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Wildlife Garden

Bluebird Box Clearance

Michael AKA Leekle2ManE

8 years ago

Two years ago I put in a Bluebird nesting box and was rewarded when a pair moved in within a month of it being up. I read about requirements on placement and put it in a fairly open spot, faced it SE, and positioned it about 20-30 ft from an oak to give fledgelings a reachable goal.

Now it is two years on and I have shrubs and trees in my yard that are starting to mature and the Bluebird box, while still clear for the moment, is becoming surrounded. For example, there is an American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, growing up the back side of the pole suporting the box. The top growth of the Beautyberry is about the same height as the box, and this is after cutting the bush back to 6" stems in Feb. Will there be a point when nearby shrubs and small trees are just too close for the nesting pair to use the box? Or will the pair, the same pair that moved in two years ago, accept that their home is becoming a part of the landscape?

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I am from Rhode Island Trail is in northern RI Bluebirds are not hardy there flocks crash will high snow levels. And cold. Mild seasons they expand there local numbers. When there found dead in spring means there food supply was low and they expired. You will also see some dead threw out spring after a late cold snap the birds will just end up missing but we know it was the late cold snap. Many are weaken from the trip north once they show up and winter returns large numbers perish. It weeds out the old and sick. Ray
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Just this morning, Feb 27, I decided to clean the blue bird boxes. I was shocked to find 11 dead birds in one of the boxes. Located in east central Mo. we have had some below zero nights but I can't determine how long these birds have dead. They looked really pathetic. I thought that I had been taking really good care of them during the cold weather, putting out lots of mealworms, other food and making sure they had water. I had as many as 15 at the feeder some days even during the cold weather. Now when I go out and whistle for them to come get their mealworms only one shows up. It must have been the whole flock that died in that house, so sad. Harry
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According to where you are, they could start nesting as early as March. They may already be shopping around. After the nest is built & 1st egg is laid (usually blue- if white with dark speckles, that's a HOSP egg), I put up a sparrow spooker & haven't had a problem with HOSP invasion yet (& they are EVERYWHERE). If the HOSP keep trying to set up shop, you'll need to set up a Van Ert trap inside the house. You can find these items online. If HOSP really become a problem, many people use ground traps & use a decoy & millet seed to attract others. There's a great site that explains it all (can't think of name right now, but should find it through Google.) Sounds like you have a good chance to get bluebirds to nest this year. Lastly, they may be looking for a place to roost at night if it's really cold where you are right now. Good luck!
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I feed bluebirds mealworms for years, and enjoy seeing the babies grow. This year, the babies just fledged (after 23 days), however I found one baby dead in the box fully feather, there are no apparent wounds or injuries. I feel so very sad. The mom were feeding the babies as of last night, the baby shouldn't have died of starvation. Anyone would venture a guess as to the cause of the death?
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