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Maybe, maybe, I finally have a little success. I saw the female trying to bring in a WAY too large clump of nesting material, but she worked at it until it went in.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qcrLW65SHE45mjTU7
There are a lot of bluebirds in the neighborhood, and a female started hunting in my yard a few weeks ago, but showed no interest in the box except as a hunting perch until today. This is my newly designed “Western Special” with a larger floor, larger hole, and thermal shields. (The south shield is not on. This is the first hot day we’ve had this year.)
Background, for anyone interested.
I started building nest boxes when I lived in Fort Wayne, IN. Some bluebirds nested in my newspaper delivery box, so the next year I built a Gilwood and had great success, hosting at least one brood a year for the next few years. In 2014 I moved to Los Angeles, expecting to repeat my previous record. I’ve been skunked ever since. My Gilwoods were a failure, even my “Gilwood Jumbo” with a larger floor was not well received. Occasionally I would get a pair of lookie-loos, but nobody moved in.
I was able to view your photo……Mama and Papa blue are building. How exciting to see them bringing in the nesting materials. Nice photo. Wishing you the best of luck‼️
Judy – Michigan
Judy, also got to view your photo. Like your heat shields with the nice size space between house and shield for ventilation. Curious, you mentioned your “Western Special” with a larger floor, larger hole, and thermal shields. (The south shield is not on.” I’m curious how large is the new floor and what size hole you have. You need to keep the 1/2 inch hole for sure to keep out predators – you will have heartbreak if not. I have used Gilwood style boxes for at least six or seven years now, changing from another style I began with in 2008. My first Gilwood floor size was a little small, not even 16 square inches, so decided to make more with a little more floor space, almost at 16″ square now and having good luck. P.S. Bluebirds do not like a “large” floor size as a rule – found out that the 16 square inch floor is just what they like. But, then again this is just a guideline – there are always variances. Hope you have luck. P.S. Did you move to a highly populated area in Los Angeles – blues like open areas as a rule.
Sorry, I was out for a bit. I know there is a big debate, but I have come down on the side of Westerns like a little bit bigger hole. This one is just a hair bigger than the eastern standard of 1 and 1/2. I was aiming 1 and 9/16, but standard hole saws don’t exist in that diameter, so I just had to mark the hole and file it out a bit with a rat tail. They also prefer a bigger floor, due to bigger broods. I made this one 5 and 1/2 square. This pair laid six eggs.
I had a lot of success with stock Gilwoods in Indiana, and I made some larger versions that appealed to the TRES. I couldn’t get anyone here interested in my 5×5 box, and I tried for a few years. Even after I filed out the entrance hole a bit. They would come and check it out, take a look around, but ultimately move on.
I live on the very edge of town, with open space behind.
Everything is going well so far. I need to get the predator guard on. I’m more worried about raccoons and snakes than anything else. I wasn’t around to monitor, but my guess is there is about a week to go to hatching. We’ll see.
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