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Need Bluebird Help

16 years ago

I was walking on our property this morning and saw two bluebirds. The first of the year. I have about 9 blue bird houses scattered around the 23 acres that we have and need to know if I need to clean them out for this year. I left all of the nests inside after last year and can easily clean out.

What do you say, clean out the old nest or leave it alone?

Thanks, Pife

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Comments (5)

kendra2003
16 years ago
I would clean them out. Mainly it is so when they rebuild the nest doesn't end up too close to the entrance hole where other birds could reach in and do harm. But personally I would also worry about any parasitic eggs that could remain. Mite eggs can live through a freezing. So my vote is clean them out. You can certainly add a little fresh nesting material to get them started if you choose to.
donnalovesblue
16 years ago
I agree with Kendra. I've had 4 nestings over the past two seasons, and the very next day after the babies fledge, I remove the nest and clean out the box, using a small amt. of bleach in water, scrub the inside and then hose it out. I leave the door open for a day to allow it to dry. I've never put any new nesting material in my boxes. My blues have easy access to nesting material so they don't have to travel very far to get what they want!

Donna
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I second all Jane's thoughts. If you can be prepared, bluebirding is an extremely rewarding experience. Many of us(correction: MOST of us) have had to deal with house sparrows. I can't tell you how many people I've known who, in the first year hosting bluebirds they have success, and for some reason, the house sparrows become a bigger problem in the second year, and people are taken by surprise (or shock) when the house sparrows kill the male in the box, or the female as she incubates eggs, or they smash unattended eggs, or toss the eggs out. In my first experience, a male house sparrow killed 6 newborn hatchlings by pecking them on the head. So if you decide to proceed, just be prepared. Bet's web site, www.sialis.org is a wonderful resource, and we will be here if you need us. Another option is to add hole reducers and host chickadees, if they are in your area. The proper hole reducer will prevent house sparrows from entering. You might want to read up on that at the website linked below. P.S. The little round wooden thing that many bluebird nestboxes come with (some people call them "predator guards") which extends the entrance does not protect anything from predators. BlueBars Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org/
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lisa11310
16 years ago
Here's a GREAT site to help you with your Blues, you won't believe how much there is to learn! www.sialis.org good luck!
birding_nut
16 years ago
I agree, with nest boxes, you can remove the old material. However, in natural situations, for example in tree cavities, cavities are often reused in subsequent years and the birds themselves remove the old material. Since you are providing an articial nesting situation, cleaning out the box would be best.

BN
donald lucius
16 years ago
when we lived at the farm we had many generations of bluebirds nest in the eaves of the farm house. they rebuilt the nests every year by themselves. we would put
little bits of string and yarn and straw and nest material out in early spring. The winters are harsh and extremely cold most any vermin would have not survived the below zero temps. the blue birds left out every summer after the young fledged and we did not see them again till spring.
One spring we had to take my dad to the hospital in another town. I had hatched out some baby chicks and put them in a wash tub in the laundry room with food and water as we were going to be gone over a week. When i drove in late one evening after driving all day i could hear lots of chirping and went into the back room to see 3 baby bluebirds in the tub with the chicks.

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