In the Bluebird Monitor’s forum, there are reports of the first eggs laid in a Florida nest box. Well, this is just exciting news for anyone who’s into Bluebirds because it means that it won’t be too long before the blues are nesting further and further North!

Although Bluebird houses run the gamut from basic wooden box and recycled plastics, to more elaborate, and decorative houses, an important aspect to look for is approval by The North American Bluebird Society (NABS).  Maybe you’ve seen that acronym before, and wondered what’s a NABS? Well, that’s who they are, and their website provides great information on attracting and housing Bluebirds.

If you’ve ever considered it, but haven’t yet tried… please do! These little brilliant blue birds are amazing, and so family-oriented that it’s just plain cool to have a group in your yard. You needn’t spend a lot either, bluebird bird house kits are available, and some are even NABS Approved. Although it’s difficult to spot in this photo of our yard, look in the upper right corner and you’ll see a bluebird bird house kit that’s been in business for years. It’s mounted on a simple piece of conduit, and does have a baffle added for protection from predators. A tad taller than most recommended heights (5 to 6 feet from the ground), our birds seem to like it just fine. This bird house kit actually fledged three groups of nestlings last season. In the photo it appears to be near the treeline in back, but in reality it stands in open space. That’s another requirement for bluebirds to nest – some open space (which doesn’t cost anything at all).

A fantastic reference for all things Bluebird-related is a website called Sialis. I think it’s actually the Latin term for Blue Bird? Virtually any question concerning Bluebirds (and some other cavity nesters) may be found here. It’s well organized and referenced in plain English, so even the novice blue-birder walks away with useful information to benefit our precious “Blues”.

Please help house the birds! 🙂