| How
to Make Your Own Bluebird Trail
By Larry Jordan
Bluebirds
are an asset to all of us! We need a widespread
effort to bring back this beautiful bird
species to levels that existed 50 years
ago. Farmers and gardeners love bluebirds
because in the spring and summer their diet
consists almost entirely of insects, especially
cutworms and grasshoppers. In the late fall
and winter they live largely on wild berries.
Bluebird
trails are a great way to increase bluebird
populations. What is needed is a significant
increase in the number of bluebird trails
so that bluebirds can again raise their
families in areas where the natural nesting
cavities have either been destroyed or usurped
by starlings and house sparrows, against
which the bluebird cannot successfully compete.
A bluebird trail consists of a number of
nesting boxes spaced 100 yards or more apart
and located so that they can be conveniently
monitored by going from box to box. A bluebird
trail may consist of only a few nesting
boxes on your own property or of hundreds
of boxes spread over a distance of many
miles.
To
operate a successful bluebird trail it is
important to know the characteristics of
the bluebird and the problems involved in
maintaining a productive trail. This requires
a real commitment of time and effort. The
boxes need to be cleaned, repaired and opened
in the spring and then closed down after
nesting is complete. Check the bluebird
boxes at least once a week during the nesting
season but do not open the box after nestlings
are 12 to 14 days old. Trails should not
be started if time is not available to check
and maintain the boxes during the nesting
season.
Where
you choose to place the box is as important
as how the box is designed. Bluebirds are
birds of open areas. They rarely nest in
wooded areas, but will nest in clearings.
Open areas with scattered trees are best.
Open fields are suitable if there are posts
or wires for perching. Look for any area
where the vegetation is kept short by mowing
or grazing.
Nesting
boxes should be mounted so the entrance
hole is four to six feet above the ground.
Face the box away from prevailing winds.
Boxes should ideally face toward a tree
or shrub which is within 100 feet of the
box. This provides easy access for young
birds leaving the nest. Eastern Bluebird
boxes should be spaced at least 100 to 150
yards apart. Some experts recommend placing
boxes in pairs about 25 feet apart, with
the pairs then 100 to 150 yards apart. Western
and Mountain Bluebird boxes should be spaced
about 300 yards apart.
Your
nesting boxes should be put up and ready
for use by the end of March if possible.
If they are put up later than this they
still should be attractive to bluebirds
that are raising their second or third broods.
The mating season of bluebirds marks the
beginning of spring. In most areas nest
building begins in early May. The female
builds the nest almost entirely by herself
however the male will accompany her while
she collects the nesting material. The 3-4
inch wide nest is made of woven grasses
and occasionally pine needles, where available.
It usually takes 5-6 days for the nest to
be completed (a house sparrow nest is a
thick collection of grass, weeds and junk
and can fill the entire bluebird house.
Remove signs of a house sparrow nest immediately).
Bluebirds time their activities so that
the first egg is laid 4 to 5 days after
the nest has been completed. One egg is
laid each day until the clutch is complete.
Three to six, commonly four or five, pale
blue (occasionally white) eggs are laid.
Incubation begins as soon as the last egg
has been laid and the incubation time is
generally 14 days.
Larry
Jordan has been bird watching for many years and building birdhouses for over 26
years.
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