Tammie Rogers
Inspired by Dogs & Nature
How To Attract Bluebirds
I created this “package insert” for our FarmGoneWild bird houses that Robert and I build and that we sell at www.farmgonewild.etsy.com
I thought the information might be interesting as a post.
The opening for birds to enter the burrow seems small, and it could also have a support for resting in front of the door.
Hi Carlos,
Thank you for your comments. There are actually important reasons for the size of the entry hole as well as choosing not to have a perch on the front of the house.
There are two highly invasive species of birds that live in the United States which have a serious negative impact on our native cavity nesting species.
European Starlings can easily out-compete Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, Purple Martins, House Wrens etc… The recommendation to limit the entry hole to 1.5″ diameter is intended to prevent the larger Starlings from invading, killing and taking-over the nest boxes from the native species.
The highly invasive European House Sparrow is smaller than Bluebirds, Purple Martins and Tree Swallows, so they are very challenging to control. They routinely enter and kill even adult birds as well as peck and destroy the eggs and kill the chicks of these species. While removing the entry perch doesn’t detract House Sparrows completely, they do prefer a “front porch perch.” So, we don’t offer it as the Bluebirds and Tree Swallows don’t require it. However, my observations tell me that House Sparrows have no problem entering boxes that have no perch, even if they are attracted to a box with the perch.
On our FarmGoneWild bird houses, we score grooves into the front of the box, under the entry hole on the outside so that the Bluebirds can get a good grasp with their nails, and we also score the inside of the box so that chicks have something to climb up to the hole to be fed when they are older and also to fledge when they are ready.
I hope that provides some clarity regarding your comment.
Yes, clarified, thank you!
I had no idea about these risks.
So, I think that in their natural habitat, these smaller birds also take the same precautions against predators.
Nice work and photos, congratulations!!