Bluebirds and other cavity nesters

                                                          small bird feeder              bluebird box on dry land        bluebird boxes in wetlands

Microsoft Word - Educ Material Susan Renkel Oct 2008.pdf

The PDF material includes Lenker Bluebird Nestbox plans, predator control measures, and other information. Some material is reprinted from Bluebird Trails & Tails, the quarterly newsletter of the Bluebird Society of PA. Many thanks to Susan Renkel, Education Committee Chair of the BSP, for compiling and writing some of the information.

Mounting Hints:

• Before you dig, call Pennsylvania One-Call System 800.242.1776 to have all underground utility lines marked. 
• Place nesting boxes on galvanized pipe or green metal stakes bolted together so box roof is more than 6 ft. off the ground to keep out cats. Cats are able to jump 6 ft.
• Poles should be placed 2 - 3 feet into the ground to prevent heaving and keep the pole stationary. A pole pounder is available at Mifflinburg Lumber to pound the pole into the ground. Start the hole by pushing pole straight into ground with your body weight. Then climb stable ladder and use pole pounder to get about 3 ft of the pole into the ground.
• If box is mounted on side of pipe, end caps are needed to prevent birds from falling into the pipe and to prevent water from entering the pipe. Water could eventually split the pipe. Galvanized threaded end caps and other mounting hardware may be purchased at Mifflinburg Lumber & Building Supply. Be sure to purchase the correct size cap to screw into the top of threaded pipe.
• 7 inch stove piping with snapping seam and rebar wire for baffles may be purchased at Cole's Hardware or Mifflinburg Lumber. 1/2 inch hardware cloth may be purchased at Lewisburg Lumber. Drill a small hole in opposite sides of upper edge of stove piping. Attach baffle to post with rebar wire to enable baffle to move freely. Rebar wire may be wrapped around mounting screws against post. Avoid piping with rivetted seam as snakes may climb surface. Place 3/8 inch wide strip of rubber weatherseal or similar product around inside base of stove piping to prevent noise of piping banging against pole. Weatherseal with sticky back is easiest to apply to inside bottom of piping. Be sure to squeeze piping edges together then slide onto pole before attaching bird box as it is rather difficult to pinch stove piping together once it's on the pole.
• 3/4 inch 10 ft. galvanized EMT conduit pole, 3/4 inch conduit straps, and stainless steel nuts & screws are available from Mifflinburg Lumber. 3/4 inch PVC socket cap, availabe at same source, seals pole end above box but still seeking green alternative to PVC for reasons stated below.
• If you need to place a post in a wetlands, say for wood ducks, dig a narrow hole to the frost line, 3 ft. deep here. Throw the pole into the hole as a spear to anchor it. With the shovel handle pack mud back in the hole and around the pole, stamp down. Another option is to purchase a pole pounder which is available at Mifflinburg Lumber in red. If you know a soil scientist willing to lend you a hand auger that would probably be easier than using a pole pounder or a shovel. The auger would  also keep a narrower hole than a dug one, thus a stronger one to support the post.
• Use a level throughout the process to be sure the pole is straight.
• For wetland installation consider using 1 1/2 inch 10 ft. IMC piping whiich may be purchased at Dauphin Electric 523.3232. The 10 ft. length is needed to set 3 ft. below the surface and have the top of the box more than 6 ft. from the ground. 1 1/2 inch IMC piping is between the thickness of 1 1/4 inch galvanized gas piping and the thinner EMT piping. Machine shops such as Martin's Steel 966.3775 in Mifflinburg carry and cut galvanized poles.
• Box should face away from prevailing winds to prevent rain and winds from entering box. In our area this means the hole opening should face north or east.
• Roof overhang above hole opening should extend at least 3 inches to prevent predation.

Box Hints:

• Venting should just be on sides of box to prevent rain and winds from entering box. Venting is generally done by leaving a 1/4 inch gap between roof and top sides of box. Other option is to drill 1/2 inch holes as close to upper edge of sides as possible, 3 or 4 holes will work. No venting in rear or front of box. Roof should overhang vented sides by at least 1 inch to keep out rain and wind.
• Drainage holes are needed in each bottom corner of the box to keep the nest dry. Drill 1/2 inch holes in each corner of finished box. When making a box cut each corner at an angle to create 1/2 inch drainage holes. Check the boxes weekly to be sure the holes are open. If they are clogged, from below, poke the holes open with a stick.
• For bluebird box plan specs check out the North American Bluebird Society website.  A few caveats...avoid fence posts to prevent cat predation; avoid PVC secondary to a known carcinogen per National Geographic The Green Guide: Plastic Containers:

  http://chicagoconservationcorps.org/blog/wp-content/uploads2/2008/08/L05%20Green%20Guide%20Print_%20Plastic%20Containers.pdf.

• Before mounting box, drill holes in box front for Van Ert trap screws. See below for details.

House sparrows

If you have house sparrows in your yard consider using a Van Ert trap. House sparrows are an introduced species not protected by any federal laws. House sparrows may attack and kill any cavity nesting birds and destroy eggs and young. Only use a bluebird box if you are able and willing to monitor and prevent house sparrows from nesting. Read more at the Sialis website.

Monitoring bluebird boxes includes checking on them at least weekly during the breeding season to disperse any house sparrows, hornet nests (be sure to check inside roof), keep the boxes clean, etc. If you are unable to make this commitment please do not put up bluebird boxes. Before you put up a box read Nestbox Monitoring: Why and How at the Sialis website.  

If you have a side opening box, an easy way to attach the Van Ert trap to the inside of the box is to drill (use your tiniest drill bit) two tiny holes from the front of the box. Hold the trap on the front of the box to determine where to drill the holes. Predrilled holes makes it easier to attach the screws from the inside of the box. You will need an angled or short Phillips head screwdriver. The angled ones seem to work best. Clear plastic 33 gallon bags are available at Staples. When you set the trap in the box be sure to cover the trap with blades of grass to hide the trap. Check the trap within one hour to see if any birds are inside the box. Remove the trap when not in use by slipping it off the screws. The screws stay attached to the box for future use, if necessary.

Bird Feeding

Plants

To attract bluebirds and other berry eating birds such as cedar waxwings, chickadees, eastern phoebes, mockingbirds, and catbirds to your yard consider planting Cornus racemosa, gray dogwood. You may be able to buy this PA native plant at such places as Meadowood Native Plant Nursery in Hummelstown or Ned Smith Center for Art and Nature in MIddleburg at thier annual spring plant sale.

For further planting suggestions read Shirley Hawk's thorough Planting for Bluebirds material.

Suet

Here is an adaption of Brenda's Super Mix from the Sialis website:

In food processor process 40 oz. of dry roasted peanuts (no salt) until smooth.

Melt over low heat: 3 lb can vegetable shortening and processed dry roasted peanuts.

Remove pot from stove and stir in: 3 lbs cornmeal and 2 c. white flour. Add more white flour as needed to obtain a flaky consistency.

Read the Sialis website for feeder suggestions and other feeding hints.

Sialis - Eastern bluebirds, Sialis sialis; in-depth info by Beth, an individual in CT with degrees in Environmental Management and is a Certified Environmental Professional, volunteers extensively with bluebird and open space conservation organizations. Includes an indepth page of suet recipes. Brenda's Super Mix is easy to make and readily eaten by bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens. You may add black-oil sunflower and chipped sunflowers seeds to the mix and put in the bluebird jail-style feeder by Fawzi Emad and Haleya Priest to keep out larger birds. You can print out the plans and have it made of cedar at Lewisburg Builders Supply. Store suet mix in a large plastic container in the refrigerator. Before you put the mix into the feeder remember to break up the pieces into crumbly bits with a fork so that it is easier for the birds to eat. Bluebirds have soft bills.

Lyme Disease

Read What every bluebirder needs to know.....LymeFacts Susan Renkel 3.11.08.pdf  written by Susan Renkel, RN which was published in the Fall 2005 Bluebird Trails & Tails.

Other Resources

Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania - state bird society events and info. Susan Renkel's booklet will soon be available for purchase through the Store link.

Planting for Bluebirds - recommended trees, shrubs, and vines by Shirley Halk of the Bluebird Society of PA.

PA Game Commission information on bluebirds.

Birding Resources 

Native Plant Landscaping

Planting for Bluebirds

Wildlife Rescue