Where to Place a Bluebird House [The Best Location]
- 1. Place your bluebird house in an open area. Photo by Robert Pruner is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
- 2. Mount your bluebird house about 5 feet off the ground.
- 3. Keep your bluebird house at least 50 feet away from brushy or wooded areas.
- 4. Don’t mount your bluebird house too close to buildings.
Where is the best location for a Bluebird house?
Where to Place a Bluebird House [The Best Location]
- Place your bluebird house in an open area. Photo by Robert Pruner is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Bluebirds’ main source of food in the summer is insects.
- Mount your bluebird house about 5 feet off the ground. ...
- Keep your bluebird house at least 50 feet away from brushy or wooded areas. ...
- Don’t mount your bluebird house too close to buildings. ...
How high should a Bluebird house be?
Make sure it is mounted 5 to 10 feet off the ground. Bluebirds do not tolerate swaying birdhouses, so anchor the nest box firmly to a smooth round pipe. How high off the ground should a bluebird house be mounted? Height: Bluebirds nest within a wide range of heights, from two to 50 feet.
How do you mount a Blue Bird House?
Mount your bluebird house 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) high. Find a post to mount your bluebird house. Always make sure the entrance faces the nearest shrub or large tree. Try and install it in a location that is open or lightly wooded. For example, pastures with scattered trees or wooded patches are best.
What is the correct direction for a Bluebird house?
or starlings. Bluebirds are unable to compete with them for better chance of surviving the first critical hours out of the nesting sites. nest. The house should face south or southeast. Bluebirds lay 4 to 6 eggs which are plain light bluish Do not place bluebird houses in or near any area where white in color.
Can I mount a bluebird house on a tree?
You SHOULD NOT mount bluebird boxes on the sides of trees, fences, or buildings. These are very difficult if not impossible to protect from climbing predators. Also, do NOT hang bluebird boxes. They seem to prefer fixed boxes that are not swinging randomly in the wind.
When should I put up a bluebird house?
Because bluebirds will use birdhouses as winter roosting spots, there is no best time to put out houses for them—anytime is fine. Bluebirds begin investigating potential nesting sites as early as late February, so houses should be clean, repaired, and available for nesting birds by February 15.
What direction should a birdhouse face?
What direction should a birdhouse face? A birdhouse and its entrance hole should face away from prevailing winds. In the United States, it's very common for a birdhouse to face east, which is often faced away from the prevailing wind and the strong afternoon sun.
How do I attract bluebirds to my birdhouse?
How to Attract BluebirdsInstall a Bluebird Nesting Box in your back yard. ... Place the box in an open area five to six feet off the ground. ... Provide food such as meal worms, suet balls or seed consisting all or in part of sunflower chips.Water in the form of a small pond or bird bath.
How close to a house can you put a bluebird house?
How Far Apart to Space Bluebird HousesBluebird speciesDistance between nest boxesEastern Bluebirds100 yards (125-150 yards preferred)Western Bluebirds100 yards (200-300 yards preferred)Mountain Bluebirds200-300 yards
What is the best color to paint a bluebird house?
Earth Tones. Bluebirds prefer earthy tones, such as the colors of grass and dirt. For this reason, shades of brown and green are good choices. Bright colors attract other birds and predators, which is detrimental to bluebirds.
How high off the ground should a bluebird house be?
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.
Does it matter which way a bluebird house faces?
Bluebirds prefer their nests facing – in order of preference – east, north, south and west, though they may choose a house that faces a different direction. Some bluebirds may even begin nest building in the birdhouse and abandon it later if it is not suitable, even to go as far as leaving their eggs.
Is it OK to nail a birdhouse 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 bluebirds come back to the same house every year?
According to two different studies, 26% – 44% of adult bluebirds return to breed at the same site where they nested the previous year. Therefore, there is about a one in three chance that the bluebirds you have in your nest box this year will return to the same box the following year.
What kind of trees do bluebirds nest in?
Bluebird Habitat Trees and shrubs that work well at attracting bluebirds are: dogwood, hawthorn, wild grape, sumac seeds, hackberry seeds, blackberries, bayberries, honeysuckle, red cedar, pokeberries, and Virginia creeper.
Do bluebirds use nest boxes in winter?
Bluebirds and other cavity nesters often use nest boxes in the winter for nightly roosting. A small group of birds may cluster together for warmth, all in the same box. Our boxes are designed with lots of ventilation so that bluebirds don't “cook” inside the boxes in the summer heat.
How many eggs did a bluebird house have?
Here’s how to build a DIY bluebird house. “Our bluebird house had eggs and babies for many years. One year there were four eggs to start, then three were gone and the fourth had been opened. What happened,” asks Pauline Kelly of Homewood, Alabama.
How to protect bluebirds from house wrens?
The best way to protect your bluebirds is to make sure the nest box is a fair distance away from the dense cover preferred by house wrens, and to install another box a good distance away from your existing box. Learn more ways to attract bluebirds and how to monitor bluebirds.
Who are the bird experts at Birds and Blooms?
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman. Ken n and Kimberly are the official Birds & Blooms bird experts. They are the duo behind the Kaufman Field Guide series. They speak and lead bird trips all over the world. When they're not traveling, they enjoy watching birds and other wildlife in their Northwest Ohio backyard. Newsletter Unit.
Do house wrens pierce eggs?
While small and cute, house wrens can be hostile during nesting season. If they set up house in your yard and encounter other cavity nesters they deem too close for comfort, they’ll pierce the eggs of other species and carry them off. So we have to learn to love them in spite of their behavior.
How far off the ground should a bird house be?
Selecting a Location. In any mounting method, bird houses should be mounted approximately 5 feet off the ground. Houses should be mounted securely facing away from prevailing winds in the area to prevent rain from entering the box.
Can you drill a pilot hole in cedar?
Pilot holes can be drilled but typically are not necessary with cedar. To mount the house onto the top of a 4x4 post, screw down through the bottom of the house into the top of the post. Be aware that these mounting methods do allow predators easy access to disturb the nest box.
Can you mount a bluebird house to a tree?
We do not advise mounting your bluebird house directly to the trunk of a tree as it allows predators, such as raccoons, easy access to the house.
What to do if bluebird house is inhabited?
Entrance hole: If your bluebird house is inhabited by an unwelcome visitor, plug the hole or remove it since unwanted occupation is a threat to the bluebird.
Why is it important to choose the right size bluebird house?
Choosing the right sizes for a bluebird house is essential to ensure that not only are the birds safe and comfortable, but that other species are less able to use the house and the bluebirds will not be molested.
How many chicks do bluebirds have?
Interior floor space: Bluebirds raise three to eight chicks in each brood, and a large brood of growing hatchlings can quickly become crowded if the house is too small. Ideally, the interior floor space of a bluebird house should measure 5x5 inches to accommodate the entire brood snugly but without too much excess space that can chill hatchlings.
What do bluebirds eat?
Bluebirds eat mealworms, insects, hulled sunflower seeds, cornmeal, and fruit. Install a bird feeder about 100 feet from their bluebird house for best results.
Why do bluebirds need houses?
Why Bluebirds Need Houses. All bluebirds are cavity-nesting species, and they need safe, secure locations to raise their broods. Unfortunately, they are not assertive, and more aggressive species can easily drive bluebirds out of prime nesting spaces. European starlings and house sparrows, both invasive species, will easily usurp nesting cavities, ...
How to protect bluebirds from sparrows?
Sparrow shield: Another option is to install an aluminum metal ring hung by a bracket with heavy monofilament lines that extend below the bottom of the house . The drooping lines force a bird to fly between them to enter the box, which thwarts sparrows but not bluebirds. This must be installed on the bluebird house before the sparrows make contact with the home.
What animals are attracted to bluebirds?
Sparrows, wrens and snakes are known to target bluebird homes. To safeguard your house from predators, use these preventive measures.
What direction should a bluebird house be?
If placed along a road or highway, the bluebird house should open parallel to, or away from the road so the birds will not be hit entering or leaving their nests. Ideally, the nest box's opening should face toward trees or shrubs within 100 feet so young bluebirds have a place of safety for their first flight.
Why should a bluebird house be open?
If placed along a road or highway, the bluebird house should open parallel to, or away from the road so the birds will not be hit entering or leaving their nests. Ideally, the nest box's opening should face toward trees or shrubs within 100 feet so young bluebirds have a place of safety for their first flight.
How big of an opening do bluebirds need?
The opening size depends on the type of bluebird in your area, for example, eastern bluebirds require about a 1 1/2-inch diameter opening, while mountain and western bluebirds need an opening of about 1 9/16 inches in diameter . The entire nesting box can be constructed from a one-by-six inch board roughly 5-feet long.
How to attract bluebirds to nesting boxes?
After setting up nest boxes, monitor them to help improve nest survival, as well as to identify any issues that may arise to correct them. To help attract bluebirds to nesting boxes, set up a food station that includes mealworms. This also helps the female by having food close by while she incubates the eggs.
How tall are bluebird boxes?
Leave about 6 inches of box beneath the oval opening, with the front of the box about 9 inches tall and the back about 13 inches tall, creating a slanted roof or flat roof as desired.
Which direction do bluebirds prefer to build their nests?
By Gena Husman. Bluebirds prefer their nests facing – in order of preference – east, north, south and west, though they may choose a house that faces a different direction. Some bluebirds may even begin nest building in the birdhouse and abandon it later if it is not suitable, even to go as far as leaving their eggs.
Do bluebirds like to live in a house?
Bluebirds will initially choose a house regardless of the direction it faces. If it is positioned incorrectly and later becomes unsatisfactory for them to live in, they may leave the house and abandon their eggs.
How to mount a birdhouse?
To make the most of every location you choose for mounting a birdhouse and to make it as attractive as possible to breeding birds: 1 Use the best hardware and proper mounting equipment to ensure security and stability. 2 Offer nesting material nearby to entice birds to use the birdhouse more readily. 3 Put up the house early so it is available as soon as birds begin looking for real estate. 4 Check the house after storms or severe weather and repair any damage if needed. 5 Leave the birdhouse up through fall and winter as a bird roost box for extra shelter.
What to consider when mounting a birdhouse?
Factors to Consider When Mounting a Birdhouse. Many birders take great care to select a birdhouse with suitable dimensions, features, and colors for their favorite cavity-nesting species. Even the best house, however, will not attract birds if it is not mounted properly. A number of different factors need to be considered when planning how ...
How to watch birds raising their families?
Several models of window-mount birdhouses with clear or one-way mirror back panels are available, with the enticing promise of allowing birders to watch birds raising their families with comfortable indoor viewing. While some birds will use these houses, it is still important that the houses be sturdily mounted, preferably on a window of a quiet room so nesting parents are stressed as little as possible. If birds do use the house, observers should avoid tapping on the glass, shining lights into the nesting box, or otherwise disturbing the birds while the nest is being brooded or when the chicks are young. Using curtains inside the room can help keep disturbances to a minimum, and curtains are easy to move slightly aside to check the house. If nesting birds are disturbed too much, the parents may abandon their nest, or the chicks could try to leave the nest prematurely.
How many birdhouses can you have in one yard?
Other Houses: Even social, gregarious birds need privacy to feel secure when raising a family. Usually, only 1-2 birdhouses may be in use in one yard at the same time, with the exception of homes for colonial species such as purple martins.
What are the safety features of a bird house?
Safety: Regardless of where the house is mounted, it should be sturdy and resistant to wobbling, slipping, or falling. Baffles placed above and below the house can help deter predators such as raccoons, rats, and snakes, and the birdhouse itself should be designed to be safe.
Why put up a house early?
Put up the house early so it is available as soon as birds begin looking for real estate.
Is it safe to build a nest in a higher house?
It is most important that the house is mounted safely and securely, even if the height may not be ideal or convenient for birders.
What is the best surface to hang a bird house?
Flat surfaces. Brick is an outstanding surface to hang a birdhouse on because its complex and varying textures make it a challenging terrain for predators to scale. If you have brick siding on your home or a brick-paved fence or half-wall, you can absolutely attach your bird house to it.
Why hang a birdhouse in your yard?
While there are many reasons to hang a birdhouse in your garden or yard, perhaps none is as important as compensating for rampant habitat loss. The American Bird Conservancy has designated habitat loss as the biggest contributor to declining bird populations. Due to urbanization, deforestation, logging, draining of swamps and more, ...
How high should a birdhouse be?
When it comes to hanging birdhouses, one hard-and-fast rule is elevation. Your birdhouse must be at least 5 feet above ground. This protects vulnerable birds from most ground-roaming predators. There's no need to go above 12 feet high: birds don't want to live in the penthouse!
How to stabilize an auger pole?
Twist the auger-covered pole into the ground clockwise until it is sufficiently stabilized and the auger is concealed. (No auger? No problem! Just stake the pole at least a foot into the ground, but know that it will never be perfectly stable.)
How to find the extending post on a birdhouse?
If your house came without mounting hardware already affixed to it, you'll have to do this yourself. Locate the extending post attached to the back of the house. On this post, about two to three inches above and below the birdhouse, make marks with a pencil. These two Xs indicate exactly where you'll need to drive screws.
What is Happy Gardens?
Happy Gardens curates an online collection of unique, thoughtful garden decor and merchandise. Whether you've been searching high and low for an adorable birdhouse, a unique wind chime or a charming rain chain, Happy Gardens has what you're looking for. After all, each product we stock and sell has been chosen to fill your outdoor space with charm and cheer.
Can you mount a birdhouse to a tree trunk?
Finally, you can mount a birdhouse to a tree trunk as long as it's in good shape and stable. A little warning: tree trunks can be easy for predators to climb, so you'll need to keep the entry hole to the house quite small to keep unwanted visitors out.
What is a birdhouse called?
From a bird’s perspective, no matter how fancy and richly detailed it may be, a birdhouse, also called a nest or nesting box, appears to be just an opening in a tree. They’ll assess it for correct overall dimensions, the depth from the opening to the floor, the surrounding vegetation and its safety from predators.
How high should a tree trunk be for a mud nest?
Unlikely to be used if placed on a tree. Tree trunk at edge of woods at least 8–25 ft. high. Need a nearby source of mud. Place nesting shelf under an overhang or porch and away from doors because of messy droppings. On tree trunk or limb 5–15 ft. high with entrance facing away from prevailing wind.
Do birds nest in birdhouses?
Birds are choosy – here’s where to place their birdhouses. Thirty or more bird species are known to nest in birdhouses. But birds are choosey and no single birdhouse appeals to them all. From a bird’s perspective, no matter how fancy and richly detailed it may be, a birdhouse, also called a nest or nesting box, ...
