Bluebirds

[Robert Strickland]

I put up a Bluebird box a number of years ago but it was not used or if it was the House Sparrow get the bluebirds. This year I went to check it and found 5 tiny blue eggs in the nest with mother blue bird incubating the eggs. Now the dilemma, House Sparrows destroy Bluebird babies. I had to find a way to protect the babies and the parents. I went to t he internet and did a search for protecting bluebirds from house sparrows. I got some tips that recommended using monofilament fishing line. It seems that the sparrows can not see the string and will leave the box totally alone if they feel the line. I thought, how could I attach the fishing line. The instructions said use a hammer and nails, but there was eggs in the nest. So my ingenuity told me to get some small screws and my battery powered drill and drill in some screws as quietly as possible. Once I had the screws in place I tied on the fishing line over the top of the box As well as the sides and front. The line is left dangling in the wind. The site said it works. The photos show the fishing line. The bluebird do not seem to care as they went right back in after I placed the string.


bluebird-on-fence_RS by Robert Strickland, on Flickr


Bluebird-at-box-6_RS by Robert Strickland, on Flickr


Bluebird-at-box-5_RS by Robert Strickland, on Flickr


Bluebird-at-box-4_RS by Robert Strickland, on Flickr


Bluebird-at-box_RS by Robert Strickland, on Flickr