Cleaning My Bluebird Boxes Out
I have finally finished the spring cleaning of all the bluebird boxes here in Allegany State Park. I oversee 24 bluebird boxes in Red House side of the park and this year I had to replace 4 of the boxes that park staff asked me to remove last season for the construction of the recycling center. Two of the boxes were place back in the same location and the other two needed to be placed in a new location (which I located along the bike path for park visitors to see). I was amazed at how many of these boxes had mice nest in them and I even found a last season dead tree swallow in one of the boxes. Many Eastern Bluebirds have already stalked out their territory and shouldn’t be long before they start building their nest. Red House has always been my good area for Bluebirds but shouldn’t be too long before the Tree Swallows decide to start staking out their territories also!
I manage 18 bluebird boxes over on the Quaker side and all were in good shape except two boxes that had been run over by the mowers (would it be that hard for them to tell me they needed to be replaced??). I did have a spare box to fix the one but on my next visit I will have to replace the second box since I was a little unprepared for this. I also dug a hole and fixed one of the poles that weren’t up straight (probably the same mower guy hit this one also). For some reason these boxes didn’t have as many mice nest in them but I didn’t mind because it made my job easier cleaning out the boxes.
Since I already had the post hole digger with me, I decided to place a second box back behind my house. Since the Eastern Bluebirds have been exploring one of my boxes, it is only a matter of time till the Tree Swallows return. I am afraid that when they return that they will win the battle of the box, so I wanted to give the birds another housing options. After getting the hole dug and the box up; it was only a matter of minutes till the Bluebird pair took some interest in this new box (see two pictures). I placed it in a more bluebird friendly location, so maybe they will decided to use this one instead of the older box they had shown interest it. I will keep everyone updated on these wonderful little birds.
Tonight I will start editing photos/writing the post from yesterdays Cattaraugus County Bird Club field trip. Sorry that I never got this done but been a busy weekend. I will try to have it prepared for tomorrows post.
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Wow! Even bluebird property moves quickly.
One of my neighbors has two bluebird houses–but I have never tried them. I do love to see bluebirds, so maybe I should do some research and get one.
1 April 2007 at 8:19 pm
Spring’s such an exiting time!
I haven’t got out to check if the bluebirds are back in my area of southern Ontario, but if they’re back at Allegany I’d imagine they’ll be here soon too, if not already. I know a great little walking trail that has some bluebird boxes set up, I’ll have to go take a look this week. (can’t wait to hear the song of the Wood Thrush again too, my favourite)
On a little side note… just wanted to say that I’m really enjoying reading your blog since discovering it the other week. I certainly admire your passion for nature..
1 April 2007 at 8:21 pm
I’m glad to see your bluebirds! They are great birds to watch and I hope they keep their property. I’ll be thinking of a house for them, too. Those photos are wonderful to see.
1 April 2007 at 8:58 pm
@ KGMom – LOL, I was thinking the same thing! But, like I said they had been checking out a box 25 feet away already! But, sure hope they decide to use this one instead!
@ Luis – I am soo glad you found me and thanks for such kind words! To be honest, we can have the bluebirds around here all year. I agree the woodthrush has a wonderful song!
@ Mary – thanks for such kind words and they are fun to watch!
1 April 2007 at 9:49 pm
I hope they are fruitful in their new location.
1 April 2007 at 11:15 pm
I hope you get them to stay, although tree swallows would be nice too. 😉
1 April 2007 at 11:48 pm
Now there’s instant gratification for you! Nice to have tenants waiting to move in.
1 April 2007 at 11:49 pm
What a great job you have, and I imagine it’s a good incentive to keep that camera handy. Nice crisp pictures of the bluebirds. They don’t look a bit camera shy, do they?
2 April 2007 at 4:15 pm
Someone in our local bird club was asking what the best way to deter house sparrows from taking over Bluebird boxes. Any ideas? (I don’t think she wants to resort to killing them, but might if the house sparrows continue assulting the Bluebirds)
2 April 2007 at 6:37 pm
@ Barb – I hope so also!
@ Laura – I am happy with whoever does decide to move in.
@ Lost – shouldn’t be too long and I will learn which house they are going to use.
@ Photo – thanks and Camera was just inside the house. I could have tried to get closer but didn’t want to scare them away. I did crop the pictures some!
@ Birdfreak – well, I live in the woods where we don’t have house sparrows. But it isn’t easy and not really sure what to tell you! The bluebird society has some good things on their webpage on what to do.
2 April 2007 at 9:18 pm
Looks like you have some prime real estate there Tom!
2 April 2007 at 10:45 pm
Do I need to clean out the nest after the first brood leaves the nest or will the birds keep using the nest they built this spring.
Thanks
22 April 2007 at 7:42 pm
Sure do Marg! Thanks
@ Kay – I do only because it can reduce the chances of blow flies being in the nest. It also will raise up the nest where it makes it easier for the critters to reach into the nest and take the eggs (or chicks). But, I do miss removing the nest from time to time and the adults fledge young without problems! Good luck with your nest boxes.
22 April 2007 at 11:09 pm
Hello, I have had two bluebird boxes my kids made and we have had many bluebird families in them. But, this year instead of bluebirds we have some sparrow looking birds that I thought at first were woodpeckers because of the big beaks. They took over the blue bird boxes. ( do you think it was because my daughter started throwing the bread crumbs out for the birds? we never did this previously and seemed to get more “mean” birds after doing this) Anyway, how do I get the other birds out and some bluebirds out. I love this site and plan to watch it often if I can find it again. I am at annenelso@gmail.com and I know you are busy but if you can help I would appreciate it.
23 April 2008 at 8:48 am
Mean birds pecked the hole in our bluebird boxes bigger, killed our bluebirds and have nests and babies in the boxes now. What should I do to get the blue birds back?
8 May 2008 at 4:59 pm
What is a bluebird friendly location?
I want to make sure my bird houses are setup appropriately.
Thank you from Florida.
23 November 2009 at 3:43 pm
I have 250 boxes for Swallows and Bluebirds
I clean them out after each nest fledges and then I clean them in March in case mice have taken over during winter.
I live in Hamilton Ontario
25 November 2009 at 8:28 pm