"Bluebirds in the Nest Box"

Presented by Bill Satterwhite, Wake County Extension Master Gardener.

[@lovemymatthew2000]

Great presentation!

[@ShakespeareCafe]

first thing...designate if it's an eastern, mountain or western bluebird

[@stevenrosso3874]

wow, i LEARNED A LOT FROM YOUR PRESENTATION, SPECIALLY HOW TO CHECK THE THE NEST BY REMOVING INSERTS. i DID NOT KNOW i COULD DO THAT! WHAT A GOOD IDEA. THANK YOU

[@kennymae]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Schieffelin This is a link for the person who is referenced as 'an immigrant 'in the lecture when asked who the person's name was that is responsible for Starlings in America.

[@uhill74]

Sad...and people know nothing about this and how they are perpetuating the problem by allowing sparrows to breed like rats.

[@cqammaz53]

what is the website with the measurements?

[@charismatic1516]

www.birdwatching-bliss.com/bluebird-house-plans.html is a good site, though there are several.

[@uhill74]

How do you get the neighbors to stop breeding sparrows everywhere? It's disheartening walking through prime bluebird habitat and all you see are people's front yards happily breeding European pests.

[@brianbeidle8520]

Lure them to your property and trap the sparrows.

[@uhill74]

@@brianbeidle8520 i do :). I'm up to around 70 since September....they keep coming

[@brianbeidle8520]

@@uhill74 it is a shame so many folks never see what house sparrows do, such as killing blue birds, tree swallows and chicadee. I have had all 3 killed in my neighborhood, yet all three also have chicks fledge due to trapping and shooting of sparrows. I have trapped and euthanized about 300 since 2018, so it is getting better. If they let you, try to offer them smaller enterance holes (1 1/8") on the birdhouses (are they using birdhouses?) so only house wrens and chicadees breed in their birdhouses.

[@brianbeidle8520]

@@uhill74 If it is barns with gaps, then that is a harder battle. If so, remind them that sparrows pooping in water for livestock can sicken them, the droppings are caustic to any metal surfaces stored in barns, and the big grass nests are fire hazards. Some will listen and take heed.

[@uhill74]

@@brianbeidle8520 do you find it is making a noticeable impact?