bluebird house

Trishy · Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:03 pm

This is a little off of the purple martin beaten path, but I am wondering if anyone has tried Andy Troyer's sparrow resistant bluebird house and if so how resistant to sparrows is it? I want to put one up in town at the bus garage and there are lots of sparrows around. One pair stayed in the martin house I had there, but I took that down and brought it to my house, so he is homeless now.

JamesinIA · Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:34 pm

Trish

I made and put up 3 of those houses last year and the bluebirds seem to love them. I had put up one Troyer house and 12 feet away a standard house. The bluebirds chose the Troyer and raised a family of four. I had another one by itself and it was successful also.

I had no problems with sparrows but it was a good thing that I checked them weekly because a Wren started to build a nest in one of them and after I tore it out I had bluebirds claim it.

Trishy · Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:49 am

Thanks James. Guess I might as well give it a ry

Louise Chambers · Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:48 am

Trishy,

I used one Troyer bb house and some standard bb houses in PA. Never had a HOSP build in the Troyer, and the bluebirds did seem to like it. Always had 2 broods a season in it

Louise

jimnks · Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:02 pm

I have 25 BB houses out. and 5 more in the basement I just built and have to put up, does this Troyer house really keep HOSP's out? If so is there any place to find plans ? My houses are all Peterson style and I do have HOSP problems in some areas. I also have Tree swallows and chickadees using some houses and I don't want to lose them. If I could eleminate HOSP that would be great, how are these houses different? Any help appreciated, Thanks Jim.

Bearbarrow · Thu Mar 11, 2010 2:17 pm

What does a Andy Troyer box look like? I cant seem to find a picture or plan or anything. Thanks.

Louise Chambers · Thu Mar 11, 2010 2:24 pm

The plans are included in his bluebird book which you can find here:

http://purplemartin.org/shop/product_in ... 3320110fc4

Basically, a Troyer bb box offers a shallow nest space, so HOSP don't have room to build the type of nest they like. There is a wide slot opening.

Louise

Trishy · Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:01 pm

Thank you Louise. Sounds encouraging.

JamesinIA · Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:38 pm

I found the plans for the Troyer and many others on the Sialis website.

http://www.sialis.org/index.html

Bearbarrow · Fri Mar 12, 2010 8:53 am

Thank you Ms. Louise and James. This weekend I am going to build a couple and hang them up.