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Nesting with other birds nearby?

14 years ago

We have a nesting box mounted about 4 or 5 feet away from a shepherd's hook where we have kept a feeder that other birds--titmice, chickadees & nuthatches (no house wrens) --and squirrels --regularly feed. A pair of bluebirds have been hanging around, eyeing the box I hope. Will the feeder and other birds discourage them from nesting? Should I remove the feeder?

Thanks! I would be so thrilled if the pair chose to nest in our yard!

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Comments (6)

donnalovesblue
14 years ago
I would move the feeder much further away from the box. I have several bird feeders and 2 nesting boxes in my backyard, but they are located on opposite ends. Your backyard birds will quickly find your relocated feeder. In addition, the chickadees are now checking out real estate as well as the blues, so you might see the dees showing some interest too! If you've never had bluebirds to nest in your box, the male usually checks out the housing situation, but the female makes the final choice!

Good luck...sure hope they take up residence at your place...they are amazing and such fun to watch!
dzyg
14 years ago
I would move the nestbox away from the birdfeeders or the birdfeeders away from the nestbox. Not a good idea to have lots of other birds in the vicinity of the nesting birds. Brings too much extra dangers to the nesting birds.

Donna
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lisa11310
14 years ago
As always if you are going to offer housing to cavity nesting birds do read the www.sialis.org website to help keep your babies safe. : )
ohsoblue77
14 years ago
Just remember that HOSP WILL feed except if your using Safflower, and will be more enticed to use your nest boxes, which is no good.
gnorris
14 years ago
I've stopped filling up the feeders for now, I do have a dish that I'm putting safflower seeds in for my cardinals, they have started a nest in a tree nearby. I had one egg destroyed Wednesday, but discovered a new egg today. We added one more nesting box to lessen the competition that we have witnessed with two sets of bluebirds. Good luck!
christy2828
14 years ago
I have seen HOSP eating safflower.....I've seen it written on here several times that they won't eat it, but when I lived in Maryland, they did. I was there for 5 years. When I excluded the millet they came less frequently but they came and ate just the same. Just saying. Christy

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