nest prematurely.

Keep the nesting sites at least 100 yards apart. A pair of boxes are often mounted at each site. Often a bluebird will nest in one box, and another bird, such as a house wren, tree swallow, or chickadee, will nest in the other.

Install your nest boxes in areas that provide open space, such as near open grasslands, pastures, orchards, hayfields, and along roadsides. The ground below should have grass. Bluebirds will perch on fence posts or branches to look for insects in the grass. Once they locate an insect, they will swoop down to collect and eat it.

Bluebirds raise one or two broods from late April through early August. Nest boxes should be visited at least every seven days during this period. By checking on a regular basis, you can watch the progress of the birds as they raise their young. You can also defend the bluebirds against many of their natural enemies.

After the birds fledge, you should clean out the box. This helps eliminate any parasites that may be in the nest. The female will build a new nest each time for the next brood.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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