Click on the link for an answer. Also see downloadable flyer on Bluebirding Basics.
Attracting & Learning about Bluebirds and Other Small Cavity Nesters
- I’m new to bluebirding – how do I get started? Where can I learn more?
- I want to put up a nestbox – what do I need to know?
- What kind of nestbox should I put up?
- I have seen bluebirds around, but they aren’t using my nestbox. How can I attract them to my yard?
- How long does it take a bird to make a nest and fledge babies?
- Do bluebirds mate for life?
- When will nest building begin?
- There is one bluebird egg in the nestbox but I haven’t seen them again today – what happened?
- My bluebird laid white eggs. Is that normal?
- What do bluebirds eat?
- How do I feed bluebirds mealworms?
- Where can I buy mealworms?
- How can I get bluebirds to eat mealworms from a feeder?
- How can I get bluebirds to eat suet from a feeder?
- What kind of mealworm feeder should I use?
- Can I make my own suet?
- It’s expensive to buy mealworms. How can I grow my own?
- Is it okay to feed dried mealworms to bluebird nestlings and adults?
- I ran out of mealworms – can I put earthworms out for parents to feed their babies?
- What can I feed bluebirds in the wintertime?
- What kinds of plants can I put in to attract bluebirds?
- Is it okay to mount a nestbox on a tree?
- How can I get children involved/educated about cavity nesting birds?
- Why do people get so goopy over bluebirds?
- I found an egg on the ground. What should I do with it?
- At what age does a bluebird mate? When do they start nesting?
- When will the first egg be laid?
- How does a bird embryo breathe inside the egg?
- How does an egg hatch?
- How long does a bluebird live?
- Do bluebirds like homemade suet?
- Should I and how do I offer calcium to birds?
- I have seen the parents taking something small and white out of the nestbox. What are they doing?
- What does this term mean?
- Bluebirds built a nest in my mailbox/newspaper tube – what can I do?
- Where can I buy bluebird books videos feeders nestboxes and accessories nestbox cameras mealworms hole reducers house sparrow or starling traps birdbaths gifts for people who like bluebirds?
- How many eggs will a female lay?
- How many broods will bluebirds have in a season?
- Once a baby bird leaves the nest (after fledging), will it return to the nestbox?
- I saw a bird spreading its wings out on the ground – what is it doing?
- I saw bluebird checking out a nestbox this fall – What are they doing? Are they going to nest again?
- How old is a bluebird when it first mates?
- Why do I only see flocks of bluebirds in the fall or winter?
- How do birds stay warm in the winter?
- If multiple birds roost in one box, will the ones on the bottom of the pile suffocate?
- Will my bluebirds come back next year?
- Why do I see adult birds feeding each other?
- Why are bluebirds blue?
- I saw a white bluebird – how can this be?
- What is the best nestbox style?
- What size hole should the nestbox have?
- What is the best predator guard?
- What does this acronym stand for?
- I found a bird with a metal or plastic leg band on it – what do I do?
- I found a sick/injured/ophaned bird/bird that can not fly – what should I do?
- Where I can I find the closest licensed wildlife rehabilitator?
- Cornell FAQs about nests
- Is a nestbox made of PVC safe for birds?
- Why was the nest abandoned?
- Why do birds wipe their bills?
Protecting Nesting Birds from Problems and Predators
- What happened in my nestbox? Eggs/nestlings/adults are missing or injured, and I want to know what happened so I can prevent it in the future?
- House Sparrows attacked my bluebirds/tree swallows/chickadees etc. What can I do to prevent this in the future?
- Is there a nestbox style that is House Sparrow proof?
- House Sparrows are everywhere. Can trapping make a real difference?
- How can I protect my nesting birds from raccoons, cats, snakes, squirrels, etc.?
- I found a dead adult bird inside a nestbox – what happened?
- One of the parents disappeared! What can I do?
- My neighbors let their cats roam. What can I do to protect bluebirds?
- The nest is wet or full of blow flies. What can I do?
- There are wasps inside the box. What do I do?
- The nestbox is full of sticks – what can I do?
- The eggs are broken on the ground – who did it?
- It’s so hot out – how can I keep the nestbox from turning into an oven?
- It’s been so cold and rainy – how do I keep the nestlings from dying from hypothermia?
- How do I keep mice out of my nestboxes?
- They started or built a nest, but didn’t use it. What happened?
- Why didn’t the eggs hatch?
- How can I tell if an egg is going to hatch?
- Should I remove an unhatched egg from the nest?
- Should I clean out the nestbox after the babies fledge (leave the birdhouse)?
- I have a widow/widower bluebird with eggs or nestlings. Can I do anything to help?
- Birds are crashing into my windows. How can I stop them?
- I found a weird egg with brown spots mixed in with regular eggs – what is it?
- Should I leave nestboxes up year round? Or put up a roosting box?
- If House Wrens are so adept at removing eggs and newborn chicks from nestboxes of bluebirds, why have they not exterminated House Sparrows in yards where people do not monitor their nestboxes?
- Is it safe to use pressure treated wood to make a nestbox?
- Can a bird get electrocuted by an electric fence or from perching on a wire?
Monitoring Nestboxes and Starting a Bluebird Trail
- Will birds abandon the nestbox if I check inside?
- How often should I check the nestbox?
- The parents swoop at me when I get near the box – will they hit me?
- Is it okay to pet baby birds in the nest?
- Why should I check inside the nestbox?
- What should I do if a bluebird jumps out of the box before it can fly (called premature fledging)?
- What is the best book about bluebirds?
- I want to watch what is going on inside the nestbox – how can I set up a nestbox camera?
- How do I start a bluebird trail?
- How do I clean out a nestbox after the birds are done using it?
- I found an abandoned egg – can I try to incubate it?
- How far apart should I put nestboxes?
- I see boxes in parks that are side by side, just a few feet apart- why?
Other Birds that Use Nestboxes
- What kind of bird made this nest/laid this egg?
- I’ve seen a brown bird around the nestbox – is it a House Sparrow (HOSP)?
- Tree Swallows are using all my nestboxes – what can I do to allow bluebirds to nest also?
- I found a large spotted egg in the nest – where did it come from?
- Where can I find out more about: tree swallows, titmice, chickadees, house wrens, house sparrows, flycatchers
House Sparrows
- I’ve seen a brown bird around the nestbox – is it a House Sparrow (HOSP)?
- What does a House Sparrow (bird, nest, eggs) look like?
- House Sparrows attacked my bluebirds/tree swallows/chickadees etc. What can I do to prevent this in the future?
- What is a sparrow spooker, where can I buy one/how can I make one, when do I put it up, can I put it up before an egg is laid?
- How can I keep House Sparrows away from my bird feeder?
- I want to trap House Sparrows – what kind of trap should I get?
- I’ve trapped a House Sparrow – now what do I do with it?
- My neighbors are letting House Sparrows breed in their nestboxes – what can I do?
- The local store/restaurant is letting House Sparrows breed/roost/feed at their facility – is there anything I can do to encourage them to stop?
- Why are House Sparrows eating the mortar between bricks?
Other
How readily the bluebirds become our friends and neighbors when we offer them suitable nesting retreats!
– John Burroughs, The Golden Book Magazine, 1925
