Hi -From Metrowest Boston. They not only have arrived, but have been here all winter, as has been the case now for 4-5 years. In fact this very morning I had a pair checking out my box. I've been feeding them sunflower chips for the winter, then it's mealworms from April on. Good luck. Ray

I too am in Massachusetts,but I am about 35 miles west of Boston and I have hosted bluebirds for about 15 years.I don't have a lot of property but my neighbor has let me use his large field and yard to place my boxes.It can be a challenge especially when it comes to controlling HOSP and house wrens.I have had my share of frustration and disappointment,but it is worth it.I am also a backyard birdwatcher and nothing gives me more pleasure.Stick with this forum and also the Sialis website and take the advice of the ones who have been doing it for years.I learned so much here on this site.good luck and enjoy......Jane

I'm about 20 miles west of Boston. I started trying to attract Bluebirds two years ago. I put up the nestboxes and guards according to the Sialis website. Both my first and second years I attracted a Bluebird pair that faithfully built a nest or two. But both years all it took was one HOSP to show up and they left without ever laying an egg. I do active management, and use the Van Ert insert traps, and dispatch with the HOSP. But the Blues never return for nesting. I'm hoping for better luck this year. I put up extra boxes in the hope that I can use those to lure the HOSP away from the Bluebird box. Last year I had a successful nesting of BCCH in the box the Bluebirds abandoned though. They fledged 6 young, which was really cool. The Blues must remember that I'm a mealworm feeder because where ever they nested, they did come back with their fledglings to feast on the mealworms. And they also have spent the last two winters here.

Hi all - Thanks for your responses. It was encouraging, but also helpful to hear of the challenges.

This week I put up one feeder without my wires on it and house sparrows took it over. So I know I am going to have to deal with them when I put up these nestboxes.

I have already been reading the Sialis website, very helpful. I definitely have a lot to learn. I have never in my life seen a bluebird, so I am excited about trying this.

I think I have a good open spot for the nestboxes. We are only 7 miles north of Boston, but the Fells Reservation is at the end of our street. I'm sure that's where a lot of our birds come from, so I am hoping there are bluebirds too.

Thanks again for your encouragement -

Donna

Bluebird trais are very common in MA. 20 years of experience and bluebirds
are very common in MA and RI. Its all about location with bluebirds. They love
short grass or area's with sparse growth on the ground. Avoid area's where
house sparrows are choose sites away from people but also safe for the birds.
There is no reason at all if you place the box correctly you will get them the more acres the better. I produce around 300 bluebirds a year for north central
RI. Bluebirds very common in Bristol county MA. And winter here all year
some not all. Ray

Donna,
I had never seen an Eastern Bluebird in my life either until I put up the first boxes to attract them. Boy was I surprised and thrilled to have them show up that first year. Even though they've never nested here, it sure it awesome to see them. So give it a try, you just might be surprised to see them show up.

Hi all,

I live about 42 miles west of Boston and haven't been able to attract any bluebirds yet and I believe it's because there are some dreaded HOSP in my area. Funny, there is a huge golf course behind the houses across the street from me so if I could just get rid of the HOSP, I'm sure I would attract some Bluebirds. I do have chickadees, Carolina Wrens, who nested last summer in one of my boxes, nuthatchers, titmice, lots of woodpeckers, etc., but no bluebirds yet. I refuse to give up though and will just keep trying. My backyard is a nice size with feeders, three birdhouses, a birdbath and some shrubs, trees and perennials beds, hopefully they'll come.

Linda

Hi Chickadee, I also live about 20 miles west of Boston (kendra we must be near each other). The bird counts I participate in indicate a relatively large population of bluebirds in this area.

In Spring 2006 I started feeding the birds BOSS in one small tube feeder and than built a suet log in December and started making home-made suet mix. A couple months later (Feb 2007), two female Bluebirds showed up on the suet log. At the time, I had no idea what kind of bird it was, but figured it out and was thrilled. The Bluebirds have been coming regularly for three winters now, to eat the suet mixture, but they would disappear by Spring. I tried putting up a nest box, but despite removing several large trees and many invasive plants, the yard was still too overgrown, and the box only attracted House Wrens.

I continued to clear out invasive shrubs and vines, but purposely left some dead pine snags in the back yard standing, "for the birds". Much to my shock, Bluebirds decided to nest in woodpecker holes in the pine snags last Spring! I never thought they would nest here. Three successful broods in 2 different snags - because the first snag blew over in a rain storm after the first brood, so they moved to another.

A pair of Bluebirds (perhaps the same pair?) is clearly expressing their intent to nest in the snag again this year, but there are both House sparrows and House wrens in the yard. I have already set up a "decoy" nest box with a Van Ert trap and trapped one male House sparrow. There is a pair of HOSPs that are very interested in the box now, and plant to set the trap when they start to build a nest.

Checking out "their snag" last month -

Terrene,

So glad to hear from you! I wondered whether you had bluebirds, it seemed you might.

Your photo is great - what a wonderful thing to see a pair of birds checking out a place to nest in. Today I saw a Carolina Wren at our feeder, and could have sworn I saw a bird "zoom" toward the nestbox where those wrens had a brood last year. I hope I'm right. I understand now how people feel when they think birds are returning. To have bluebird pairs do that is really special.

What you wrote is encouraging. I have everything I need to put up the nestbox and plan to install it somewhat near my vegetable garden and fence, so that if I am lucky enough to have bluebirds come here, they will have a bird bath, places to perch, and plenty of bugs and seeds. I am hopeful!

Thanks for your encouragement. If something good happens I certainly will let everyone know!

I just watched The Invention of Lying, filmed in Lawrence. In a scene in the middle, in a park, you can hear a bluebird singing! Go Massachusetts!

MA has a bluebird society.

Here is a link that might be useful: MA BB Society

Whoops, I meant it was filmed in Lowell MA!

Hi Chickadee, I think you can attract them, but in the urban and suburban areas it seems that House Sparrows can be a big problem. There are more HOSPs in my neighborhood this year than last. I trapped a 2nd one today, but there are still several males cheeping away in the neighbors' yards. So I cleaned out the box, removed the trap, and moved the box to a new spot closer to the sound of some cheeping hoping to entice one in.

Mr. Bluebird flew to the nest hole several times during the day today, to claim his box. At one point he was assaulted by a marauding band of 5 HOSPs - perhaps last year's fledglings? The bluebird tried to chase away a HOSP who went near the hole, but he was outnumbered so I walked in the back to help and shoooed them away. A sparrow spooker might be a good idea.

Here is the male Bluebird at the nest hole today - his coloring looks deeper blue to me lately.