In the bleak midwinter, I succumbed to the temptation of a bluebird house which was singing out my name in the middle of Menards. Really.
It happily sat on top of my dryer until a few weeks ago, when I spotted the first bluebird of the season.
"Don't worry! I've got a house for you!" I shouted out. In return, the bluebird gave me a rather snarly look as if to say, "And of what possible good is it to me since it's still in the bag on your dryer?"
"Don't worry! I've got a house for you!" I shouted out. In return, the bluebird gave me a rather snarly look as if to say, "And of what possible good is it to me since it's still in the bag on your dryer?"
Being the novice bluebird-eer, I did some research. The following tips on where to place a bluebird house come from the Michigan Bluebirds website (as do the bluebird photos in this post).
Where to Place Your Bluebird House:
1. Locate in an open, grassy field edge or lawn area away from trees.
2. Place the box about 5 feet off the ground on a wooden or metal pole.
3. Face the entrance hole AWAY from the west, north, or northwest, as this is the primary direction that spring/summer storms come from.
4. Place away from dense cover (shrubs, thickets) and woods.
5. Keep houses away from sheds, outbuildings, barns, and other structures where house sparrows may be nesting or otherwise attracted to.
6. Perch areas near to the nestbox are a big plus. These can be telephone poles, tomato stakes, small trees, etc.
7. Place the houses away from birdfeeders and your main house - at least 50 feet or more.
I got stuck on #2.... Place the box about 5 feet off the ground on a wooden or metal pole. Um, how does one do that? Thankfully my husband had a great idea and went with me to Lowe's. Here are my entirely non-technical instructions. (I'm a visual learner, what can I say?)
How to Mount a Bluebird House
Where to Place Your Bluebird House:
1. Locate in an open, grassy field edge or lawn area away from trees.
2. Place the box about 5 feet off the ground on a wooden or metal pole.
3. Face the entrance hole AWAY from the west, north, or northwest, as this is the primary direction that spring/summer storms come from.
4. Place away from dense cover (shrubs, thickets) and woods.
5. Keep houses away from sheds, outbuildings, barns, and other structures where house sparrows may be nesting or otherwise attracted to.
6. Perch areas near to the nestbox are a big plus. These can be telephone poles, tomato stakes, small trees, etc.
7. Place the houses away from birdfeeders and your main house - at least 50 feet or more.
I got stuck on #2.... Place the box about 5 feet off the ground on a wooden or metal pole. Um, how does one do that? Thankfully my husband had a great idea and went with me to Lowe's. Here are my entirely non-technical instructions. (I'm a visual learner, what can I say?)
How to Mount a Bluebird House
1. Screw this little plate on the back of your bluebird house.
(We purchased all the materials in the plumbing aisle - unfortunately I do not know the names of any of these parts. If you do, comment & I will update the instructions!)
2. Screw this 90 degree thingamajigger into the plate.
3. Screw the other end of the 90 degree thingamajigger into a long steel pole. If you want the house to be 5 feet off the ground, make sure you buy a pole that is longer than 5 feet.
4. We actually bought a 6 foot pole and a 2 foot pole, and used this handy dandy connector to make an 8 foot pole. They didn't have an 8 foot pole when we went.
5. Push the steel pole securely in the ground. Ours is at least 18 inches deep.
Easy peasy! The bluebird actually sat about 40 yards away from us and supervised while we were putting it up. He and his wife found it within a day or two and have been busily flying in and out. Their handy-dandy bird nesting materials store is located nearby, and I'm happy to report the orange yarn has been the clear winner so far.
Maybe next time I post about bluebirds I will have gotten over my fear of mealworms, but at this point all I've got is the Bluebird Store and the Bluebird Hotel. :)
great idea...mine is mounted on a pole attached at the back as well...I did follow all the instructions but the sparrows and swallows still take them over many times
ReplyDeleteSo easy! (when you say thingamajig, it makes me think even I could do it!) And your birds are already enjoying it? How thrilling!
ReplyDeleteI had a bluebird house on one of the gate posts in the pasture last year. Then we had to replace the gate post (because I hit it with the tractor) and I haven't put the bluebird house back up. Thanks for reminding to put my bluebird house back up! LOL!
ReplyDeleteVery helpful info. My dad always mounts a lot of bird houses and feeders. It's fun to watch them visiting and chirping away happily!
ReplyDeleteI never see bluebirds here for some reason. But like Donna, the sparrows seem to get all the nest sites.
ReplyDeleteVery inventive!
ReplyDelete@Donna: I have a bunch of sparrows here too, and keep checking it to make sure they don't intrude. :)
ReplyDelete@Holley: the thingamajig was really easy- I'm sure you could do it, too.
@Shannon: bahaha! At least you know HOW to drive a tractor, which is more than I can boast.
@PP: I'm learning as I go- but it's been a lot of fun for me!
@greenapples: I never saw bluebirds at our other house either- they must be picky. :)
@Lettuce: thanks to my husband!
Just found this! Thank you for the pictures! I'm headed to Lowe's now to purchase my items. Can't wait!
ReplyDelete