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Here are some tips from the North American Bluebird Society
on building a bluebird trail:
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Select proper bluebird habitat. Open rural country with
scattered trees and low or sparse ground cover is best.
Suitable habitat also includes a perch such as a fence, wires,
or dead branches where bluebirds may perch to search for
food. Look for these when you are selecting a location for
your nesting boxes. If bluebirds do not like the habitat, they
probably will not use your boxes.
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Avoid brushy and heavily wooded areas. This is the habitat
of the house wren.
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Avoid areas where the house sparrow is abundant.
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Avoid areas of heavy pesticide use.
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Mount nesting boxes four feet or more from the ground,
preferably on smooth pipes or posts.
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Mount boxes so that the entrance hole faces a tree or
shrub. This allows the young bluebirds to fly directly to a
branch when they leave the nesting box. This will keep them
off the ground, away from predators.
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Boxes should be spaced at least 100 yards apart.
Bluebirds are territorial and don’t want other birds any
closer.
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Protect boxes against snakes, raccoons, feral cats and
other predators.
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Monitor the boxes, if possible, at least once a week during
the nesting season.
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Always remove house sparrow nests immediately. Remove
bluebird nests and those of other birds as soon as the young
birds have fledged (left the nest).
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Inspect boxes in late winter. Clean and repair, if necessary.
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Boxes should be mounted in pairs in areas where tree
swallows are abundant. Boxes can be mounted back to back
or up to five feet apart. This provides nesting sites for both
species and helps to prevent competition between them.
Different species of birds usually do not mind nesting close
to each other.
Don’t be discouraged if your nesting boxes are not used the
first year. If bluebirds have not normally been in the area, it may
take them a few seasons to find your new box.
If the area where you live is
not good habitat for
bluebirds, go where they are
more likely to raise their
families – rural areas.
Maybe you can form a
group of interested
individuals to work together
on the project.
Look for less traveled roads
and open areas with sparse
or low ground cover with
scattered trees. Stay away
from areas that are sprayed
with pesticides.
Be sure and ask permission
from the landowner or
manager before installing
your nesting boxes. Also,
place them where you can
easily monitor the boxes.
Bluebird trails are an
extremely effective method
of reestablishing the
bluebird population. Many
youth groups, such as 4-H
and Scouts, service clubs
and senior citizens groups,
are dedicated to bringing
back the bluebirds.
The work of so many
devoted people are producing
wonderful results. More and
more bluebirds are being seen.
And, the population is
stabilizing in some locales.
But, the task nor the fun,
doesn’t stop with installing
the nesting boxes. It’s now
time to monitor them.
Each breeding pair can and
oftentimes does have three
broods per year. After each
family leaves the nest, the
box should be cleaned out.
