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Susan. “Trapping them would be useless–there are hundreds of them everywhere. ” That’s not at all true. You can’t believe the difference it will make if you trap. When I first started hosting bluebirds I had at least 50 or more HOSP in my backyard anytime I looked. I started trapping. One year I trapped 406 and another 352. In 2015 I trapped only 81.(Don’t know where my recent numbers are). And now when I look outside I see maybe 10…not 50plus. And now I rarely have house sparrow attacks. I still trap with a Van Ert trap and a DRST. Do it.
Tammy
I’ve had them start to nest at my house but for some reason were discouraged and left. :) But a friend of mine had her first bluebird pair that nested in her yard and she was so excited. A wren came in and took out every egg. This year she has a new nest of 5 eggs and a wren guard on it. I’m walking her through it and her and her husband are hooked … big time. Love it.
Tammy
Yep, to what Carol said. You’ll pull their nests out over and over again! They never give up. But your bluebirds will give up on your box. You need to buy a Van Ert Trap. They are cheap. And dispose of the HOSP.
Wrens at my place don’t follow the 50 – 200 feet away (or even 600) rule. They’ve tried to nest in my boxes a few times and I have very few trees and no shrubby areas.Tammy
I know you found your answer but I’ll give my two cents worth anyway. So it’s a new male in nestbox 2? Because the other male was dead in Nestbox 1. No eggs obviously. If the female isn’t around then I’d say your safe to remove it. You may want to keep it for an extra nest, in case you need it down the road.
Tammy
I still give this link out when someone needs to know how to attach nestboxes or make a baffle!
Tammy
It has just warmed up for us. But somewhere in there my bluebirds laid 5 eggs. It was so cold here that I had to flip mealworms to my martins that came during that cold spell. Can you do the trapping discretely by using an inbox trap instead of a repeating trap.
Tammy
Thanks. I could do that easily. Where did you get your photos. I’v heard National Bluebird Society has a good one now.
Tammy
Hi, Blue Diamonds. I’m in NW Ohio and my bluebirds have already claimed their box. They are here all winter though. So should be really soon for you. The only problem with the shield or any other determent (is that the right word?), is the house sparrows fear of it will wear off so You need to remove it after the nesting is over and put it up again next nesting.
Tammy
Usually for me droppings in the bottom of a box means house sparrows. You should see them perching on top though. I have friends that have figured out how to tell the difference between bluebird droppings and house sparrow droppings but I’m not that talented. I’d scrape the dropping out. I too wonder sometimes if dropping deter birds from using the box. I use a paint scraper.
Tammy
