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How to bring 'em to my yard

rosynmontgomery

17 years ago

There is a pair of BB that nest in my next door neighbor's yard every year, so I know that they're around. Question is how to get them to come to my yard. I am BRAND NEW at the BBing thing so starting from scratch. I have a box mounted to my wood fence, the opening in facing south. It is mounted about 4 feet from the ground. It's been up for 2 years and nothing. Help.

Patti

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Comments (6)

donnalovesblue
17 years ago
Patti, I would remove the box from the fence as soon as possible. Bluebirds like open spaces. Please check out Sialis.org for the absolute best information regarding bluebirds...it's an awesome site and a must read for those interested in hosting the blues. Info includes where your box should be located, the recommended box size and how to properly mount it. (metal pole with predator guard)

It's possible that a new set up will encourage them to check out your place. Good luck!

Donna
bigmatt
17 years ago
Patti,
I 100% agree with Donna Sialis.org is the best info you will find anywhere.Be sure your box is a real bluebird box,what size is the opening?It should be 1-1/2" for a Eastern Bluebird(EABL)Get that box off the fence,get it onto a sturdy pole mount with a predator guard,5 feet high.How to do this and MUCH more can be found on Sialis .org.t The link below will get you started.

Matt
Baltimore MD

Here is a link that might be useful: Get started
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farmgirl01
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Well I am not sure about the fence thing, because we have 1 acre fenced in with a 10ft tall fence (for deer) and I have 4 boxes mounted on side of the poles. All are full of eggs every year.

Are you feeding wild bird seed in a feeder during the winter months? I have sound this to be the biggest draw for my bluebirds. We also get lots of red birds and even hummingbirds.
dzyg
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farmgirl01, birdhouses should not be put on fences due to the fact that raccoons can and will climb up and get the eggs/babies or adult birds that happen to be in the box at the time. Unless you are monitoring your nestboxes throughout the nestbuilding/egg laying/hatching/fledging you could not be sure if all those eggs are making it to fledging. Plus on a one acre lot you would probably only get one or two pairs of bluebirds, if you are letting HOSP nest in any of the boxes you are setting up any other cavity nesters to be killed by them. Check out sialis.org is loaded full of great information on how to properly host bluebirds and other native cavity nesting birds.

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april_birdylover
17 years ago
dzyg- re: farmgirl101, agree and great pointers for farmgirl01.. sialis is the best website for having and maintaining bluebirds on one's property.. The only food I could get my bluebirds to eat is live mealworms and that took weeks of training them to even come to my mealworm feeder.
farmgirl01
17 years ago
thanks for the great info. I will have to check it out. your right i don't see every egg get hatched but i do keep a close eye on them. i see the eggs and i see the mom going in and out feeding the babies and then they are gone. we do have polutry fence around the perimeter of the live stock fence also, so this helps keep the coons and other such predators away. We also have woodducks, mandarins, shell ducks, mallards, geese, bantam chickens and goats in this perimeter and on the pond. we actually have about 2 acres in all fenced in. on the 7 acre farm. the goats also help keep varmite away.

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