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David and Susan:
You’re welcome! Hope it works for you as well! Just be careful and keep a watchful eye on the nestbox with the toy snake in there, you don’t want to scare the bluebirds if they come back. I only placed the snake in there when I saw the HOSPS at the box. BTW, I got the toy snake from Toys ‘R’ Us. It’s the rubbery kind of toy snake that looks real. The HOSPS don’t know the difference. Good luck!Very sorry for your loss. It is heart-wrenching when you come upon this. I hope you have better luck next time around.
Hi Linda,
It’s hard to say what made them move on. I had a pair show up here a few weeks ago and then disappeared. Ultimately it’s the female bluebird that chooses the nesting location. Down the road from me is a county park that has a bluebird trail so I’m guessing they went there. I’m not giving up hope yet. Still plenty of time for a 1st brood. If not, maybe we’ll get lucky with a 2nd brood. Best of luck to you!Hi dlibby,
It sounds like that bluebird pair beat all the others migrating north to claim your nestbox. As the saying goes “the early bird gets the worm”. Congratulations!
Hi Susan,
My bluebirds were around during the winter too. I have no nest yet. I did have a bluebird pair interested a few weeks ago but they have since moved on. I’m hoping another pair will come by and claim my nestbox. Tree Swallows I’d welcome as well. They’re great for mosquito control! lolHi Dene,
The wasps nest has to go. Best way to get rid of it is to do it after dark. Use a flashlight and a stick. Open the nestbox and using the stick mash the wasp nest and scoop it out. Do NOT spray insecticide in the box as this will harm or kill and birds that use it. Just wait until after dark. Wasps are inactive after dark so you are less likely to get stung if at all. After you remove the wasp nest take a bar of soap and rub it on the inside of the roof where the wasps put their nest. This should prevent them from building a nest again.Hi Susan,
One year I bought a toy snake that looked pretty realistic and positioned it so it’s head was looking out the entrance hole of the nestbox. It scared the hell out of the HOSP and they never returned. It was a chance I took. At the time there were no bluebirds in sight and the HOSP pair had taken over the box. I don’t recommend this as this could very well scare off the bluebirds too. I watched from a distance with binoculars and then removed the toy snake from the nestbox once the HOSP were gone. A few days later the bluebirds showed up and had a successful nesting!Hi David, every now and then a male bluebird will check out my nestbox but no female in sight. I’m wondering if this is a new male without a mate yet. Keeping my fingers crossed he finds a mate and they move in to my nestbox soon.
Carol is right! The Tree Swallows will also defend the Bluebird’s nestbox as they will defend their own from other birds and from predators. Where in PA are you from if I may ask? I’m in Lancaster. I have bluebirds around, had them over the winter, and I still hear and see them but have no nest yet. I have a new slot-holed nestbox up this year. Still hoping a pair will take up residence. Just a wait and see thing. This time of year drives me crazy.
Congrats David!! Don’t know what happened to my bluebirds. The last week of March I saw a few strands of dry grass and was hopeful they would build a nest then the weather turned cold and they disappeared. I’ve only seen them a few times since (if it’s the same pair) at the mealworm feeder. I checked the box and no nest just the same few strands of grass in there. Past few days its been decent temps and weather in the 60’s and 70’s. I thought by now they would build a nest or another pair would come along and claim the nestbox. I’m kinda stumped. Any ideas? Anyone? – Dana
Hi Randy,
I have never seen any bears here near where I live. But we do have raccoons and possums, deer, groundhogs, etc. The raccoons have been the only problem at times. So I take my bird feeders down at night.
