How To Build A Bluebird House

August 14, 2023 Post a Comment

How to build a bluebird house

They found that, when given a choice, eastern bluebirds consistently chose to nest in boxes with oval holes measuring 2 inches tall and 1 3/8 inches wide. (Oval holes can easily be fashioned by drilling two overlapping holes using a 1 3/8-inch drill bit.)

Which way do you face a bluebird house?

Helpful Tips

Position the nest box so that the entrance hole is facing east and towards open habitat.
To decrease competition from Tree Swallows, you can pair nest boxes about 15–20' apart, with pairs of houses about 300' from each other.

What size hole does a bluebird house need?

Cut the front of the box, 5" wide and 10 3/4" long, with an entrance hole (a 1 1/2" hole for eastern bluebirds or western bluebirds, and 1 9/16" hole where ranges for the two overlap with mountain bluebirds) whose center is 2" from the top and 2 1/2" from each side.

How far away do you put bluebird houses?

Boxes can be installed in pairs about 18 to 20 feet apart or one by itself. These pairs or boxes should then be about 100 yards apart. Bluebirds are territorial so two different couples will not use boxes placed too close together.

Should bluebird houses face south?

Which Direction should my Bluebird Box Face? Place your bluebird nesting box so that the entrance faces away from the hot sun and away from the prevailing wind. I usually place them facing East, since our strongest winds come from the West and South.

How high should a bluebird house be hung?

Height: Bluebirds nest within a wide range of heights, from two to 50 feet. Mounting at eye level provides easy checking; however, if cats or other predators are problems, hang nest boxes at least six to eight feet from the ground.

What month do bluebirds build nests?

Bluebirds begin scouting out nest boxes as early as late February, or even earlier in the south. If conditions are favorable, they sometimes continue nesting into August or even September.

What month do bluebirds lay their eggs?

The female Bluebird begins laying eggs between 6 and 7 days after the nest is completed. The overall timing of egg-laying throughout the Bluebird's range reflects the timing of nest building. Egg-laying begins during February and March in the warmer southern states and March and April in the northern and colder states.

What is the best color for a bluebird house?

Gray, dull green, tan, or brown, are colors that make bird houses or bird feeders less visible to predators because they blend in best with natural surroundings. Avoid metallic or fluorescent colors as they tend to be so bright, they offer no cover from predators.

Are you supposed to clean out bluebird houses every year?

Nest boxes should be cleaned out each year. You will greatly increase the chance of bluebirds (and other desirable species) nesting in your box if it is cleaned annually; this is why our box design comes with a pivoting door.

Do bluebird houses need a perch?

No Perches - bluebird boxes do NOT need perches on the exterior of the box. Since bluebirds are cavity nesting birds, their feet are adapted to clinging to wood. Also, the presence of a perch may attract house sparrows which seem to prefer them.

Do bluebird houses need to be on a pole?

House Placement A bluebird house should be mounted on a pole or post roughly 4 to 6 feet above the ground in a relatively open area, with the entrance facing a large tree or shrub 25 to 100 feet away.

How do you winterize a bluebird house?

Start winter-proofing your birdhouse by sealing the ventilation and drainage holes to keep warm air trapped inside. You can seal holes with rags, hay, foam weatherstripping, duct tape (on the outside), or any material that will prevent wind from entering.

Do bluebird houses need vent holes?

Birdhouses should have ventilation and drainage holes to prevent overheating or drowning of baby birds. A sloped roof with a bit of an overhang can also help keep the nest dry.

Why are bluebird houses in pairs?

Indeed, fans of Eastern Bluebirds in the upper Midwest long ago began to provide paired nest boxes to ensure that bluebirds were able to coexist with the more aggressive Tree Swallows.

Where do you drill a hole in a bluebird house?

Drainage holes can be created by cutting ¼ inch off each of the four corners of the bottom of the box, or by drilling four to five ¼-inch holes in the bottom panel. Drill holes at the top of the side panels or leave spaces between the top of the box and the sides to provide ventilation.

What do you put inside a birdhouse?

Many cavity-nesting birds will add their own nest material, but the woodpeckers, waterfowl and owls prefer nest boxes with 2-3 inches of dry sawdust or woodchips in the bottom. Place the box carefully. Put your birdhouse up on a sturdy pole, post, tree, or under a house eave.

Should you paint a bluebird house blue?

You may leave the wood its natural color or paint the bluebird house any dull color; do not use white. Do not use chemical- treated wood and don't add a perch.

Can you nail a bluebird house to a tree?

Do not nail a birdhouse to a tree. Nails can cause damage, and over time could introduce wood-decay fungi that will rot the tree. Do not hang a birdhouse on a branch using a tightly wound string, cord or sling.