Bird House

Whew! What a day – from bald eagles to insects. The bird nest box work was super! I wish I had a chance to check out the owl pellet analysis and fish printing.

The nest boxes we built are designed for the Eastern Bluebird. The size of the hole keeps birds like House Sparrows and Starlings from using the box. Both of these birds are invasive alien species (they both were released in America by people interested in having animals mentioned in Shakespeare live among us – they are originally from Europe) that out competed Bluebirds for tree holes – their natural nesting place. As far as the Bluebird is concerned the bird house is just a hole in a tree!

To attract Bluebirds the box should be placed in an open field area that is mowed now and then – lawns are fine. Very tall grass can affect the birds’ ability to find ground living insects, especially caterpillars. Placing the nest box too close to the edge of woods or brushy areas invites the House Wren to use the nest box to the detriment of the Bluebird. The House Wren might even bury the Bluebird nestlings or eggs under a pile of sticks as they fill up the box to prevent any other Wrens from using it and encroaching on their own territory.

There are several other birds that might use the nest box. In addition to the House Wren, the Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Nuthatch and Tree Swallow might use the bird house. In fact many people set up nest boxes in pairs with one about 20 feet apart from the other. If a Tree Swallow occupies one of the boxes, it will not allow another Tree Swallow family to move into the second box, thus leaving it open for Bluebirds. They don’t care if Bluebirds move in and raise a family.

The nest boxes we built are designed to have a front door that can swing up to allow access to the inside of the box. Most of the boxes were constructed so that the doors had a snug fit. If the door is loose enough to open without much force you might add a latching mechanism to the box. The easiest way to do this is to drill a hole through one of the side walls so that the hole also drills into the front door. Place a nail that fits snuggly into the hole (without the need for pounding it with a hammer) so that it penetrates all the way into the door. The box should be opened for periodical checks to be sure that wasps do not start nesting in the box – this can be disturbing to the nesting birds. If you find a wasp nest carefully scrape it out of the box. Don’t use insect sprays on the wasps. The spray chemicals will not be good for the birds using the box. You don’t have to worry about your human smell causing trouble for the birds. Most birds can’t smell very well, so what ever smell you’ve left behind they can’t smell it. More importantly their instinct to care for their young is so strong that even if they know that you have been there, once you go they will return to take care of their babies.

The other reason to open the nest box is to clean out the old nest so that returning birds will have any empty “hole” to use. The box should be cleaned out in late winter. When cleaning out the nest box you might find that it has served as the home for mice like the White-footed Mouse or Deer Mouse, or a Flying Squirrel.

Good luck with your nest box. I hope that you get a bird family to move in.