Plans For Eastern Bluebird House

November 09, 2024 Post a Comment

Plans for eastern 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.

How to build an Eastern bluebird house?

Build the eastern bluebird birdhouse with red cedar, pine, or almost any soft wood. Use wood rough-cut on both sides so that birds can grip both interior and exterior surfaces. Make a 4″ by 4″ floor (inside dimensions) and 9″ floor to ceiling height (inside front).

How to build the best bluebird house?

The best dimensions for bluebird houses are: Entrance hole: 1.5 inches (1.56 inches for mountain bluebirds) Entrance height: 6 inches to 10 inches above the house floor. Interior floor space: 5 inches by 5 inches to accommodate broods of five to eight chicks.

What size opening for a bluebird house?

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.

Why should bluebird houses face east?

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. We also get really hot afternoon sun, so I consider that as well when placing the box.

What is the best color to paint 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.

Should bluebird houses have 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.

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.

Should you clean out the old nest in a bluebird house?

You can definitely clean out a nest box after the fledglings leave. NestWatch suggests cleaning out nest boxes or birdhouses at the end of the breeding season. This isn't absolutely necessary; often birds will clean it out themselves, but you can lend them a helping hand.

What is the best bluebird house design?

Standard rectangular box design (NABS) is the commonly built and mostly easily recognizable nest box built for Eastern Bluebirds. The NABS box is made with only one board and is easier to build and appropriate for the young or amateur wood builder.

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.

How close should bluebird feeder be to bluebird house?

Install a bird feeder about 100 feet from their bluebird house for best results.

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.

Should a bluebird house be in the shade?

Bluebirds prefer open grassy areas, fields and no shade. It's best to have a place where high grass and weeds do not grow beneath the nest box. Boxes should be posted five to six feet off the ground, although boxes placed a little higher usually suffice.

How do I keep sparrows out of my bluebird house?

Third height matters house sparrows prefer boxes mounted five feet above the ground and higher. So

How often should you check bluebird houses?

Nest boxes should be monitored at least once a week during nesting season. Check the boxes in the afternoon during egg laying time. Do NOT open occupied nest boxes once the nestlings are fourteen days old. Tap on the side of the nest box before opening it.

Does bluebird house 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. If you have a house without these you can always drill a few holes in the floor for drainage and high up on the sides to provide ventilation.

What do you put in a bluebird house in the winter?

To winterize, you can use foam insulation (like that used around window air-conditioning units) broken into small pieces to stuff into large vent holes between the roof and side wall of the box. You can also use flexible weather stripping, sold in cords, to seal the cracks along the sides of the box.

Can a squirrel get into a bluebird house?

Raccoons and Red Squirrels They are intelligent and are good climbers; they can reach into a nest box hole and remove its contents. Red squirrels can enlarge the hole of the bluebird house and even take up residence if able to get inside.