Just remember that placing the nest box in and around an open area will be important for attracting bluebirds.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bluebirdlandlord_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_2',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bluebirdlandlord_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Bluebirds love to hunt from low perches. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming. "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." . America's #1 backyard birding and gardening magazine! 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. When making the angled cuts, keep in mind that all the pieces will be assembled rough side out. They are frequently seen in open areas, like fields and backyards, where they have plenty of space to hunt for insects. This screw keeps it in place. If you don't have a rough and a smooth side, you just need to make sure that you have your beveled edges going the right way. Get one of these bird houses on Amazon here. Bluebirds prefer large expanses of short grass with a clear flight path, ideally facing a field. Kenn and Kimberly are the official Birds & Blooms bird experts. If you're cleaning out an existing house, watch out for other wildlife that may have taken up residence there over the winter. With sheltered boxes like this, a flock is more likely to move in this time of year. You can mount it on a tree or a fence post, close to a source of water. Consider an alternative location if birds do not nest in the first season. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate . Find more DIY projects on our DIY Outdoors board and learn more about Iowa's Wildlife on the DNR's Pinterest boards. . Butler fledged 81 bluebirds from 18 nest boxes in 2020 alone! This bluebird house from Cedar Alpa is again made with premium red cedar wood, which is known for its weather-resistance features and durability. Sign In/Create Account. To view our latest e-Edition click . American goldfinch. I will include pictures, but basically what we did is we had the wood vertically in front of us, so we could see the flat side, and measured 10 degrees down from the top on the left side for the right wall, and the right side for the left wall. Just a few things for clean up and finishing touches, and you'll be good to go! $14.00. Experience Iowa's natural beauty and all the fun our state parks offer. The first males back pick out the best nesting areas, and a week of feverish inspection precedes . We may earn a commission from your purchases. The actual menu of the Bluebird Diner cafe. Install a bird feeder about 100 feet from their bluebird house for best results. The bottom has many unique features that will all be covered in this section. Then measure another 1/4" down from that one, and another from that line. Check out this picture from Roger Marvel of Glenwood. Be sure that the sides are screwed flush. The location worked out, and I attracted my first pair of bluebirds that spring! Finally, assemble all of the pieces using heavy-duty glue and screws. 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. The Eastern Bluebird, also known as Sialia sialis, is a member of the thrush family. If you want the front board to fit flush with the roof, cut an optional angle along the top edge by tilting the table saw blade 12. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bluebirdlandlord_com-leader-1','ezslot_3',105,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bluebirdlandlord_com-leader-1-0'); Now that weve established what type of area is attractive to bluebirds, lets talk about how high to mount your bluebird house. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 3 baths, 3 bedrooms, 2708 Sq Feet. When you first place the right side on the back, you want to mark 1/8" down from where you beveled the edge. First Look at Kathleen Buhle's Memoir: Hunter Biden's Ex on His Affair with Sister-in-Law and Forgiveness, After Husband's Mysterious Cancn Death, Wife Shares Shocking Experience of Examining Body for Clues, Mass. If no bluebirds are showing an interest in your house, there are several steps you can take to encourage them to take up residence. If you want to open the left side, take out the bottom screw on the left, so you can open it. And now you are done! We focus on providing our neighbors and friends with advanced technology and exceptional customer service. And theres no perch. Support conservation in Iowa by buying a natural resource plate for your vehicle. As a general rule, you should place your bluebird house in an open, sunny area where there is plenty of short grass where bluebirds can catch insects. Cut a 22-degree bevel across the top of the front section (A). Admittedly, this five-feet-off-the-ground rule has more to do with human preference than the preference of bluebirds. Read more about Butlers bluebird trail in this Medium.com article linked here. There is a certain way that we attached the sides, which made it a lot less difficult to put together. Even if the neighbors yard right next to you has these things it will help out. It needs to be 1 x 8, so 1extra inch are allowed on both the left and right sides of the house. Read our, How to Hang a Birdhouse and Mount a Nesting Box, Determining the Right Birdhouse Dimensions and Sizes, Birds That Use Birdhouses and How to Attract Them. View Count 16510. Conduit straps attached to the back work well for mounting. Want to do something thats good for bluebirdsand fun for you? Bluebirds should be arriving soon in Iowa, so now's a great time to clean out those bluebird boxes, or if you don't have one yet, to build your own! Bluebirds are highly desirable backyard residents with their attractive plumage, insectivorous diets, and melodious songs. In the past, bluebirds relied on woodpeckers and other cavity-dwellers to provide the majority of their nesting places. Layout and the drill the 1-1/2" entrance hole in the front (A). Name. You can now pre-drill and drill in the screw. He promoted bluebird conservation through hundreds of talks and articles in many . Opportunistic nesters, House Wrens will set up shop in pretty much any empty crevice they can findJohn James Audubon's illustration of a House Wren family depicts them nesting in an old hatand over the next several years, as . Face the bluebird box away from prevailing winds and towards a tree or shrub no more than 100 feet away. Now that you have the 3 pieces attached, it's time to attach the front. Clamps are optional, but they aid in assembly. She has many favorite birds (it changes with the seasons), but top picks include the red-headed woodpecker, Baltimore oriole and rose-breasted grosbeak. Building Bluebird Houses - "Iowa Bluebird Boosters Club" from Our Iowa Magazine. The two pieces will be for your left and right sides of the birdhouse. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. dressed with Harts BBQ sauce & a Bluebird slaw on a house-baked Kaiser. Use stamps or stencils too. Other locations suitable for bluebird houses are cemeteries, golf courses, new sub-divisions, and farmsteads. ", "It is always helpful to glean information from another's experience. #4. It was incredibly emotional, but it was also really incredible. After marking the 10 degree space, cut from the opposite corner down to the 10 degree mark. Bluebirds prefer their nests facing - in order of preference - east, north, south and west, though they may choose a house that faces a different direction. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. All Bird Houses Bluebird Houses BestBasic Houses Songbird & Roosting Boxes Window View Decorative Houses Hummingbird Houses Purple Martin Houses Bat Houses. 10) Hanging Western Bluebird Nest Box. {"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":"