In an urban environment like Charlotte, as trees make way for condominium and other urban buildings, many birds are having a hard time finding a save heaven to nest. Our feathered friends are heavily relying on us to provide them with bird feeders, baths, and houses. Especially cavity-nesting species such as bluebirds are in a bit of a pickle. While most birds build nests that are open to the elements, bluebirds prefer a roof over their heads. Out in the wild they love building nests left behind by woodpeckers who build a new nest every year. That’s why bluebirds are so ready to accept man-made birdhouses.
There are a few specifics to an ideal bluebird house. The birds enjoy a little roof that extends over the opening and protects the house from too much sun and the elements. Bluebird experts are also very specific in recommending the proper size of the opening. For the Eastern Bluebird that we have in Charlotte and the Carolinas an opening of 1.5” in diameter is ideal. We had a very sad experience in our own backyard this spring because the battered birdhouse we had inherited from the previous house owners was too large. Our guess is that some birds in the past had “customized” the hole to their own liking. This spring a bluebird pair was building a nest in that house and we were of course pumped up about the prospect of having baby bluebirds! After a few weeks though the pair disappeared and of course we wondered why the bluebirds abandoned their nest. We checked the house and luckily there were no eggs that they had left behind but we think some pesky bigger bird like a wren was too much of a pain in their behinds and they left. Well, there went our dream of having super cute, insect eating baby bluebirds this spring.
Alas, we did some research, found out about the specs of an ideal bluebird house, tossed our old one and are getting a brand spanking new one from Blackhawk Hardware. Not only am I excited about getting a good-looking artisan birdhouse but also about knowing that the associates there are real bird experts knowing exactly what would be ideal for our backyard birds. The choice is yours, cedar wood, blue paint, or the shape of a camping van? They’ll make a great addition to anyone’s yard! Can’t wait to meet our new bird neighbors!
