What Type of Bluebird House To Choose Amazon Options with Recommendations

There are so many different types of bluebird nest boxes on Amazon. It might have you wondering, which one should I choose? Are the recycled plastic ones better than the wooden ones? How big of a box do I need? There are gabled roofs and flat roofs. There are also some very different looking nest boxes out there.
This video goes into some of the different styles you may encounter and gives recommendations for new bluebird hosts, those who may want to manage a trail, those who may want to deter house sparrows, and things YOU SHOULD AVOID BUYING.
Remember NO NEST BOX IS HOUSE SPARROW RESISTANT EVEN IF THEY ARE BEING ADVERTISED AS SUCH.
Video Highlights:
00:33 - Evaluates recycled bluebird nest boxes, particularly the one by Birds Choice. Good choice after you've attracted bluebirds and want something larger - Be careful. Not all birds like this box. Find it on Amazon* here: amzn.to/3ywWO5O
03:41 - Important things to consider for wooden nest boxes.
05:54 - Woodlink BB1 Model (no longer recommended as a starter house)
09:00 - Woodlink BB3 Model - Great for starting out. Find it on Amazon* Here: amzn.to/3JcOOvo
11:24 - Peterson Boxes - Great for bluebird trails. Not recommended for new bluebirds, but fantastic choice for people with more monitoring experience. Find different Peterson Boxes on Amazon*: amzn.to/3mOal6s
14:03 - Gilbertson boxes - Great choice if you want to try to deter house sparrows, but they are NOT house sparrow resistant. Find them here: amzn.to/3mKETG4
16:06 - Van Ert Traps for Gilbertson boxes
16:58 - Slot box - May be a decent choice if you want to deter house sparrows. This is not house sparrow resistant. It's effectiveness is debatable.
18:10 - What to AVOID!
*Amazon affiliate links used.

[@nesthollow5159]

Check out the Hosting Bluebirds Guide and Coloring Book! shorturl.at/bdwK7 Katharine spent a year working on the illustrations (most based on her own photography) and the information inside this book. It's a deeply informational coloring book, excellent for adults and kids (note the content warnings in case - nature gets brutal). It's available on Amazon, and if you scroll the page, you'll find all the topics it covers including predators, types of housing, types of feeders, live vs. dry mealworms, identifying house sparrows, examples of native sparrows, native competition and so so so much more. Check it out here: shorturl.at/bdwK7

[@coldspring624]

I have had excellent results for decades with Peterson nest boxes . I build my own so I can build according to my weather conditions.You just can not go wrong with those boxes.

[@nesthollow5159]

That's fantastic. They definitely seem like a great box, especially on trails. The specialty boxes that have really become popular were so well studied and field tested by developers. So it's no surprise they fulfill a big need.

[@williamjaeger5940]

Thanks for the video! Lots of great information!

[@ummm8511]

Thank you! I am just buying boxes and your video is very helpful.

[@jameslomenzo1139]

I been using the Nature Forest house from Wild Birds Unlimited over the years, it has a 4 1/2x4 1/2 inch floor with predator block on the entrance, and front door opens. I stain with a light walnut, It has held of good to the elements, UV sun,rain, with good ventilation. Goes for around $27 I catch them on sale for around $19. I haven't seen a house sparrow around my place going on 9 years. I trapped around 45 in 2014 my neighbor was letting nest in a hanging cheap see rock city house on her patio. She even got mad about it,said she liked washing dishes and looking at them,how stupid is that. I have a pair of BB nesting this week, this morning I noticed the Starlys are really mad they can't get in the purple martin Conley II entrance so they attack the BB for no reason, I took him out with the Gamo varmint so he bit the dust. You're right, I see so many houses on Amazon, Ebay that are just not good, I think alot of people are just trying to make a fast $$. Stay away from them house's. Always trap' eliminate non-native invasive House Sparrows, Starlys, they are a major threat to our song bird's. Glad to see you back, excellent video.

[@nesthollow5159]

Wildbirds is a great shop. The people are so knowledgeable. And $27 is a great deal. I hate ti admit it, but Amazon just makes shopping way too easy. But supporting small and local businesses like WBU is terrific. Just a few weeks ago, we added "heatshield panels" to my trusty box. Rather than making them, we bought a $20 sacrificial box at Menards and disassembled it. Then with thick dowel rods as the separator, we added the "panels." For the top, we had an old cabinet door. With respect to heat, I worry about this year with such an early spring. Last year so many hosts lost nestlings due to heat 😞. As for your Gamo and trapping efforts, good for you. But so many of us have no idea going into it that this is a dark reality. I'm actually working on a project with a goal to spread more digestible awareness about proper bluebird care, invasives, predators, etc. I'm not ready to talk too much about it. But once it's done, I hope to maybe do a little video or something. Thanks again for sharing.

[@hucks1000]

Wonderful presentation. Nice to hear thoughts on various products. Thanks

[@rjh6380]

Nice video. FYI, The kerf is not needed as the nest inside is built up for the fledglings to reach the outlet.

[@murphs1law]

Good information. One note, when you say HSP 'resistant' you mean 'proof' Resistant is not a guarantee it will keep them out, but it will make it harder for them or less appealing

[@nesthollow5159]

Thank you so much. To clarify, I say "resistant" because that is how a lot of them are marketed on bird shops and sites. Some people have then perceived that as basically a guarantee unfortunately. But none of the house sparrow "resistant" boxes are actually a guarantee. They are a great option of house sparrows have been in the area, but it's always a good idea to stay vigilant. People who have used the "house sparrow resistant " boxes (again, saying it like that because that is how some have been marketed) have had great luck with them and 0 problem with house sparrows. Others have had bad luck with them. In nature, nothing is a guarantee. Like you said - making it harder or less appealing - that's about the best we can so for now.

[@thebrickcoop4940]

I started with Peterson houses and they work really well. The birds have much less space to have to fill up with nest material before they get a comfy cup shape and start to lay so it is much more efficient for them. I find that no nest ever fell out because they seem to pack the material in pretty tight. I see though where that might happen someday. I think I just open the front cautiously so as to not startle anyone inside. After so many years, the (cedar) roofs last much longer and are easy to replace if needed. It really is important to monitor the boxes because the European (English) sparrows do kill the bluebird babies. They are vicious.

[@nesthollow5159]

Thanks for sharing. I am so glad the Peterson has been good for you. And you are right about efficiency. Energy conservation for wildlife is really important for survival too. I've not tried a Peterson personally, but have been tempted for trails. The people who use the specialty boxes like the Peterson and Gilbertson really do love them. The 2-hole boxes are another one I've considered trying, but I've hesitated a bit because the other argument is 2 holes = 2 problems. I think for tree swallows, the 2 holes offers more feeding advantage when you have a dominant nestling.

[@bretthaberle7229]

I have the Modern Rustic Bluebird House at Wild Birds Unlimited. So far its had bluebirds once in three years and tree swallows considered it but moved on. I might try a second type of box though.

[@kokigephart111]

Iam having good success with horizontal cavity with a slot opening . Horizontal lets fledglings spread out . Heat and crowding forces early fledging which is a death sentence.

[@nesthollow5159]

I'm glad to hear it. I've had no problems with the early fledge situation, but maybe in more southern areas it would be a greater risk due to the heat. A lot of people are moving toward the 2-hole mansion style for this reason. There are some pros and cons to those as well. Thanks for the insight and for caring for the birds ❤️

[@kokigephart111]

@@nesthollow5159 I am southern IL. I have trouble in winter when blue bird communal roust in a deep box the guy on bottom gets crushed.

[@UncleFjester]

I make my own from $3.50 cedar picket fence boards. I can make 5 houses with 3 pickets or $10

[@nesthollow5159]

Tgats awesome. Ive seen a few plans that make it pretty affordable. I would love to start building one day, but I don't have access to all the equipment - so I like to point out what is already available so that people who can't build yet at least know what to shop for. But the advantage in buying is that you can make it really suit your birds' needs.

[@MrOldclunker]

Make sure to put anti blow fly larva rat wire platform in the bottom. Easy to construct by making the wire 2.5" longer than width in one direction. Fold the edge on both sides over 1", the extra is for making the bend and can be trimmed shorter should you have a method of bending straight corners.. This prevents the blow fly larva from migrating up and down in the nest box and feeding on the chicks and killing them. The larva go down, but cannot crawl back up once they fall through the wire. I saw a much as 50% mortality from blow fly larva in the early 80's while a sub permittee bird bander. I also ran an extensive bluebird trail every day after work on a mountainous state park in Virginia. I was developing a key for banders to use for banding operations from hatching to fledgling. I also monitored mortality and performed necropocies on them. Once their second brood almost 90% survived. Many hundreds of hours measuring, weighing and note taking. I recorded all species monitored. Myself and Charles Jackson of Winchester, Virginia developed the very first flora and fauna inventory for a State Park in Virginia at Sky Meadows State Park in 1984. All of our work was turned in and then plagiarized by and another student and an unscrupulous Assistant Professor of Natural Resources at an area Community College.

[@nesthollow5159]

That's amazing. It sounds like you've had some incredible experiences and really contributed to some of our knowledge on bluebirds.

[@eilfredricks5219]

You should have made this video outside with better lighting.

[@nesthollow5159]

I know. It was so hot. Weather really limits the ability to do that.

[@UncleFjester]

It can be done inside but you need fill lights!

[@MicheleSanders]

I enjoyed this video as a beginner but I didn’t understand something you kept referring to, a “something” trap? I read the comments but no one has referred to this trap. Please explain. Thank you!

[@randyreal5871]

Those are Robertson screw heads they are Canadian lol 😀

[@nesthollow5159]

Oh cool!

[@MrOldclunker]

Do yourself a favor and make the bird house. It will give you accomplishment and pride. I make my own sparrow trap mechanism using and auto set fishing rig. The Peterson boxes never had a single bird use any of them in many locations I put them out.

[@nesthollow5159]

Once I learn my way around power tools, I just might. But this helps beginners and those who aren't savvy with some of the big tools out there. I will likely have my husband teach me soon though.

[@carvinieri5217]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bInJl6ihgdRjg5o a piece of solid house 😎I wonder how heavy this box must be, the elements at the back certainly add weight. But it's a good option for those who don't have trees in the area or can't hang a different type of house. 🐦

[@nesthollow5159]

You know, I have never weighed it. But it's definitely a lot, even without the block. On a regular pole though, it holds up just fine, and as long as the pole is sunk well into the ground, we haven't had issues with it being top heavy. I really wanted to like this box. And there is a lot I appreciate. But in our experience, it just wouldn't attract anything. And once something finally did show interest, it was just Eurasian Tree Sparrows (house sparrow smaller cousin). That said, other people have had great success with these types of boxes. The only thing I'd want to test with these types is how the heat level is on really hot days. Some people have said the plastic boxes hold heat really bad in the summer times. But I'd want to actually do a real temperature test with this box and some other wooden boxes to really compare it.