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Bluebirds in Wisconsin

15 years ago

This is only my 2nd year at this. Please tell me approximately when bluebirds will return to nesting boxes in Wisconsin. I had taken mine down for the winter so mice wouldn't nest in it. It's back up now, and I am wondering how soon they may take up residence. I'm excited for them to return. Thanks!

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Comments (5)

dzyg
15 years ago
Not sure where you are located in WI, but I am in Central WI and saw my first bluebird pair on Saturday March 19th. We had an awful snowstorm on the 22/23 and I haven't seen them since but with the weather slowly warming up again I expect to see them soon. Wish the darn snow would melt faster though! That being said, nesting here in Central WI doesn't usually get under way until May but the birds show up before that.

How are your boxes mounted? I am wondering since you say mice get in them in the Winter. If the boxes are mounted properly (on a slick metal pole....NOT a tree or wooden post) then mice shouldn't be able to get in them. I have 10 boxes on our property and 5 at a park near us. They are all mounted on electrical conduit and none of them ever get mice in them. I leave them up year round so Winter birds can use them for roosting. Downy Woodpeckers love to roost in boxes in the Winter.

Please see the link below for lots of Bluebird info on how to properly host Bluebirds and other native cavity nesting birds.....

Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: sialis bluebird website
mlkbskt
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you for your response. I live in southern WI near Janesville. My box is on a wood post, however we do have a metal baffle made from stove pipe on it.

I check it every day to make sure sparrows or wrens aren't making a nest in it. Today I found wood shavings; no nest, but a mess. And, I can see where something has been knawing or pecking at the inside of the box. Do you suppose my downy or hairy woodpeckers are going inside?

Hope to see the bluebirds soon!
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If I were you once your female starts laying eggs, add a wren guard to the box just to be on the safe side. A wren will go into any nestbox that they see a hole in, not to nest but to evict anything that is in there. A wren will peck the eggs and throw them or baby birds from nestboxes. I have attached a link (below) for helpful info on wrens and wren guards. Look at the guard about 2/3 of the way down the page where it says Drawing of Wren Guard. I believe it shows it made out of wood but you can easily make it out of cardboard and just duct tape it to the box. That is what I do, lots of people use cheezit boxes. You definately want to do this after you see the first egg and not before or they may abandon the nest. Start out simple with like the picture shows but once you know they have accepted it you can add sides to prevent a wren from looking over the side of the box from the top and seeing the hole. I have had Blues accept a wren guard but one year I had a pair that wouldn't and we had to go without. Good luck! Oh and I have a female Blue hanging around now and as it turns out it must be one from either last year or a different year cause when I put the mealworm feeder out it came right to it. I have never had that happed before, I have always had to train them once they started nesting. Sure hope a male turns up soon! Donna Here is a link that might be useful: wren guard
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bandjzmom
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I would definitely say Woodpeckers were there. They will excavate the inside of the box and they like woodchips in the bottom of a nestbx for nesting.~~Angie
rockcut1
15 years ago
I'm 20 miles from Platteville, My Blues started building a week ago but then HOSP's took the box over. I put the Van Ert trap in it and have gotten 9 HOSP to Date. Usually the Blues here do their House Shopping at Midmorning. If you had them last year I'm sure they will be back, I think the tempature
has a lot to do with the urge to nest. I'm sure you'll get them soon with the forecasted warm temps the next few weeks. Good Luck & Have a Good Year...Frank
halley_rose
13 years ago
I live in Wisconsin, in town, close to the Twin Cities and saw my first pair, this morning. Very excited to see them back.

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