Bluebirds

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Bluebirds

• Bluebird House Construction

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Bluebirds

• Bluebird is the common name for three small
  songbirds of the thrush family.

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Bluebirds

• The Bluebird is a cavity-nesting bird.
• It searches for hollows in decaying wooden fence
  posts or dead trees.

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Bluebirds

• Bluebirds will produce a clutch of three to five
  young in the spring.

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Bluebirds

• Young bluebirds are born altricial, which means
  naked, eyes closed and helpless.
• They rely on their parents for warmth.

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Bluebirds

• Often they will raise a second clutch of three to
  five, later in the same season.
• Photo shows 30 day old Bluebirds being fed by a
  parent

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Bluebirds

• Male bluebirds usually arrive at their
  territories first and defend them vigorously
  against other male bluebirds.
• The young are raised by both parents
• Which one is the male and which is female?

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Bluebird Range

• There are three types of Bluebirds
• Eastern Bluebird
• Mountain Bluebird
• Western Bluebird
• They inhabit most of the U.S. and other parts of
  North America.

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Bluebird Range

• The Eastern Bluebird inhabits much of the South,
  Southeast, Northeast and Midwestern United States.

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Bluebird Population

• Loss of habitat caused population decreases in
  some areas and the species was almost extinct.
• Also, metal posts have replaced wooden fence
  posts, formerly one of the main bluebird nesting
  sites.
• The result has been reduction of natural nesting
  cavities.

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Bluebird Population

• Adding to the problem of loss of habitat has been
  the competition with the House Sparrow and the
  European Starling
• Both starlings (top photo) and sparrows (bottom)
  are cavity nesters. They compete with bluebirds
  for nesting sites.
• Starlings and sparrows often take over bluebird
  nests by puncturing eggs, killing nestlings, and
  sometimes killing the parents.

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Bluebird Houses

• Since the 1960s, the bluebird population has
  slowly increased due to conservation efforts  
• The most important step is to provide nesting
  sites by setting out suitable bluebird houses.
• Excellent sites for houses include rural or
  semi-rural property, golf courses, school yards,
  or any open area surrounded by woods.

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Bluebird House Construction
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Bluebird House Construction

• 6 Parts
• Back
• Front
• Floor
• Roof
• Two sides

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Bluebird House Construction

• 6 Parts
• Back
• Front
• Floor
• Roof
• Two sides

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Bluebird House Construction

• Birdhouse parts cut from shelving boards.

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Bluebird House Construction

• Cut parts to size shown

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Putting the parts together

• Attach one side to the back as shown.
• Note to extend the upper side above the back by ½
  inch.
• This is to provide ventilation

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Putting the parts together
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Putting the parts together

• Use decking screws or galvanized nails to attach
  the parts

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Putting the parts together

• When using wood screws, pre-drill the holes using
  a countersink/counter bore drill bit.

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Putting the parts together

• Attach the second side

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Putting the parts together

• Remember to extend the side beyond the back by ½
  inch.

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Putting the parts together

• Attach the floor with one screw or nail in each
  side and one in the back.

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Putting the parts together

• Recess the floor ¼ inch above the sides.

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Putting the parts together

• File or sand the corners of the floor before
  installing.
• This will allow drainage in case water collects
  inside the house.

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Putting the parts together

• Four ¼ inch holes will also provide drainage.

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Front

• Drill a 1 ½ inch hole that is centered on the
  front and 2 inches down from the top.

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Front

• Mark the spot for the center of the hole.

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Front

• Hole location centered 2 inches from the top.

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Front

• Use a 1½inch hole saw, auger bit, or flat bit.
• The 1½ inch hole is a very important
  measurement.
• Even a 1/16 larger hole will allow entrance of
  predator birds.

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Inside

• Before attaching, make a few light indentions to
  the INSIDE of the front with a wood chisel.

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Inside

• This will allow grip areas for the young to climb
  out of the box.

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Front

• Attach the front with one screw or nail on each
  side so the door will pivot.
• The door will provide a way to clean the house
  before the Bluebirds nest in the spring.

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Front

• Use a square and ruler to mark the pivot points
  on each side.

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Front

• Again, use ONE nail or wood screw on each side.

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Front

• Make sure that the bottom of the front matches
  the sides.
• This leaves a ventilation ridge at the top.

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Roof

• Attach the roof using four nails or wood screws.
• The back of the roof should be even with back of
  the house.

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Roof

• You may want to cover wood screws with wood
  filler.

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Drill holes

• Drill holes in the back that extends from the
  bottom.
• The holes will be used to nail or attach the
  house to a post.

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Painting (or not)

• You may paint using a light color (dark colors
  absorb heat)
• You can stain and polyurethane (Polyurethane
  three times for weather protection)

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Painting (or not)

• Do not paint the inside floor, inside walls or
  inside the entrance hole.

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Painting (or not)

• Bluebird house decorating.

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Painting (or not)

• Its OK to leave the box unpainted
• The wood will fade to a natural gray color.

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Secure the clean-out door

• To keep the hinged front from being opened by
  mammalian predators, install a square hook or
  similar hardware. Pre-drill the hole.

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Bluebird House Design

• A sloped roof with overhang prevents predators
  from destroying the nest.
• A flat roof is shown

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Bluebird House Design

• DO NOT include a perch. Bluebirds do not need a
  landing area!
• Perches would allow predatory birds to possibly
  destroy the nest.

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Bluebird House Design

• If the entrance becomes enlarged (due to chewing
  damage from squirrels, for example)
• Create a wood cover and drill a 1 ½ inch hole
• Attach to the front over the existing entrance

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Bluebird House Placement

• Attach to a pole or post 5 to 7 feet above the
  ground.
• The edge of a field or yard near woods is a good
  location.
• Inspect, clean, and repair nest boxes
  periodically.
• By late February of each year, clean boxes of
  debris, open drains, and make any structural
  repairs.

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Bluebird House Placement

• Bluebirds are territorial, so place the houses
  around 100 yards apart.
• A string of Bluebird houses could create a
  Bluebird Trail.

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Bluebirds
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The End