Find more DIY projects on our DIY Outdoors board and learn more about Iowa's Wildlife on the DNR's Pinterest boards. in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. So, set your bluebirds up for success from the outset and place your bluebird house in an open area, a good distance away from these types of buildings. Review. The bluebird's plight continues to face challenges. Learn more about house wrens in the article I wrote called 10 Other Birds That Nest in Bluebird Houses (click here to read the article).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bluebirdlandlord_com-leader-2','ezslot_8',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bluebirdlandlord_com-leader-2-0'); Since house wrens are a protected species in the US, and you cannot legally remove house wren nests from your bluebird houses, your best option is to avoid their preferred territory brushy and wooded areas. Kenn and Kimberly are the official Birds & Blooms bird experts. By Gena Husman. Pre-drill the hole, so the wood doesn't split, and then drill the screw in. One year there were four eggs to start, then three were gone and the fourth had been opened. Position the sides flush with the top of the front board. In the early 1900s, when Althea Sherman began noticing House Wrens nesting in her backyard in Iowa, she was delighted. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Now, you can take your Orbital Sander, and sand each flat face. Even though Butlers nest boxes sway with the wind, and are hung over ten feet in the air, they have been very successful. You can successfully mount a bluebird house much higher than than five feet (as youll see later in this article). Magazine Label - Your account number is the first 10 digits after "OIA" above your name and address. What direction should you face your bluebird house? The Java House - Downtown . Sparrow shield: Another option is to install an aluminum metal ring hung by a bracket with heavy monofilament lines that extend below the bottom of the house. Attach the floor with 2-inch finishing nails on the front, back and right side. link to Is It OK to Open a Bluebird House? Size: 6.5 to 8.5 inches. Then, since we pushed the back up 1/8", you want to measure 1/2" up from the two points you just made. What is the best bluebird house placement to attract bluebirds to nest in my backyard? asks Liza Peniston of Augusta, Kansas. Provide grass clippings, pine needles, small twigs, and similar nesting materials nearby for easy nest construction. served with french bread and guaranteed to whet the dullest of appetites . This will provide a landing spot for young birds when they first leave the box. I just had all kinds of anxiety, Ron, 63, tells PEOPLE. The life. The main part for the roof is when you are going to attach it to the rest of the birdhouse. European starlings and house sparrows, both invasive species, will easily usurp nesting cavities, evicting bluebirds in the process. Contact Information by County. Install a bird feeder about 100 feet from their bluebird house for best results. Get creative! Before you move on to the step, check and make sure that the roof ends are squared. Entrance hole: If your bluebird house is inhabited by an unwelcome visitor, plug the hole or remove it since unwanted occupation is a threat to the bluebird. Not just for closets, cedar is the ideal choice for a bluebird house for the same reasons why it's used to protect your wardrobe. There are three species of bluebirds that live in the United States, but the Eastern Bluebird is the only species found in Iowa. Ask our friendly experts. The bottom has many unique features that will all be covered in this section. First, you want to mark 1" up on the face from the right side, and 3/8" from the edge. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate . From feeder to flower, they really just don't seem to stop moving. Over 150 Bluebird essentials to attract more birds this year. "Grant Park is a 98-acre river valley recreational area so pretty it was featured on the cover of Our Iowa magazine a few years ago." . You made the lines so the birds could grip to the house, and this is better than putting a peg in, because predators can grab onto the peg and reach into the house. Now that you have used up your 4' board, you will need your second piece of wood. Now, you want to measure approximately 6 5/8" from the back edge, so if you were to draw a line down, it goes through the first screw on the top. They will hang out on fence posts, small trees, shrubs, and low tree branches just waiting to spot an insect. The board should be 10 1/2" long, and 9 1/4" wide, so the board shouldn't need to be cut. Then place the assembled front and sides on top of the back piece, leaving the top of the back board 1/4 inch higher than the sides. Each features a 1.56-inch entrance hole that is just right for small birds to get in and too small for unwanted birds. Stop by and try best breakfast in Iowa for yourself. Last Updated: July 31, 2021 Mon - Fri, 8:00am - 4:30pm CST You can mount it on a tree or a fence post, close to a source of water. How deep should they be? Starting about 1/2 inch below the entrance hole, make three shallow cuts about 1/4 inch apart on both sides of the front board. Just keep in mind how much wind and sun your nest box will receive in its particular location and adjust accordingly. Drill a hole on the hinged side 2 inches up from the bottom and 1/2 inch in from the side. This side will be the most difficult, because it will be a swinging door, which allows you to open up the bird house and clean it out. Nicely done. Shop our entire collection of Bluebird Houses, including our exclusive line of Bird-Safe houses designed specifically for Bluebirds. Contact Us. For the past several weeks, my husband and I have been thrilled to have been watching a pair of bluebirds nesting in the bluebird house he made this past spring. 7) Gilbertson Bluebird Nest Box. Place your bluebird house in an open area. A bluebird house should be mounted on a pole or post roughly 4 to 6 feet above the ground in a relatively open area, with the entrance facing a large tree or shrub 25 to 100 feet away. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5c\/Build-a-Bluebird-House-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Bluebird-House-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5c\/Build-a-Bluebird-House-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid856355-v4-728px-Build-a-Bluebird-House-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"