skip to main content

My bluebird box

13 years ago

Last year I had a pair of bluebirds nest 2 times in a box I had placed right by my house. My husband bought me a new official bluebird box this year for Xmas. The pair came by every couple of weeks to check it out but the female wouldn't get in the box. 2 weeks ago they came and a pair of sparrows were at the box. The bluebirds left and have not returned. Do you think they will return? Should I place the old box back? Should I put another box up in my yard?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

ohsoblue77
13 years ago
Putting up another box may certainly help but only if you have the proper space and habitat.

Those Sparrows though, as tough as it is, must be deterred/eliminated if you want your bluebirds back and surviving and successfully nesting.

Check out www.sialis.org/hosp.htm. The sparrows you are seeing are most likely English Sparrows (House Sparrows) which are non-native, invasive species. There are, however, native and beneficial sparrows and that page also covers it.

Keep us informed! And it looks like you are new here and to bluebirding. Welcome to a major conservation effort and forum!
kendra2003
13 years ago
Get yourself a Van Ert trap and deal with the House Sparrows. Only then do the bluebirds have a chance of nesting in your box. As ohsoblue says, excellent information can be found at the Sialis website. Native sparrows don't use nestboxes, so what you saw was probably a non-native English House Sparrow. Good Luck!
Related Discussions
Bluebirds....
Q
Comments (2)
Don't let House Sparrows and Starlings near your bird boxes!!! They love to take over BB boxes and harrass the Bluebirds. They have lead to the decline of BB populations. Do you see Bluebirds in your neighborhood? If you do, you will be able to attract them to your boxes with mealworms. Get a mealworm feeder and put mealworms in it -- They'll come and nest in your boxes. It takes BBs a little time to figure out how to use mealworm feeders, so be patient. Don't give up!! Put pine straw in front of your BB boxes for nesting material. BBs like large open lawns, open fields, and are most likely to be found there. They like lots of perches (like feeder poles) to hunt from. BB boxes must be about 4 to 6 ft. off the ground with a hole diameter of 1 1/4 inch, (double check that). No perch! Good luck!! When I lived in Rossville, TN, I had a number of BB boxes all full all summer. The babies did extremely well. I fed them mealworms, and they got to know me pretty well. I also got some terrific photographs!!! The fledglings would follow me on walks around the property - no doubt looking for mealworm handouts. There is nothing more precious than Bluebird babies! I love BBs as much as I love anything. Good luck
...See More
chickadee nest in my bluebird box
Q
Comments (19)
itrom.......Last year when chickadees took over our fave BB box after so many year of having only BBs in the box there were reclaim fights but the BBs did not win and we never saw any all summer and that was sad. That particular box is the one we can see easily and we love to watch them and take photos. There are two other boxes nearby so I kept asking myself why can't the cute chickadees just use those...lol. BBs have moved into the fave box and I hope there is peace! Good luck and enjoy whatever nests ...or...put up another box and if you do make sure you follow instructions as to how far from the fist one.
...See More
Brown Headed Nuthatch in my bluebird box
Q
Comments (8)
Last season, these little cuties nested in one of my bb boxes on the opposite side of the yard where the blues nested. The box was partially under a crepe myrtle branch, but they didn't nest this early. When they began building, the entire tree was green and beginning to bloom. Along with the blues, they are checking out the bb box, but the blues chase them off every time. I'm hoping they nest again this year in their former home! You'll enjoy having them. Donna
...See More
Dont give up on bluebirds till Aug.
Q
Comments (2)
My blues have been around all winter. Have been feeding them. I have 3 boxes. HOSP started building a nest early in one box. I took it out and put fishing line along each side of the entrance hole. They came back a couple of times, but don't like the fishing line at all. I haven't seen them at the box at all. My blues have started building a nest in another box. Almost done I think. She has been busy. I had a pair of wrens last year and they laid eggs in a box (before I could do anything about it ) after a blue had an unsuccessful attempt in the same box. (the blue didnt sit on the eggs, they were not viable). The wren didn't sit on her eggs either. I waited a long time. They never hatched. Kind of strange. Haven't seen the wrens yet this year.
...See More
bandjzmom
13 years ago
Aloemem, I am with Tim and Kendra. Get rid of those terrible House Sparrows. Once they claim a box, they will generally not give it up, and then the Blues have no chance. Most of the time, Bluebirds prefer a nestbox that is out in the open. Maybe you could mount your new box on an inexpensive T-post, and put it into an open space. You could plug the box up for awhile to try encourage the House Sparrows to leave. I just use a wadded up plastic grocery bag to plug mine. Whatever you do, don't allow those House Sparrows to build and lay eggs in your Bluebird house. It is legal to remove their nests and eggs and to eliminate them. As Kendra said, the Van Ert trap is wonderful. HTH~~Angie
aloemem
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks everyone for the info. I have the hole pluged now. I will get one of those traps. Can you order them online?
kendra2003
13 years ago
Yes, you can order them online now. The link to the page is here Van Ert Trap

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES How to Bring the Joy of Bluebirds to Your Garden

By Habitat Network

Attract these beautiful songbirds with nesting habitat and food sources, including berry-producing trees and shrubs

Are Butterflies the New Birds?

By Samantha Schoech

Let these pretty winged creatures be the new totem of hip décor

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Backyard Birds: Those Nutty Nuthatches

By Habitat Network

The North American songbirds, which often perch upside down, make themselves known in the winter landscape

GARDENING FOR BIRDS What to Know About Birds Nesting in Your Yard

By Mitchell Parker

Learn how to observe, record data and help ornithologists with NestWatch’s citizen science project understand bird trends

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Wild Birds Transform a Woman’s Garden and Life

By Mary Jo Bowling

How Sharon Sorenson created a wildlife haven and became the Bird Lady of Southern Indiana

GARDENING GUIDES 13 North American Backyard Birds to Know

By Annie Thornton

Find out about these enchanting native species and learn how to attract them to your yard

OUTDOOR PROJECTS Bring In the Birds With a Homemade Bubble Rock

By Mary Jo Bowling

An avian expert from Southern Indiana shows how to make a burbling fountain that migrating birds will love

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Be a Citizen Scientist to Help Wildlife, Learn and Have Fun Too

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Track butterflies, study birds, capture stars ... when you aid monitoring efforts, you’re lending Mother Nature a hand

GARDENING GUIDES Garden-Friendly Native Alternatives to Overplanted Exotics

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

There are lots of gorgeous, wildlife-friendly native plants ready to make an appearance in your garden

Sponsored

More Discussions

Bluebirds never leave North Texas boxes.

0