Bluebird Essentials<\/h2>\n\n\n\nA Clean Nest Box<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Eastern](\"https:\/\/thebackyardnaturalist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/TheBYN-Bluebird-eggs-nest-box.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nAs a good backyard bird host, you already know this: You need to start with a clean box<\/strong> and always clear between broods and after the last one of the season. If you haven’t already, go do it NOW!!! Bluebirds normally have 2-3 broods each season, so you’ll need to clear out the whole nest after each brood fledges. A clean box will encourage re-nesting in the same location! <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nA Safe, Sparrow-resistant Nest Box<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/thebackyardnaturalist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/GilbertsonNestBox-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Gilbertson Nest Box<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nSparrow-resistant boxes<\/strong> are criticial to keep out the Bluebird’s deadly nemesis: The House Sparrow! We recommend Slot Boxes<\/a> or the Gilbertson Nest Box<\/a> along with dedicated monitoring<\/strong>. For more on this, ask us at the store or see our web page “House Sparrows: Deadly Foreign Invaders<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nA Well-placed Nest Box<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/thebackyardnaturalist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/TheBYN-Erva-Cylinder-Squirrel-Baffle-with-Squirrel.png\")
A baffle keeps predators out of your nest boxes and feeders.. we’re showing this cute squirrel because our photo of a snake sliding into a nest box was too scary! <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nPosition boxes in open areas at least a hundred yards apart <\/strong>facing the openness of a yard, meadow or field. Mount bird houses on poles with snake baffles<\/strong><\/a>\u2014even if you don’t regularly see snakes in your yard. They are there.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA brief word on behalf of backyard snakes<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
According to the National Wildlife Federation, if you’re seeing snakes in your yard, you’re doing something right in establishing a healthy ecosystem<\/strong> in your backyard habitat! Resist your primeval urge to eliminate the snake and read NWF’s advice here on how to coexist<\/a> with the vast majority of snakes that are 100% harmless to humans. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFood and Fresh Water Availability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bluebirds are also looking for abundant food<\/strong> and fresh, accessible water<\/strong>. Increase your chances of hosting Bluebird families by adding these two simple, extra incentives to your backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/thebackyardnaturalist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/TheBYN-Going-Green-Bluebird-Feeder-32312.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYES! Fresh, freeze-dried mealworms in a clean feeder!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nBluebirds,\u00a0who mainly eat insects and fruit, could possibly be tempted to your feeders with\u00a0freeze-dried meal worms, sunflower chips and peanut pieces<\/strong>. Separate and distance them from your other feeders.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSee our Bluebird Essentials<\/a>, for Mealworm Feeders and other incentives for Bluebirds to increase your chances of hosting Bluebird families this nesting season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nKeep your bird baths fresh and filled<\/strong>. Access to free-flowing water is critical for wild birds and your bird bath is another excellent way to tempt Bluebirds to your backyard. See our Winter, Water and Wild Birds<\/a> website page.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEven if you don’t live near Bluebirds, you can still help them!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Support the Eastern Bluebird Resurgence! (See our previous blog post<\/a> about where it all started.) You can also join our local Maryland Bluebird Society<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAs a good backyard bird host, you already know this: You need to start with a clean box<\/strong> and always clear between broods and after the last one of the season. If you haven’t already, go do it NOW!!! Bluebirds normally have 2-3 broods each season, so you’ll need to clear out the whole nest after each brood fledges. A clean box will encourage re-nesting in the same location! <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Sparrow-resistant boxes<\/strong> are criticial to keep out the Bluebird’s deadly nemesis: The House Sparrow! We recommend Slot Boxes<\/a> or the Gilbertson Nest Box<\/a> along with dedicated monitoring<\/strong>. For more on this, ask us at the store or see our web page “House Sparrows: Deadly Foreign Invaders<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Position boxes in open areas at least a hundred yards apart <\/strong>facing the openness of a yard, meadow or field. Mount bird houses on poles with snake baffles<\/strong><\/a>\u2014even if you don’t regularly see snakes in your yard. They are there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the National Wildlife Federation, if you’re seeing snakes in your yard, you’re doing something right in establishing a healthy ecosystem<\/strong> in your backyard habitat! Resist your primeval urge to eliminate the snake and read NWF’s advice here on how to coexist<\/a> with the vast majority of snakes that are 100% harmless to humans. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Bluebirds are also looking for abundant food<\/strong> and fresh, accessible water<\/strong>. Increase your chances of hosting Bluebird families by adding these two simple, extra incentives to your backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n YES! Fresh, freeze-dried mealworms in a clean feeder!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Bluebirds,\u00a0who mainly eat insects and fruit, could possibly be tempted to your feeders with\u00a0freeze-dried meal worms, sunflower chips and peanut pieces<\/strong>. Separate and distance them from your other feeders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See our Bluebird Essentials<\/a>, for Mealworm Feeders and other incentives for Bluebirds to increase your chances of hosting Bluebird families this nesting season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Keep your bird baths fresh and filled<\/strong>. Access to free-flowing water is critical for wild birds and your bird bath is another excellent way to tempt Bluebirds to your backyard. See our Winter, Water and Wild Birds<\/a> website page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Support the Eastern Bluebird Resurgence! (See our previous blog post<\/a> about where it all started.) You can also join our local Maryland Bluebird Society<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA Safe, Sparrow-resistant Nest Box<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>A Well-placed Nest Box<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A brief word on behalf of backyard snakes<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Food and Fresh Water Availability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEven if you don’t live near Bluebirds, you can still help them!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n