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Won't use baffle

15 years ago

Last year, I was able to talk my neighbors into purchasing a baffle for their bluebird house. Bluebirds were inbetween broods at the time it was put up. They did not come back after that and my friends feel it was due to the baffle. I know there could be many reasons the bluebirds didn't nest again, but certainly don't believe the baffle scared them away.

So, the baffle came down, and now they have new nestlings, no baffle. They won't put the baffle up because they feel it will scare the bluebirds away. I have told them it's a perfect time to put up the baffle as the bb's are now so invested in the nest since they have nestlings. BTW, we live in southeast GA - LOTS of snakes.

Pls. share your comments, and I'll be glad to forward this link to them after I've heard from you.

Thanks very much!

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Comments (4)

dzyg
15 years ago
There is no way a baffle would scare away the Bluebirds. There are plenty times that the Blues choose a different nestbox for their second brood, I have more than one nestbox in the yard so they usually stay in my yard though but they don't always renest in the same box. Their bluebirds might have found another box they liked when they were out and about with their fledglings. Or something could have happened to one of the adults too, you just never know.

I cannot give any advice on snakes since we don't have them here but a birdhouse without a baffle is like a happy meal to a raccoon. I have btdt and won't ever have an unbaffled house that a bluebird is nesting in, it is just not safe.

Just out of curiosity what kind of baffle was it, stovepipe or pvc?

Donna
kendra2003
15 years ago
We don't get nearly the number of snakes up north that you do down in GA. Years ago I had one of my nest boxes up with no baffle. I knew I should have had one on, but I just hadn't gotten to it yet. BCCH nested there and I was afraid of scaring them away, so I waited to put the baffle on. When the nestlings were about 5 days old, four disappeared and two were dead. I don't know what got them, but I would never have a house without a baffle after that experience. There is no way Bluebirds would be afraid of a baffle. It doesn't interfere with their nest at all.
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No, it was a bluebird birdhouse with a 24" baffle! I have 14 birdhouses, only 4 have wiring and rest have baffles. Now I have improved it for better protection - 4' baffle instead of 2'. About the electric fence wire - I just wrote on the birdwatching forum about the Brown thrasher nest with same electric fence wire setup to help protect the bush from snakes (I posted pictures) http://nature.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bird/msg0622391128646.html Yesterday I saw a snake touch it, and it got zapped and backed up very quickly! I'm still not 100% sure this border will work if there is a more stubborn snake, or with a small snake that could squeeze under it, but now I know it IS working and a snake DOES get shocked from an electric fence wire when it's body is on the grass (the grass was dry). The pole has more wiring than the border, so now I think the electric fence wire may even be better than a baffle, at least better than the recommended small 24" baffle. Also, the birdhouse in the first picture (at the top of this page) has both - the baffle and wire, as I wrote last Sunday It's strange, but in all the years I have lived here I have never had so many LARGE snakes in the yard at one time. I left a chicken egg in the barn last night for "snake detection" and also to help keep their belly full, so they might be less creative about how to get birds. The egg was gone this morning. Tonight I'll leave more. I feel like I'm in the "Snakes on a Plane" movie :)
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bandjzmom
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I agree with you Lori. They need that baffle. If a Sparrow Spooker and nest checks don't bother Bluebirds, a pole baffle certainly does not bother them. We need to do all that we can to keep our Bluebirds safe. Please refer them to the sialis site if you haven't already done so.~~Angie
lori239
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks ya'll - I forwarded your comments to my friend.

dzyg - the baffle was a conical/cone shaped baffle from Wild Birds Unlimited.

Thanks again!

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