Houses To Let
Over the past two years the Medford Leas Birders have been making an effort, on both campuses, to attract more Bluebirds to nest in the boxes of our respective meadow areas. We met with a couple of experienced people (Alan Jackson and Nels Anderson) who gave us suggestions to draw them in to take up residence and breed. It’s encouraging that our observers have been seeing Bluebirds more regularly than in the recent past. Whether this indicates an increasing population or just more observers in the field cannot be determined yet.
Attracting the birds is not simply a matter of putting up nice nest boxes for them because the Bluebirds have to compete with other box nesters like Tree Swallows and House Wrens. The Bluebirds are simply out-competed (especially by Tree Swallows) if we have too many boxes in close proximity. We have recently thinned them out and increased the spacing between the boxes. We also have to monitor the boxes on a regular basis, and if necessary clean out the nests of “undesirable” birds like House Sparrows (not a native species).
At this date (mid-April) we have one box containing a Bluebird nest but no eggs. This is the same box in the field near the wood shop that had our only successful Bluebird nesting (two broods) last year at Lumberton. The birds have also been seen sitting on other boxes, as if they are checking them out. These are promising signs; but we are also noting an increasing number of Tree Swallows sitting on boxes, and one of our relocated boxes has a Carolina Chickadee nest in it.
So our attempt to attract Bluebirds is a work in progress. Lots of trial and error, but if we are successful they will be a nice addition to our meadow and a complement to the other box nesters.