lakelover
Rear Admiral
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2003
- Messages
- 4,386
I've done this for many years, but this is the first year we've had a successful bluebird cycle take place. Our main problem was sparrows, but I came across a solution that seems to have worked, and the bluebirds have returned to nest again just a day or two after the baby birds fledged.
I tried this sparrow deterrant for the first time a few weeks ago, and instantly, the sparrows left the box alone. Now that the first brood has fledged, today, the sparrows were back checking out the box, but they had a lot of trouble with the monofilament and finally gave up. Now the bluebirds seem to be reclaiming the box again for a second nesting.
I don't know who Larry is, but I thank him for his idea: http://bluebird.htmlplanet.com/larry.htm
I tied small steel nuts to the bottoms of the hanging pieces, otherwise they just blow in the wind and get all tangled up.
Today I modified one side of the box so it has a plexiglass window that has a cover I can lift up to look in without actually opening the box. Side note, our box is the first one we had, one my son built in cub scouts about 15 years ago, and it has outlasted many subsequent ones that I built.
Anyone else provide nest boxes?
I tried this sparrow deterrant for the first time a few weeks ago, and instantly, the sparrows left the box alone. Now that the first brood has fledged, today, the sparrows were back checking out the box, but they had a lot of trouble with the monofilament and finally gave up. Now the bluebirds seem to be reclaiming the box again for a second nesting.
I don't know who Larry is, but I thank him for his idea: http://bluebird.htmlplanet.com/larry.htm
I tied small steel nuts to the bottoms of the hanging pieces, otherwise they just blow in the wind and get all tangled up.
Today I modified one side of the box so it has a plexiglass window that has a cover I can lift up to look in without actually opening the box. Side note, our box is the first one we had, one my son built in cub scouts about 15 years ago, and it has outlasted many subsequent ones that I built.
Anyone else provide nest boxes?