LOCATING
· Bluebirds are birds of the short grass prairie. They feed either ON the ground or they pick off insects as they hover just above the ground. Therefore, pasture land is an ideal location
· Bluebirds cannot defend the house from the encroachments of house wrens. House wrens, as part of their “territorial” behaviours are known to puncture eggs and/or “toss” them out of the house. They will also fill the house with sticks preventing other wrens (and, of course, bluebirds) from occupying the house. (They will fill EVERY cavity they find in their territory. House wrens thrive best in wooded and forested areas. Therefore place the house AT LEAST 50 feet AWAY from treed areas.
· The house will probably FIRST be occupied by a more aggressive tree swallow. THEREFORE, put up TWO houses, one fence post apart. A swallow occupying the first house will not tolerate another swallow that close to its nesting site but it will tolerate a bluebird family in the second house.
· Ensure that the entrance FACES AWAY from the pasture where it is fastened to a fence post. Cattle and horses have a tendency to rub their faces against the houses.
MONITORING
· Bill tells us that it MAY take two to three years before your newly installed house is occupied by bluebirds (if there are no bluebirds in the area that you select).
· Check the house once a week. Bill is adamant in his assertion that the “magic” happens when the young person is able to “experience” the nesting female sitting on her nest, when the lid is gently lifted. If the birds are not disturbed frequently, there is no worry that they will not return. B and J tell us that it is o.k. to attempt to TOUCH the nesting female. Be slow and gentle and do not disturb the birds MORE than ONCE PER WEEK
CLEANING
- You will notice when you review the contract that you have signed with us that this is an important aspect. It is also the most critical aspect of maintaining a successful trail which will endure for years.
- B and J claim that if houses are not cleaned once a year, they will not be used beyond TWO seasons. The houses collect wastes and “garbage”. Many, if fact most, birds are carriers of both bird fleas and lice. B and J recommend a long blade (approx. 6” long) be used to simply scrape the inside. B and J do NOT recommend using any chemicals.
- After the bluebirds are finished with the house, it should be cleaned (scraped). We recommend doing this in the fall because it is often difficult to physically get to the house in the muddy conditions likely to exist in March. There is a good chance that a deer mouse will move into the house later in the year. Since these mice are known carriers of Hanta virus, we suggest that you wear a mask when cleaning. If you can manage it, it is a good idea to re-check the house in early March as mice may have re-occupied it after your fall check. (Note: Spring cleaning, although recommended, is NOT part of your contract with us.)
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
· Bluebirds WILL feed on dried fruits. They will eat nearly any insect (they are particularly fond of grasshoppers). This is one reason why insecticides can be insidious and lethal to bluebirds.
· Males return in the spring earlier than the females (mid-March). They claim a territory and defend it from other males while encouraging the female to stay. If available, they are LIKELY to select a nest box.
· Weather will play a HUGE role in the nesting success of the birds.
· YFBTA WANTS to HEAR from you with written report and/or digital photographs.
· Juanita Heembrock (of Dubuc) suggests that blue birds are attracted to cedar chips placed in bottom of house.
APPLICATION: To participate in the YFBTA Bluebird Youth Monitoring Program.
- We understand that the program is intended to be a one year commitment
- We understand that YFBTA will provide the bluebird houses
- We have read the information sheets provided by YFBTA for this program
- We agree that providing a nesting site for bluebirds is a serious matter and that the bluebird houses must be monitored and cleaned to prevent detriment to nesting success.
- We agree to submit an Annual Report form following each nesting season for each of the years that we are involved in the program
- We agree that if we are unable to assume responsibility for cleaning and repairing (if necessary) the houses, we will return the houses to the YFBTA.
Date of Application: ___________________________________
______________________ AND _________________________________
(Name of mentor) (Name of young person)
wish to enroll in the YFBTA Bluebird Youth Monitoring Program and to receive two bluebird houses to be placed in a suitable location. We will return the houses to YFBTA if we are unable to fulfill our commitment or when we withdraw from the YFBTA Bluebird Youth Mentoring Program.
ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATION
This application has been reviewed and accepted. A member of YFBTA will check to ensure that the Annual Report Form is received prior to November 30.
______________________________
(Signature of YFBTA Committee Member)
YFBTA BLUEBIRD YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM
ANNUAL REPORT (To be submitted to YFBTA by November 30 at the summation of each nesting season during the five year contract)
Date of Submission of report: ____________________________________
________________________ AND __________________________
(Name of Mentor) (Name of young person)
have completed the following: (Indicate completion with a checkmark).
_________ Assembled the bluebird house
_________ Read the helpful notes and placed the houses in a suitable location
_________ Monitored the house.
_________ Cleaned the house to ready it for the next nesting season.
_________ We intend to continue with the YFBTA Bluebird Youth Monitoring
Program next year.
_________ We will not be continuing with the YFBTA Bluebird Youth
Monitoring Program next year. We will be returning the nesting box
to the YFBTA.
Note: YFBTA would appreciate written descriptions and/or digital photographs
which will be considered for publication in our newsletters and/or website.
Please consider including some form of report in which you share with
YFBTA ANY interesting observations. YFBTA is interested in ANY
ACTIVITY that occurred in and around the house. Was the house occupied?
If so, by which species of bird or animal? We eagerly anticipate hearing
from you after this year’s nesting season.
Submit to: Rob Wilson
Box 329
Saltcoats, Saskatchewan
S0A 3R0