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New to blue birding

13 years ago

I have recently put up a blue bird house that I purchased expressly for blue birds. It does however have the hole rather than the slot that I read they prefer. I anchored it on top of a 4" pvc pipe about 6-8 feet in the ground. It is close to large oak tree,our house and a privacy fence and patio. I love the blue birds and hope I have created a successful habit for these beautiful creatures. I will post a picture later as soon as I figure out how to. I am hoping that the location is ok for them. I admit that I placed it so we could watch them from our patio. I would also like to build a special feeder for them. Curious as to whether wind chimes, butterflies plants or hummingbird feeders would be a problem for them. Any feed back will be appreciated.

Thanks

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Comments (2)

dzyg
13 years ago
Good luck with getting Bluebirds next Spring. About putting up nestboxes....they should be mounted on slick metal poles with predator baffles to prevent climbing predators from getting up and getting the eggs/nestlings or incubating adult, wobblling stovepipe baffles I think are the easiest and cheapest way to go and it does work. Nestboxes also be place at least 15 feet away from any trees/fences or anything a predator could jump from.
Another fun thing to do with bluebirds is to offer mealworms, they prefer live ones during nesting season but some will eat rehydrated dried ones too. I have my mealworm feeder up on the deck so the bluebirds can come up real close but my nestboxes are further away from the house, the closest being about 35 feet away.

Good luck.

Donna
kendra2003
13 years ago
You can add a stovepipe baffle on the PVC pole too. I have my mealworm feeder on a PVC pole with a metal stovepipe baffle and it works great at keeping climbing critters out. It sounds like you have a good start for a safe nestbox, but I would strongly suggest you add the stovepipe as a predator baffle too. I look forward to your photo of the setup. I do not think wind chimes or a hummingbird feeder will be any problem whatsoever. The wobbling stovepipe guards bang against the pole all the time, and it has not been a deterrent to them nesting there.
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sharpgirl, I can only share my experience w/ BB. For several years I put up houses built (I thought) to BB specs. No takers. And because I had seen BB on my farm I knew they were around, but I didn't know where they were nesting. Until one day I noticed that the 'fake' hollow owl I had attached to the roof peak of my small barn, had BB's coming and going around it. BB's had pecked a hole in the chest of owl and apparently built a nest inside. This is now the 2nd year that they're nesting there. Their nest is about 15-18 ft. off ground, 100 ft. from a feeder but hidden by a bldg., hole faces South, slightly southeast. BB's perch on barn roof before they enter the hole. Both male and female feed the babies. Area of nest is surrounded by either mowed pasture or lawn. No close trees for 50-60 ft. I overflow a large watering trough (for horse) several times a day and the BB's show up to bathe and frolic in the water, if it's warm outside. So my bluebirds outsmarted me and made their own personalized nest and they must like it cause they've returned this year. Good Luck with attracting your own BB's. PS/I'm in zone 9B Central Fl.
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new n needing info
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The best source of bluebirding information on line, in my opinion, is www.sialis.org . It can answer almost any question you can think of, and a few you don't even know you have! Also, check to see if your state has a bluebird society. If you plan to put up nestboxes, check to be sure you are locating them in proper bluebird habitat (it sounds like you have plenty of that!) and that you are installing them correctly so that the birds you attact are as safe as possible. You also want to be sure that you are using a NABS (North American Bluebird Society) approved nestbox. As for feeding, many people offer mealworms and there are several different types of mealworm feeders available. Sialis has information on various feeders on their site, as well. Good luck with your endeavor and please feel free to ask questions here--there are many experienced bluebird landlords that are happy to help. Kathy Here is a link that might be useful: Bluebird Resource
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The Blues would probably win over the wrens, if in fact they are for sure Carolina wrens. If they would be House wrens then there could be a problem with the Blues nesting. House wrens wreck havoc on other birds nests, piercing eggs and or tossing eggs/nestlings from the nest. Carolina wrens don't do that though. I would LOVE to have Carolina wrens around here! Good luck! Donna
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I had a nesting box and bluebirds moved in, but sadly I didn't pay much attention to them. The family did fine though.
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