Hi michelle, This is very interesting. I know lost of habitat,using pesticides and the import of house sparrows and starlings are due to humans. For the life of me I can't see how hanging a Bluebird nest box 20ft high in a tree will protect it from humans other than it being out of reach. What in the world are people doing to the BB nest boxes that are within reach? Please explain!

Here in the SE we have snakes and have to use baffles. Believe me I learned this the hard way just this past summer.

I do agree that since they are having success then who am I to knock it. I would find it awkward using a 20ft+ pole to monitor a nest box. Knowing me I would drop the box!

Also, maybe the needs of the Eastern Bluebird are different from the Mountain and Western Bluebirds.

Jean

Jean,
I agree with you 100%.I am so worried that I will drop the nest box.I can't even get a drinking glass down from my kitchen cabinet without dropping it.I am not sure that I want to volunteer to monitor any trails here yet.According to the president of the local group,people out of curiosity go into the nest boxes if they are within reach and vandalize it.Also, the needs of the mountain BBs may be different.One of the group members showed me how to use the pole.It takes a lot of dextirity;also you need an SUV or a wagon type car to be able to carry this long pole.
michelle

Thanks michelle, I appreciate you answering my question.
I find it most sad that people will disturb a Bluebird nest box. What is our world coming to?

Do you have Bluebirds that nest in your yard/garden? At least you could control the unwanted 2 legged activity there. I couldn't manage a 20+ft pole even if I had a SUV or wagon type of car. I am in the mid 50's. Maybe I could have done that 30 yrs ago with ease.:-)

Jean

So, do you have mountain BBs in your area?

Michelle and Jean, I think what you're describing is a nestbox/hanging system that is used by Linda Violet. She reports great success with western bluebirds with this system and claims that boxes installed in this manner at not as targeted by house sparrows. I have doubts that such a system would work in my area, however, both because of climbing predators and because of the dreaded house wrens. I think, also, that house sparrow behavior may differ in different parts of the country.
I, too, would worry about handling a nestbox in this manner. Bluebird eggs and young are very fragile and I would be nervous about the possibility of them being harmed during the lowering/lifting process. Unfortunately, vandalism is an issue in many places and if this system works for those using it, I'm all for it.
Kathy

So where are they getting these 20 foot poles, I can't imagine even handling a 20 foot pole.
Keith

Ken,
They get it from places that sell pool cleaning supplies.I was the only one in the group that seemed to feel that this method was too cumbersome.It is a significant investment in time.In the time that I would need to take down and hang up 4 boxes, I could do 12 boxes in my school trail in OH.I am NOT sure that I want to do any nest box checks in CA.I would be afraid that I would drop it and ruin it for the innocent Blues.
michelle

Michelle: where in California are you?? I'm 12 miles inland from Malibu and have never heard nor seen such a set-up. I have 7 nestboxes on my property for many many years - all on 6 foot poles with predator baffles. I can't imagine hanging a nestbox from a tree and letting the rats, squirrels, raccoons, cats, etc. climb the tree to reach it. I'll be curious to find out what part of California you live in.

Check out Linda Violett's web site.
...urban southern California (Yorba Linda, CA)

Here is a link that might be useful: http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/

I can see hanging boxes in a park, up and above where people can reach, that way they won't get stolen or messed with by unseedy characters. I've seen one park that had many blue bird boxes but they were really crude, either made out of PVC or tin cans, I'm not sure. My gut feelings is that originally their was good wooden boxes but they disappeared.
Keith

Brenda,
I live in Costa Mesa.It is in Southern Orange County.It is surrounded by Lagoona Hills,Newport beach etc.Linda Violett was at this meeting and every one there was very comfortable with this method.They have been using this method for a long time with good results.
Michelle

I've been testing some of Linda Violett's boxes here in CT. They are VERY well made, but also quite heavy. Her hanger is pretty nifty. I would NOT use it in an area like LA where climbing snakes are a big problem. When single holed boxes were not available, I got bluebirds nesting in one. When single holed boxes were available the next season, I just got a nuthatch nseting (which was VERRRRRRRRRRRY cool.)

You would be shocked by the vandalism seen on some trails - http://www.sialis.org/vandalism.htm.

Here is a picture of Linda's lifter

Here is a link that might be useful: pros and cons (my two cents) of hanging boxes

I wonder how these bluebirders are doing with all the fires in CA, including Yorba Linda, not to mention all the wildlife.
BlueBars

The poles we use in Southern California are expandable 8-foot pool poles with a form of basket attached with a swivel made from PVC. They are much smaller than the ones used by Linda Violett since we primarily use a smaller singe-hole nestbox. Check out the SCBC website at socalbluebirds.org. Bob Franz