This entry was posted on Monday, August 11th, 2008 at 7:55 pm and is filed under Bird Houses, Bird Information. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
August 11, 2008
Do not put up a bluebird house if you do not plan to monitor it! It is essential to check your bluebird boxes at least once a week during the nesting season, until chicks are close to fledging.
Do not open the box after nestlings are 12 to 14 days old. At this stage the nestlings could become confused and leave the box before they are able to fly, greatly reducing their chance of survival.
Always remove house sparrow nests immediately.
Have your bluebird houses in place by mid-March when the bluebirds return from their winter migration and are looking for nesting sites. However, boxes may also be put up later in the nesting season.
Bluebirds usually have two broods per season but three broods are possible. Recognize a bluebird nest — it is a cup-shaped nest that is usually made up of woven grass. Pine needles may also be used.
Bluebirds usually lay 4 to 5 light blue eggs. The incubation period is 12 to 14 days. Nestlings remain in the nest 18 to 21 days before they fledge. Remove bluebird nests and those of other birds as soon as the young birds have fledged.
Don’t be discouraged if your bluebird houses are not used the first year. If bluebirds are not common in your area, it may take them a few seasons to find your new boxes but then they will return to the same area each year. Bluebird trails have been an extremely effective method of reestablishing the bluebird populations across North America.
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