What height should a bluebird box be?
Height: Bluebirds nest within a wide range of heights, from two to 50 feet. Mounting at eye level provides easy checking; however, if cats or other predators are problems, hang nest boxes at least six to eight feet from the ground.
What direction should a bluebird nesting box face?
nest. The house should face south or southeast. Selecting a suitable location for the bluebird house is of house. They should be set out by February 15.
What are the dimensions of a bluebird box?
They found that, when given a choice, eastern bluebirds consistently chose to nest in boxes with oval holes measuring 2 inches tall and 1 3/8 inches wide.
Where should a bluebird nest box be placed?
Place nest boxes in the sunniest, most open area possible, away from your house or deep shade. Bluebirds prefer large expanses of short grass with a clear flight path, ideally facing a field. Try not to place the house too close to feeders. Make sure it is mounted 5 to 10 feet off the ground.
How far apart should bluebird houses be spaced?
When paired, boxes should be mounted 5 to 15 feet apart. This provides nesting sites for both species and helps to prevent competition between them. Different species of native birds usually do not mind nesting close to each other.
Why do bluebird houses face east?
Regardless of compass orientation, bluebirds prefer nesting boxes with openings facing away from prevailing winds that might blow rain into the house, as well as away from midday to afternoon sun that overheats the inside. Bluebirds will initially choose a house regardless of the direction it faces.
What is the best birdhouse for bluebirds?
Well Built: A bluebird house should be watertight, yet ventilated and with drainage holes. It should be built of a rot resistant wood, like cedar, or untreated exterior plywood. You can paint the outside a light, neutral color or coat it with linseed oil, but the inside should be untreated wood.
How high should a bluebird nest box be?
Height: Bluebirds nest within a wide range of heights, from two to 50 feet. Mounting at eye level provides easy checking; however, if cats or other predators are problems, hang nest boxes at least six to eight feet from the ground.
How do I monitor nest boxes for bluebirds?
Nest box monitoring should be done from the first time you see bluebirds building a nest in your box through the date the young fledge. This can be done with a simple data form. We have a bluebird nest box monitoring form you can download from this site.
What size do nest boxes come in?
NABS-Style Box- This is a fairly, simple nest box design which can be made from a typical 1 by 6″ board of lumber. It has a slightly angled roof and opens from the side via the panel which hinges up. You can find the plans for a NABS type of box on our Nest Box Plans page .
What kind of nest does a Bluebird use?
All bluebirds are classified as “cavity nesting birds”. This means that their natural choice in nesting in the wild is some sort of hollowed out cavity in a tree. Before people put out nest boxes, natural cavities are what bluebirds nested in exclusively.