Spring Time “In Your Birding Sanctuary” Can Be Exciting

In the Spring time, all kinds of birds are scrambling to make a bird nest suitable for their young and the females are anxious to lay their eggs. My family and I are excited as a female Bluebird just laid its first egg in an Ultimate Bluebird House near our shed. The Ultimate Blue Bird House is unique because it has doors on both sides and one side is completely plexiglassed, making nest observing easy and safe for children and adults of all ages.

Do you have all your nest boxes up and ready for the birds to move in? There is a huge cavity shortage for the birds. As large old trees are cut down and logged to make room for building developments, the cavity dwelling birds, such as bluebirds, are having trouble finding suitable nesting locations.

A well designed and place bluebird house is essential in attracting blue birds to your yard. The overall dimensions should be approximately 5"w x 5"d x 16"h with the entrance hole of 1.5” in diameter. The nesting box should be 3 to 6 feet off the ground. Ventilation holes on the top and bottom of the Bluebird house allows fresh air to circulate keeping the nest dry.

At our house, we have placed several bird houses of all sizes around our property. We have been able to attract many different song birds over the years. We only use black oil sunflower seeds in our bird feeders, which most songbirds love. We found that bird seed mixes that contains millet, milo or cracked corn only attract big ugly birds and the song birds won’t even eat it.

So, if your bird nesting boxes are not ready to be used, get out there and get them ready!

For more information on Blue Bird Houses, visit: www.birdbathhouse.com/bird_houses

Provide Bluebird Nesting Boxes

Bluebirds are seen virtually everywhere in North America. Here in Pennsylvania, we see them all year round. When there is snow on the ground, the bluebirds stand out against the white backdrop. The bluebirds especially liked our holly bushes for the berries that kept them feed during the time when food was not readily available.

Because bluebirds nest in cavities, they usually rely on large old trees, a resource that has steadily declined over the years as forests have been logged and housing developments have evolved.

Today, the best way to attract bluebirds to your yard is to provide nesting boxes. A well designed and place bluebird house is essential. The overall dimensions should be approximately 5"w x 5"d x 16"h with the entrance hole of 1.5” in diameter. The nesting box should be 3 to 6 feet off the ground. Your blue bird house should have drainage holes in the floor so that water can get out and air can get in. Also Ventilation holes should be at the top of your bluebird house.

Other was to attract bluebirds is to provide food Bluebirds eat a variety of berries, insects, and insect larvae, and will visit garden bird feeders for dried fruit, mealworms, suet, or peanut butter. Plant berry producing vines and shrubs, if possible, and supplement with feeder food. In winter, meal worms are especially popular. Natural water features are perfect, but bluebirds will also readily use a birdbath.

For more information on Blue Bird Houses, visit: www.birdbathhouse.com/bird_houses