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WORDS ON BIRDS
Nesting Boxes Aid Cavity Nesting Birds
March 15, 2008
Steve Grinley
Many North American birds are cavity nesters - that is,
they nest in holes in trees and fence posts. Woodpeckers can use their
strong bills to chisel holes to create their own cavities. Many other
birds, such as chickadees, house wrens and titmice must find abandoned
cavities in which to nest. Unlike the current glut of inventory in our
real estate market, the birds have a much tougher time finding
adequate natural cavities.
Man is too quick to clear timber, especially dead
trees, to give woodlots and yard edges a more “pristine look”. As
trees are cleared, so are the potential cavities for birds. As land
use continues to change in New England, less farm land means fewer
fence posts for nesting bluebirds.
An even greater threat to our cavity nesting native
birds has been house sparrows and European starlings, birds introduced
from Europe, which are also cavity nesters. These aggressive birds
have displaced many or our native birds from the few cavities that
remain.
One way to solve the housing shortage for our cavity
nesting birds is to provide artificial cavities, also known as bird
houses or nesting boxes. More than fifty species of birds - including
bluebirds, tree swallows, great crested flycatchers, kestrels,
chickadees, nuthatches, wrens, kestrels, owls, wood duck and
woodpeckers - will use nest boxes. Providing bird houses has enabled
many species, including bluebirds, to make dramatic comebacks in our
area in recent years. A bird house on your property may provide a
cavity nest for birds and some enjoyable bird watching for you.
Bluebirds are already checking out nesting boxes in
area towns. They are one of the earlier nesters, often starting their
first brood in March. The bright blue male is always a breathtaking
sight as he, along with the duller colored female, will be going house
to house, inspecting for possible occupancy. Soon, they will establish
a nesting territory around their chosen home and nest building will
begin. The female will construct the nest in about five days with
little help from the male. The female will also do all the incubation
once their four to five eggs are laid - the male has no brood patch.
But studies have shown that the male may sometimes “spend the night”
in the cavity with the female.
The key to attracting bluebirds to your yard is to have
potential nest boxes, food and water. Bluebirds prefer more open areas
so if your lot is more wooded, other species will be more easily
attracted, but probably not bluebirds.
The female will incubate the eggs for a little more
than two weeks. She will leave the nest only a few times a day to find
food. Once the eggs are hatched, the male will bring food to the
female and young during the first few days.
Bluebirds hunt crawling insects like hawks. They will
perch on a stick and wait for an insect to show itself. The bluebird
then goes to the ground and pounces on its prey, and brings the food
back to the nest.
If you want to attract bluebirds with food, or help
them during the nesting process, you can provide mealworms in a feeder
near the nesting box. A readily available supply of mealworms will
create less stress for the female that leaves the nest in search of
food and will help the male provide a more readily available source of
nourishment for his mate and offspring. Feeding mealworms will help
increase the success rate for nesting bluebirds, and other birds as
well, in your yard.
The young bluebirds will fledge in fifteen to twenty
days. The adult birds will continue to feed the fledglings, though the
young will be able to find food on their own in about two weeks.
Bluebirds in our area can have two and, sometimes, three broods during
the season. So if bluebirds don’t find your house right away, they may
choose it for their future brood as late as June. Sometimes, young
from the first brood will assist I feeding the young from he second or
third brood. This may continue into the fall and they may linger with
the adults into the following spring season.
Another key to attracting and keeping bluebirds is to
provide water. A heated birdbath may attract them through the winter
as well as during the warmer months. Planting shrubs and bushes that
produce berries also provides a natural food source for bluebirds,
especially during the colder months when insects aren’t available.
Houses, mealworms and water will help to attract
bluebirds and other cavity nesting species as Spring approaches.
Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats
Newburyport, MA
BirdWSG@Verizon.net
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