Hello All!
I really enjoying hosting Bluebirds and Tree Swallows, along with Purple Martins, on my property. However, my Bluebird houses have become weathered and in need of re-staining, painting, etc. I appreciate the little maintenance aspect of plastic gourds and thought there must be a maintenance free Bluebird house as well! I found the "Going Green Bluebird House" made by Woodlink. This house is made out of recycled plastic and is very well built.
Being constructed out of plastic, my only concern was the birds' ability to grip the outside and inside of the house, as well as in the entrance hole itself for easy entering and exiting. The inside of the house does come with attached wire mesh attached below the entrance hole. I decided to use my dremel to create grooves below the entrance on the inside and outside of the house as well as in the entrance hole, thereby allowing the birds to easily cling as they investigate the house.
What are your thoughts? Finally an attractive, maintenance free Bluebird house that will also be successful for the birds? I'll keep you posted on how the season progresses...
Recycled Plastic Bluebird House Modifications
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Daryl Lindstrom - MN
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:03 pm
- Location: Rock Creek, MN
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
Nice house, especially since it is from recyled materials. I think that the mesh inside is more valuable as it may assist the nestlings when it is time to fledge. Similar mesh or scribed grooves are found in wood duck houses for that expressed purpose. It may be that adding grooves may aid a predator such as a cat or coon in predating the nest. It is for this reason that nails or pegs are no longer suggested below the entry hole on bird houses. All of my bb type houses are built of wood without grooves and are smooth, although weathered wood may allow for a toehold. All of the houses are used yearly. I guess an analogy would be plastic martin gourds without a porch. Martins will still use the porchless gourds but a porch definitely helps, especially at new sites.
Have a successful season,
Ed
Have a successful season,
Ed