Bluebirds

[bobeteb]

I have an established martin colony in my backyard, i'm planning to erect a bluebird house in the same yard about 50 feet from the martin house. will this cause a problem with my martins or will they play nice. any thoughts?
Thanks, Bob

[Dale D]

Bob, you are probably going to get mixed responses on this. Personally I have both BB's and Martins nesting here at my site and it presents no problem. The BB's nest in their houses and are not interested in the Martin housing. They will perch on the rods of my Martin racks but, the Martins don't mind. I have read where others aren't so lucky and have BB's trying to move into their Martin gourds and houses. Here is one of my BB's from last season.

[John & Linda - KY]

502 ft is a little close, but with an established martin colony it will probably be OK. But you will definitely have a problem with sparrows trying to take over the BB house, so be prepared to deal with them. -- John

[Robert]

Bobeteb I have hosted purple martins for 37 years i also have four bluebird houses one is 35 feet away from the martin gourds I personally have never had a problem with the bluebirds bothering the martins , you can always use plugs in the entrance holes of the martin houses if they are trying to enter them , then take the plugs out when your martins arrive next spring .

[bobeteb]

Thanks for the responses to my concern with the BBs living next to the martins,you made me feel better about that, now i have see how it will go with the wrens and sparrows.I do trap lot of sparrows but not sure what to do if the wrens want the house.

[Dave Reynolds]

Bobeteb—- Good luck with the Blue birds.. You may be ok with the Blue birds, now that you have an established Martin colony.. But there are some that can not get a Martin colony because of the blue birds being so territorial... Good Luck..

Dave

[scottfreidhof]

You will want more than one bluebird nest box Bobeteb. With just one box, the bluebirds will probably lose the battle to tree swallows or house sparrows. My yard is just shy of one acre in size and I have 5 bluebird boxes plus the three martin gourd racks. Once I remove about 5 or 6 house sparrows each spring, my boxes fill up with three pairs of tree swallows and one to two pairs of bluebirds. Multiple boxes helps to reduce competition and it is much easier to trap a house sparrow in a bluebird nest box.

[clivia98]

I had a pair of bluebirds nesting about 50 feet from my martins. No problem at all. In fact they had 3 successful nest cycles with 13 chicks fledging. And now a pair has already visited. I expect they will nest in the box this spring. But I am interested in what scottfreindhof mentioned in his post because I would like to put up another bluebird nest box about 100 feet from the one I have now but I have read that 100 feet is too close and that bluebirds do not like to nest close to one another. Bluebird sites state that a minimum of 100 yards is recommended. Any thoughts?

[daveh]

I think a 100 yds is still recommended between bluebird boxes. Sometimes that distance on my trail is not far enough. Distances left then 100 yds sometimes work if there is an obstruction between boxes like trees or a house, something that keeps the birds from eyeing each box. Some places on my trails I'll place 2 boxes next to each other, maybe 30 ft between them. Bluebirds will use one box and tree swallows will use the other. Works pretty good around my pond.

Dave

[TheSmiths]

Have read over the "tree swallow protocol" in case you encounter any problems? https://www.purplemartin.org/uploads/me ... cy-377.pdf

The bluebirds haven't caused problems though they occasionally roost in the gourds in late winter/early spring if we don't have the entrances blocked. The first-year martins, however, have to be taught that though they allow the bluebirds to perch on their housing they should absolutely not expect to receive the same hospitality from the bluebirds. Nope. Not going to happen.

Thanks for the responses to my concern with the BBs living next to the martins,you made me feel better about that, now i have see how it will go with the wrens and sparrows.I do trap lot of sparrows but not sure what to do if the wrens want the house.

Give the house wrens a box or two of their own near a brushy/treed area which is their preferred habitat. I'm sure some have encountered a wren who goes against the norm but wrens often only choose housing that is out in the open because they haven't found something more suitable.

Distances left then 100 yds sometimes work if there is an obstruction between boxes like trees or a house, something that keeps the birds from eyeing each box. Some places on my trails I'll place 2 boxes next to each other, maybe 30 ft between them. Bluebirds will use one box and tree swallows will use the other. Works pretty good around my pond.
Dave

I've also seen boxes work closer together when, as Dave mentioned, there is an obstruction. This summer our first pair of bluebirds fledged one brood and was beginning to lay their second clutch when another pair of bluebirds moved into a box ~120 away and in their direct line of sight. I observed both pair quite a bit and they didn't seem concerned by one another. Their territories appeared to be in opposite directions, something they may have worked out sometime prior to my observations. FYI: The boxes were close because one was intended for tree swallows (were they to ever grace us with their presence). The first pair of bluebirds decided they liked the swallow box best over all the alternatives they had available.

[Chris B]

While I have lotsa BB in the early spring, and all year, they have not taken to any of the houses I have put up for them. No problem though as the TS are happy for the cavity.