Bluebird and Tree Swallow Bird House - March 20 2020

An overview of the features of a good Bluebird and/or Tree Swallow bird house.

[@razor5073]

So far the best and simple , with no BS, thanks Mike from Canada ,

[@hervedelnorte7928]

Thanks Mike! Hopefully no BS!😁

[@dennisprice8798]

Great to see a blue bird box that has most of the elements of safety. I monitor several dozen boxes and I always provide a predator block over the access hole as well as saw kerf cuts under the exterior access hole. I like that you provided the kerf cuts inside for the chicks. Ventilation is very important as overheating is not good for the eggs or chicks. I don't recommend painting, staining or using plywood or treated wood. Nice work.

[@hervedelnorte7928]

Thanks Dennis. Always different ways to approach things and new things to try.

[@Bamabrat9171]

Also... Did you know that tree swallows will use a bluebird box, but a bluebird box is technically too small for a tree swallow. The tree swallow box should be almost double the size of a bluebird box due to tree swallows lay up to 4-7 eggs. In the bluebird box, as the babies grow, babies will either grow deformed or will die due to lack of room. Tree swallows also need a "ladder" on the inside below the hole so the babies are able to climb out when it's time. :)

[@danalaniz7314]

Very clear explanation. Thank you for sharing your expertise.

[@sarahmanka4665]

Beautiful design! Nice video

[@hervedelnorte7928]

Thanks very much! Just getting into video so lots of things to improve upon.

[@Bamabrat9171]

Did you know that tree swallows will use a bluebird box, but a bluebird box is technically too small for a tree swallow. The tree swallow box should be almost double the size of a bluebird box due to tree swallows lay up to 4-7 eggs. In the bluebird box, as the babies grow, babies will either grow deformed or will die due to lack of room. Tree swallows also a "ladder" on the inside below the hole so the babies are able to climb out when it's time. :)

[@hervedelnorte7928]

Hello Hazel and thanks for your comments. The nest box I am showing in this video actually has a large floor capacity and provides plenty of room for Tree Swallows. The natural cavities that Tree Swallows use would often be much smaller than this. Think about a woodpecker cavity in a tree that might be 8 inches across. I suspect that the cavities in such trees are often 3-4 inches across at most. I am not saying this is ideal but few natural cavities would provide a 5.5X5.5" clear floor area. For years I (and many others) have often used another box design that has a 4x5.5" and they have done well in those too. The largest threat that faces TRee Swallows in nest boxes (in my experience) is Blow Fly larvae that if present will suck on young and often kill them. All of my boxes have many horizontal kerf cuts about 1/8" deep under the hole on the inside of the box to assist young in climbing to the hole as they grow. They have never had trouble getting to the hole as they grow.

[@HawkTron]

Nicely done!

[@hervedelnorte7928]

Thanks Val! It’s a fun hobby.

[@ureasmith3049]

Nice box. Thanks for sharing. I built a couple of Peterson style this year. Tree swallows nested in one but I opened to check on them and they seem too crowded. They have fledged and bluebirds have moved into the other one that was about 20 feet away. First time I've ever had bluebirds nest in my yard.

[@hervedelnorte7928]

I like this design but those made out of 1x6 entirely are also good for bluebirds and swallows. Just gotta keep those blowfly larvae from taking over and killing the young.

[@Bamabrat9171]

Tree swallows need a bigger box than bluebirds. Research it.

[@Bamabrat9171]

Did you know that tree swallows will use a bluebird box, but a bluebird box is technically too small for a tree swallow. The tree swallow box should be almost double the size of a bluebird box due to tree swallows lay up to 4-7 eggs. In the bluebird box, as the babies grow, babies will either grow deformed or will die due to lack of room. Tree swallows also need a "ladder" on the inside below the hole so the babies are able to climb out when it's time. :)

[@ureasmith3049]

@@Bamabrat9171 yep, I learned that from experience last year.

[@MrJawnyNumFive]

Love this video.

[@hervedelnorte7928]

Thanks for that!

[@dougreese9122]

I like the drip edge cut. Great idea. Should there be ventilation holes or gaps ? Maybe slightly shorter sides that creates a gap below the roof so air can move but rain can’t enter. Local climate may determine what is necessary. Excessive interior heat could injure the young birds in the southern range of the Bluebird. There are various sites that offer good information about placement of the Bluebird nest box. Like in real estate location is important.

[@dougreese9122]

Sorry. I didn’t see that ventilation was already addressed. Another idea is to shorten the tops of the front and backs to create a small gap. The roof needs to have sufficient length to cover the gaps.

[@s.h1388]

I have a question . I live beside a pond and i have a tree swallow nest box on my upper deck. The male and female checked out box few weeks ago and began bringing in twigs grass etc material that has been dropped in there. However its been exactly a week and the tree swallows have not come back to the box at all. What is the reason?! Will they ever come back and finish their nest?! .

[@ureasmith3049]

Did they come back?

[@coldspring624]

I enjoy building bird houses. I am thinking about trying a little diatomaceous earth dusted in the box to see if it helps with insect control. The houses I built last yr are very similar to that box but I kick the bottom of the hatch in a little like a Peterson. Guess I like the entrance angle and the inner kerf cut's on the inside laying on a slight slope to the entrance. But hey I am not nesting in them so what I like may not mean squat to the birds ..lol

[@Bamabrat9171]

And possibly get the birds sick. Especially the babies.

[@paulx2777]

Use "food grade" diatomaceous earth, edible by humans, pets, etc. Should be safe for birds. Great idea by the way. I wonder why the birds themselves do not clean up any pests, though.

[@billcoley8520]

How high should this be off the ground

[@hervedelnorte7928]

Hi Bill, You could place them anywhere from about 5 feet to 10' high. Wooden fence posts are good although some predators (weasels etc) can occasionally climb up and into the box unless you put a predator guard around the pole. Some people mount them on T-Bar metal fence posts or round metal electrical conduit. You can find reference to that on the internet. I wouldn't attach them to trees as predators would more easily access the house and also the growth of the trees will eventually push the box off.

[@billcoley8520]

@@hervedelnorte7928 thanks. I’m putting them on 3/4 conduit. About 6 1/2 ft high

[@hervedelnorte7928]

@@billcoley8520 sounds good. Not sure if you’re planning to check them while nesting for blowfly larvae but if so you may need a ladder.

[@billcoley8520]

@@hervedelnorte7928 I’m selling them as I build them. I’m building the Peterson Blue Bird House. I sell and install them.

[@Bamabrat9171]

Did you know that tree swallows will use a bluebird box, but a bluebird box is technically too small for a tree swallow. The tree swallow box should be almost double the size of a bluebird box due to tree swallows lay up to 4-7 eggs. In the bluebird box, as the babies grow, babies will either grow deformed or will die due to lack of room. Tree swallows also need a "ladder" on the inside below the hole so the babies are able to climb out when it's time. :) www.treeswallowprojects.com/buildbox.html

[@Bamabrat9171]

😡👎 Tree swallows need a much bigger box than blue birds. Research it!