Building a Birdhouse For The Mountain Bluebird

Bluebirds are in need of help. Their numbers are in the decline mostly due to a decrease in suitable nesting sites. This means that building a birdhouse/nest box for bluebirds will not only entice them to stay in your yard, making any bird lover happy, but help these birds chance for survival. Of course a better long term solution, such as building trees and allowing them to mature and develop natural cavities for bluebirds to nest in, exists. However, in the meantime birdhouses are a quick and viable alternative in place of natural nesting sites. If done properly and placed in key areas these bluebird houses would not only slow down the decline in bluebirds but can even help increase the bluebird population.

Some reminders when building bluebird houses are:

• Put the birdhouse in open fields, pastures, gardens, cemeteries and other open areas.
• Do not place the birdhouse in an area where insecticides are regularly and heavily used. The insecticides will guarantee a short supply of food for the bluebirds and can even poison the bluebirds.
• Place the birdhouses 4 to 6 feet above the ground and around 300 yards apart from each other.
• Place the birdhouses facing south or southeast.
• Place the houses at least 100 feet away from trees, shrubs, wires and fences so that the bluebirds will have places to perch.

The approved dimensions for a Mountain Bluebird House are larger than other bluebird houses. The typical dimensions are 12-1/2high x 7-1/4wide x 9deep with an entrance hole of a 1/2 in diameter. Build ordinary bluebird houses of this size using lumber pieces cut according to the given dimensions. Make sure to place an entrance hole about an inch or two from the top of the front panel. Drill several small holes along the bottom panel as well to serve as drains.

When choosing a place to mount your mountain bluebird house keep in mind the tips listed above. Make sure too that the entrance hole faces away from prevailing winds. The entrance hole should also be about 5 to 6 feet above ground so you can adjust your birdhouses location (height) depending on how far from the top of the birdhouse you placed the entrance hole. Nail the mountain bluebirds house securely to avoid swaying.