Looking for a project for the winter months? How about building a Bluebird House, or buying one pre-made through eBay (where I purchase mine) and even better, consider setting a Bluebird Trail starting with a few houses.
Here are a few facts of interest specific to the High Prairie area.
There are three Bluebird species found in North America: Eastern Bluebird (found primarily east of a line from Montana to Texas), Western Bluebird (found primarily in the Northwest, California and the Southwest) and — I believe the most beautiful, third species — the Mountain Bluebird (found in the same geographic area as our Western Bluebird but more so in high mountain meadows/prairies).
All Bluebirds, which are members of the Thrush family of birds, have had a serious population decline because of the lack of proper nesting trees/woodpecker holes, but when humans provide proper nesting boxes in the right habitat, they come back quickly. The right habitat is grassy areas with lots of grasshoppers/insects in the summer and with scattered trees and branches where the Bluebirds can sit and pounce on any insect moving on the ground or grass. Sound like High Prairie? When feeding, Bluebirds have a particular hunched appearance as they scan for insects below. Bluebirds will also flutter out to take wasps and other flying insects.
ENTRANCE HOLE DIAMETER:
There are many YouTube videos and Bluebird house plans you can find with a Google search.
One point to make, if you do purchase online or make your own, is that the entrance hole is larger for Mountain Bluebird than Western Bluebird, which is the most common nesting resident on HP. The entrance diameter is 1-9/16 inch for Mountain and 1-1/2 inch for Western – does not seem like much, but for a well-fed Bluebird, that could be significant on feather wear and tear. Mountain Bluebirds do nest on HP very selectively and perhaps you will be lucky enough to host a pair.
WOOD & PAINT:
Cedar is suggested as it has a natural repellent against nest parasites, but any wood will do as long as the wood is ½ inch thick for proper insulation in summer and early spring. Include ventilation slots or holes at the bottom and top of the nest box. Leave an overhang on sides and front to drain away rain. On HP, painting with a non-odor paint is recommended, ideally white to reflect sunlight and keep the interior as cool as possible with our possible high temperatures. Paint also helps preserve the box sides and roof.
LOCATION & MOUNTING:
Ideally in a grassy field area without serious disturbance in the spring/summer, with scattered trees where the Bluebirds can hunt from lower branches. Our neighbor mows his acreage in the spring under his Ponderosa Pines and thus provides short grasses where the nesting Bluebirds can easily see their prey on the ground.
I am not a fan of just mounting the nest box on a wooden pole, as mice, rats, even snakes, and others, can access the nest box and eat the young nestlings. I use 1-inch galvanized plumbing pipe instead of a wooden pole, and attach a plumbing fitting to the base of the nest box which screws into the 1-inch galvanized pole set in the ground. I have also used 1.5” PVC pipe around the galvanized pipe up to about a foot below the nest box to help protect it. Mount the nest box 6 feet or so from ground level, a distance away from the nearest tree so squirrels cannot jump on top of the box and gain access. It’s best to place the nest box about 20-25 feet away from the nearest tree so nestlings can land nearby on their first flight, as their flight muscles are not yet strong.
MAINTENANCE:
As mentioned, painting white is recommended but not necessary if you like the weathered look, and hopefully Mr. & Mrs. Bluebird will also. Dark colors are not advised as that will add significant heat to the interior. It is important, once nesting season is over, to open the box and clean out and discard the nest material, etc. You may wish to spray the inside lightly with an insecticide as there are nest parasites that can overwinter. Don’t do this too early, as Bluebirds will use nest boxes in migration even in groups of migrating Bluebirds headed south, and the old nest material may help maintain a warmer inside temperature.
ENJOY YOUR NEW FEATHERED FRIENDS!