I ’ve see several Eastern bluebird in my back yard lately . They flutter from the older silver maple tree diagram down to the subject field of honor and then back up and away . I drop off track of them — and kick myself for not having set up my unexampled bluebird nest box preferably .
I latterly spoke with Dawn Hewitt , the editor in chief ofBird Watcher ’s DigestandWatching Backyard Birds , aboutmaintaining snort feeder and baths . We also babble out about the best times to install raspberry box .
“ Todayis the best sidereal day to put out a bird box , ” Hewitt notes . “ No matter what day it is . Put out a nest boxwood any time — even if the skirt do n’t use it this time of year . ”
Her answer surprised — and emboldened — me . Even though area bluebirds have likely already specify up housekeeping elsewhere , I decided to go ahead and put up my nest box now . After all , someEastern bluebirdswill nest as late as September and they arouse more than one clutch of ball per time of year .
Here ’s how you could ( and why you should ) clean your wild shuttle feeders and bath .
The Right Specifications
Want to pull a specific bird eccentric ? The overallnest boxful excogitation — including size of it , bod , and ingress hole diameter — stool all the difference . For instance , nest loge for both Eastern and Western bluebirds should have an entry hole measuring one - and - one - one-half inches across .
Ideally , nest boxes should also have a hinged threshold for cleaning , drainage holes and a diagonal , overhanging roof . Unfortunately , I learned a little too tardily that nest box perch are actually unneeded . Because perches can give marauder a serve deal , I ’ll be leave them off of any future nest box .
When hoping to lure bluebirds , take the right locationfor the nest box is as authoritative as nest box design . Ideally , each bluebird nest box should be mount up on a free - stand up post about five invertebrate foot off the ground . bluebird like wide undecided space with secure visibility .
Susan Brackney
you could buy special posts and nest box mounting hardware kits , but I chose to make my own with materials I already had on hand .
I joined a minor scrap wood chopine to a steel can from my recycling bin . Then I drilled several foresighted screws through the interior of the can to anchor it to my metallic element fence office .
Next , I inserted the post into the can and poured in some tight - set concrete . After the concrete full hardened , I was capable to turn the office right - side - up and confiscate the nest box to the mail ’s wooden platform . Susan Brackney
Susan Brackney
Ground Game
If I am lucky enough to draw a nesting pair of bluebirds , the last thing I want to do is frighten them off by getting too close-fitting with the lawn mower .
I used a train trimming capacitor to remove a broad circle of grass and then set the ground for planting a low - growing land cover . To mitigate weeds along the edge of my raw planting bed , I tally composition board and clear with mulch .
Next , I dig out part of the heart of the planting country and sank the Charles William Post . I made sure the nest box was level and set at the veracious height .
eventually , I planted starts ofgoldmoss sedum , a exonerative perennial ground cover which should quickly fill up in the sphere and eliminate the need to mow right on by their post .
Long-Term Commitment
According to the North American Bluebird Society ( NABS ) , if I successfully attract a nesting twosome of bluebirds , I need to be willing tomonitor them weekly . That ’s because bluebirds oftentimes fend off marauder , such as snakes and “ outdoor ” Arabian tea .
They also continually must compete with other creatures — gnawer , insects , and even other birds — for their nesting spaces .
By get wind about fairy bluebird ’ life cycle and habits , I ’ll know what to look for — and what to look out for — if they take up mansion in the new box . In some cases , I may even be able-bodied to help oneself foreclose a nesting duet from abandoning the site .
bet wild birds on your land is fun and contributes to science .
NestWatching
Citizen science projects likeNestWatchcollect nest - monitoring data provided by the populace .
Co - modernise by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center , NestWatch teaches participants how to safely track and describe on the advance of nesting bluebirds and many other character .
I ’d wanted to offer my own bluebird data to NestWatch . Now , however , it look like I ’ll be report on the house wrens that moved inone hourafter my bluebird nest box was up . ( They ’re one of manycritters that will pirate a bluebird boxwood . )
I ’ll savour getting to know these new tenants , even as I withstand out promise some bluebirds will give the box seat a try next outpouring .
