{"id":9839,"date":"2021-03-03T12:38:17","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T17:38:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebackyardnaturalist.com\/wordpress\/?p=9839"},"modified":"2021-03-03T13:01:44","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T18:01:44","slug":"bluebirds-nest-early-get-nestboxes-up-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebackyardnaturalist.com\/wordpress\/bluebirds-nest-early-get-nestboxes-up-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Bluebirds nest early! Be ready TODAY!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Think Bluebirds!!!<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Bluebirds nest early. They’re pairing up and scouting for nesting sites NOW! <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eastern Bluebirds nest early \u2014earlier than most other birds. They begin defining and defending their nesting territories earlier than other species \u2014 generally, starting the end of February, early March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re one of the lucky, lucky folks who have Bluebirds grace their yards, see our dedicated Bluebird page<\/a> for more specific info or shop our Bluebird Essentials<\/a>. Meanwhile, on behalf of prospective Bluebird parents “house-hunting”, here are their key considerations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bluebird Essentials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Clean Nest Box<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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As 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

A Safe, Sparrow-resistant Nest Box<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Gilbertson Nest Box<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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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

A Well-placed Nest Box<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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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
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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

A 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\n

Food 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

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\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

YES! Fresh, freeze-dried mealworms in a clean feeder!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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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

Even 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

Share your Bluebird sightings and photos<\/a> on our Facebook page! Keep us posted!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Eastern Bluebirds nest early \u2014earlier than most other birds. They begin defining and defending their nesting territories earlier than other species \u2014 generally, starting the end of February, early March.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":9844,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,112,241],"tags":[169,350,351,352],"class_list":["post-9839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bluebirds","category-wildlife-habitats","category-backyard-bird-habitat","tag-english-house-sparrows","tag-snake-baffles","tag-gilbertson-nest-box","tag-bluebird-slot-box"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t