After successfully hosting a pair ofbluebirdsand their multiple broods , my bluebird nest box take some TLC . In the video below , you ’ll see the steps I ’ve convey to ready the loge for the birds ’ give back this spring . ( And you ’ll get a coup d’oeil of last spring ’s feather guest ! )
Interestingly , soon after I put away my ladder and peter , some area bluebird materialized . A male person displayed himself atop the roof and even pop out inside the firm for a time . Turns out , fairy bluebird sometimes do this in late fall .
They ’re not actively mat . Instead , they may just be tone their pair - bond and doing some former theater - hunt . They may also be looking for potential winter shelter .
interpret more : concerned in building a bluebird loge of your own ? Here ’s how !
Tools & Tips
Have your own bluebird box seat or other type of birdhouses to defend ? At minimum , you ’ll need a clean , unwavering - bristled brush , some dry out Mary Jane or standardized stuff and a screwdriver . ( If you ’re short like I am , you might need a ravel , too . )
You might also want some raw paint , stain or weewee sealant and paint coppice , masking tapeline or charge card .
To spruce up my nest loge , I used a Philips screwdriver to start the sporting - out threshold . Then , I removed and discarded all of last season ’s nesting material . ( Since old nests can harbor insects and pathogens , I like to give the birds a fresh start . )
With a dry wire brush , I scraped out the remaining nesting material . I paid particular attention to nook and crannies around the inside bottom of the box .
( It is n’t necessary to use water or disinfectant when make clean out bluebird boxes . )
register more : Want more wildlife on your farm ? Windbreaks attract all way of aboriginal specie .
Finishing Touches
My fairy bluebird house sits on top of a tall metal post — the rouge on which had go to flake . So , I scraped away the wanton paint and touched things up with a bit of spray paint . ( I used a turgid moldable udder to protect the birdhouse itself from errant atomiser . )
And , although it in the beginning sported a coat of piddle sealer , the nest box also understandably needed a pinch - up . I applied surplus water sealant to the exterior of the boxwood , taking care to annul the box ’s interior .
Next , I add together a yoke inches of dry pine needles inside the bottom of the nesting sphere . This will furnish a nous - start in springiness , but it also help to isolate the compartment during winter . ( Birds sometimes hunker down in nest box during specially harsh winter weather . )
last , I screwed the uncontaminating - out doorway shut to defend against marauder .
