Bluebirds....new bluebird house.

[faithfulfrank]

Hello all. We've noticed a good amount of Bluebirds around the neighborhood so my wife asked me to build a Bluebird house for here this afternoon. I just built one and installed it about an hour ago.

I can hardly believe....we now have 5 bluebirds fighting over it....3 females and 2 males, 4 of them were on the birdhouse itself fighting to get in. I've read that there is a need for more bluebird houses, I guess that was correct.

I built this one with 1/4" ventilation just under the roof and the side opens for cleaning. They prefer saw kerfs just under the opening for perching and you also need to put them inside for the little ones to get out. Bluebirds are territorial so the houses should not be closer then 150' apart. Hopefully more neighbors will put one up so they have enough....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/faithfulFrank/DSCN3802_zps648ac339.jpg

[duffysmom]

Frank you've inspired me. I'm now going to google bluebird houses and put one in my yard. I would be thrilled to see bluebirds. Thanks

[KathieI]

Wow, lots of information on how to build one, but since I'm all thumbs, I need to BUY one already done. I want to see pretty bluebirds in my back yard too. :pepper2:

[mfp509]

Nice job!

[faithfulfrank]

Thank you for the kind words.
Here is a link to the Florida Bluebird Society. A lot of good info....

House Plans (http://www.floridabluebirdsociety.com/plans.htm)

Hope this helps! My wife misses all of the bright orange Orioles we used to get in NY....this is a nice substitute....

We are all so blessed to be living here....middle of January and we are in shorts and T shirts doing this kind of stuff when we could be shoveling....

Frank

[quirky3]

I hope it's very successful for you! I put one up and they hatched 3 chicks, but a snake came up and got them. Don't know if there is a good way to prevent snakes from climbing the pole.

[Satchhol]

Frank,

Great picture of the bird house. If you get a chance, I would love to see a picture of the Blue Birds using it.

[KathieI]

Oh, I found them. Very pretty but now I'm worried about what Quirky said. :sad:

Here's the link: Bluebird Houses. Buy a Bluebird Houses at BestNest.com! (http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/bluebird_houses.asp)

[faithfulfrank]

I am no expert at all....but I know that one needs to have a way to keep them cleaned out. As to the snakes, there are different types of predator protectors one can put around the pole.

I'm wondering if once you see the nesting taking place if you could just put some lithium grease around the bottom of the pole then "puff" some boric acid powder on the grease to have it stick, as snakes hate boric acid on their bellies I'm told.

Sounds like I need to learn a bit more about this stuff......

[perrjojo]

We have had bluebirds nest in our box before and it is so amazing to watch them grow up. They can have up to 3 hatchlings a year.

[Serenoa]

Nice house you built, Frank.

If anyone wants a bluebird house but doesn't posess the tools and/or skills to build one like Frank's, I've seen them at Lowes for under $10 I believe.

[jblum315]

Do you need to put them on a post or can you hang them?

[faithfulfrank]

Do you need to put them on a post or can you hang them?

I'm not sure......the one's I have seen were all on posts, as they are a bit picky and like open spaces not too close to bushes, etc.....but close enough to something that the babies can fly to. I put mine on a 3/4" EMT conduit, as it was easy to stake into the ground, cost less then $4.00 and worked well. The small size looked better and I think will be easier to prevent predators to get to the birdhouse.

[Monkei]

Do the houses need to be posted out in the open like that or can they be in a more enclosed space like the courtyard of a courtyard villa.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Monkei, here's a ton of detailed info about bluebird houses:

Learn the Proper Placement and Maintenance of your Bluebird Houses at Bluebirds Forever (http://www.bluebirdsforever.com/houses.html)

Hope it helps!

Bill :)

[Ohiogirl]

Almost dark - am on my lanai and still seeing a cardinal at my feeder (black sunflower seeds) in my live oak tree. Also see house finches, pine warblers and of course mourning doves (both kinds). Mockingbirds like my suet feeder.

Saw a bluebird on my fence (CYV) about 2 years ago, not since, but I don't have a bluebird feeder or house either. Need to get at least a house, not sure I can handle the mealyworms for the bluebird feeder. I see them frequently on the golf courses - usually near some live oaks like on Roosevelt.

Enjoy the weather, but unless this is part of climate change, this is NOT normal for this part of Florida in January. But I'm loving it.