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Blue Bird House for Easter
Wishing a Happy Easter to All!Easter might be considered a family holiday…so its a great time to start putting up birdhouses for feathered friend families as the nesting season is well underway. In the yard male bluebirds are busy constructing their best nests to attract females in hopes of raising a brood…they’re very family oriented you know!
Providing a blue bird house for this endearing little bird is well worth the effort. They’re amazing to watch, and if you’re lucky enough to have two broods in one season, you’ll see young bluebirds helping mom and dad with feeding the babies.
There’s an ultimate blue bird house made from recycled plastic, they call it poly lumber, but the best thing is it’s guaranteed to never crack, split or fade. It has a viewing window to see nestlings, a chew-proof predator guard, screened wall to help the babies fledge, and a raised screen floor to prevent blowfly infestation for birds’ health. With a pretty blue roof, it will last a lifetime, and if properly placed, will host many successful broods of which you can be proud.
Add a bird bath, some live meal worms, and you’ve got the winning combination for a bluebird family in your yard!
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Blue Bird Houses with Vacancies
As the days become longer, a birds’ instinct to nest becomes stronger. Regardless of temperature you know it’s a sure sign of spring when birds are scurrying and flitting about with twigs, straw or grasses in their beaks.Today I was thrilled to witness such behavior by a male bluebird. I had cleaned out the old nests a few weeks ago and was afraid I’d chased away my little blue friends. Nope…they’re here, happy and getting ready for babies! This little guy was working hard, carrying piece after piece of pine straw into the house. Guess he has a pretty woman to impress!
The two blue bird houses in my yard are in close proximity. Although bluebirds are very territorial – which is why they say houses should be placed 100 feet apart, this close placement (10-15 feet) helps to alleviate competition from other birds for the coveted nest box.
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Bluebird House Wars
So You’d Like to Attract Bluebirds?One of the favorite of all songbirds is the bluebird. Their gentle disposition, and sense of family are amazing, not to mention their color and song. Placing a bluebird house in your yard is a great way to start, but may not do the trick in and of itself.
Fierce competition for nest boxes exists between house sparrows (a non-native species) and our beloved bluebirds. House sparrows are known to kill babies and adult bluebirds alike. One way to help alleviate the fighting, is to place an additional bluebird house about 10-15 feet away from the first one.
Adding a bird bath will not only help attract bluebirds, but other wonderful songbirds as well. The all-time favorite treat for bluebirds has got to be live mealworms! They are coveted for the high protein content, and most birds will gorge on them…literally eating you out of house and home! The way to exclude these little piggies is to feed meal worms in a bluebird feeder. There are very few birds, besides the bluebird, who will use this type of feeder – having to fly through a hole to reach the prize inside.
Bluebird babies are absolutely irresistible, and if you’re lucky enough to witness two broods in the same season, you’ll see the young from the first brood help mom and dad feed the new babies. Whether you choose a wooden bluebird house, or a recycled plastic one, pay close attention to placement – approximately 5-6 feet high, and in an open area. If you pole-mount the house, it’s best to use a baffle below it to thwart predators. A portal protector over the entrance will also help to ensure a successful brood.
Happy Birding!
Birding Tips, Information & News
