Early bluebirds

Hello Lubricator,

The behavior you are seeing is not unusual. Frequently the juveniles from this year’s nesting will come and investigate the boxes where they were fledged from, but they aren’t actively looking for nesting spots. They’re just “playing house” so to speak. Or, they may be investigating, looking for roosting spots for the cold winter months.

When you say you have a perch and a nesting box, you don’t mean the perch is on the front of the box, do you? Bluebird boxes should not have perches. They don’t need them, and a perch makes it too easy for other birds to harass them.

They may overwinter with you ….that’s always fun. Have some suet and/or mealworms ready for them.

Yes, they are only investigating. My blues are doing the same thing – checking out the box for roosting or just checking it out. True scouting will begin in February, or even January, depending on the weather. At least here in Missouri, that’s what they do. You know, the male will usually pick out a box, BUT the female has to approve it, and that sometimes takes time (ha, ha)!! I agree with Cher about the placement of your “perch” – don’t what others to chase away the blues. The bluebirds will usually find some kind of natural perch – overhead utility lines, trees, buildings, etc.