Advice for a novice?

kendra2003

18 years ago

This is my first year attempting to attract Bluebirds. I built the nestboxes according to the Sialis website. I have tried to do everything correctly, including the stovepipe guard, placement of boxes, etc. I have a sparrow spooker on hand. I had a pair of Blues that came on April 17th. I had trained them to come to a mealworm feeder that I built according to instructions on Fawzi Emad's website. They would come for mealworms when I called them, and by the 18th of May they had built two perfect nests out of pine needles in both of my nesting boxes. Sadly, on the 20th of May they disappeared. I have seen no sign of them since. I never saw any other birds harrass them. No eggs were ever laid. About a week after they left, a house wren started filling up the boxes with sticks, and then a house sparrow appeared. I had never seen a house sparrow or a house wren on my property, but I've never had nest boxes here before either. I was hoping to keep up with the boxes in case a bluebird would try them out on a second nesting attempt. Is it too late for that? (I live in MA). Also, I have just set up the inbox trap to try to catch the house sparrow. I am very nervous as I have never done this before. What happens if a native bird gets caught in the trap? Obviously it would be released in a timely manner, but would it spook the bird away from trying to nest in a box in the future? I have seen tree swallows around, and I would not want to frighten them away. I am continuing to put mealworms in the feeder every morning (to the delight of some Carolina Wrens), just incase the Bluebirds ever return. I am trying so hard to do all the right things. If any of you experienced bluebirders has any suggestions or ideas as to what I should do now, or what I should do different, I would love to hear them.

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Comments (4)

griffin_MD
18 years ago
Kendra, good for you and for your blues that you are taking active measures with the house sparrows. Watch the box as much as possible while the trap is set and check at least every 20 to 30 minutes to see if it has tripped. If you trap a native bird, release it immediately (I try to watch while my trap is in the box so that I know right away who is in there.) Tree swallows are tough to scare (or maybe they're not very smart) because they can and do trip the traps constantly, at least in my experience. I did trap a female bluebird once and she did not come back even though she was released right away. I guess that's just a chance we take as we try to make nesting safer for them.
Otherwise, it sounds to me like you are doing all the right things. Keep an eye on that house wren (I pull all sticks when they first start appearing) because they can also cause harm to bluebird eggs and nestlings. Do you have a bird bath in your yard? That's something that also appeals to the blues.
Keep the faith.
Kathy
bet_from_ct
18 years ago
Hi Kendra, wow, you are educating yourself, good for you! Many people wait till disaster strikes.

Sometimes it takes a while to get bluebirds, be patient. It's possible that something happened to one of the pair - it's a tough world out there.

I do NOT allow House Wrens to nest on my trails - see tips below. And I predict that most people who do allow them to use their nestboxes will live to regret it.

I'm in CT, it's not too late (except maybe for Tree Swallows, as they usually lay with neighbors and babies here are hatching now.)

Great job setting up to trap House Sparrow. As Kathy said, check the box regularly. I've trapped a snoopy male bluebird repeatedly. If you got a titmouse they might get spooked away. Hang a blade of grass with a seedhead out of the hole of the box with a trap on it, and put some feathers if you have them underneath to induce HOSP to enter. Make sure any existing nesting material does not get in the way of the trigger mechanism (I assume you're using a Van Ert trap, which IMHO, is the best inbox trap.)

Best of luck!

Bet

Here is a link that might be useful: tips on deterring HOWR
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kendra2003
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you so much for your responses. I really appreciate it. When the house wren started filling up the boxes with sticks, I plugged them up for a while. The little dickens tried for a while to figure out where the hole went, but he finally gave up and I haven't seen him since. I made a trap, which so far has not worked (per instructions I found on the Sialis website). Just in case it is a problem with my trap, and not that the house sparrow is avoiding it, I have ordered traps from Floyd Van Ert and will try those next. I'm so glad to hear that you think those work best. I have some craft feathers and will try your suggestion of using them to entice the house sparrow. I do have a birdbath which is filled with clean water daily. The Blues did use it while they were here. I'm thrilled that I still have a chance of attracting them this year. But even if I don't, I won't give up. Thank you so much for your helpful suggestions.
lisa11310
18 years ago
Wow, so glad to have you here.....A GREAT site to learn what you can do to help cavity nesting birds is www.sialis.org this is Bet's site..yes the Bet that answered you. You are in good hands! (Lisa....4th year Blue Birder)

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