SGG Bluebird Box

By Cheri Collins

December 13, 2016

Our first bluebird box was installed at Smith-Gilbert Gardens with the help of Jim Bearden, Board Member at Green Meadows Preserve and bluebird trail builder and box monitor there as well. Eastern bluebirds nest in open fields, in boxes that are about 6 feet off the ground. They need a lookout perch about 10 feet away from the nest box so they can make sure it’s safe before going to the nest box. And, they prefer the nest box opening, which should be 1 1/2 inches in diameter, to face east. Bluebirds will nest March through August, so hopefully we will have multiple nesting in this nest box.

  Garden Manager Lisa Bartlett, Education Assistant Cheri Collins, and Horticulture Technician Sam Porter

Garden Manager Lisa Bartlett, Jim Bearden, and Education Assistant Cheri Collins with our new Bluebird Box!

March 6, 2017

We saw both female and male bluebirds land on and go in the box today. Our bluebird box has a few strands of pine straw in it. Nest building begins.

March 13, 2017 

The nest looks to be about half completed. I think they are taking their time because of the colder weather. The female does the nest building and it can be completed as quickly as 4 or 5 days.

One of the bluebirds’ neighbors dropped by, a red-shouldered hawk. The hawk is sitting on the perch we installed for the bluebirds, which is about 10 feet in front of the nest box. We hope this neighbor will not impact the bluebirds’ choice to nest here.

March 20, 2017

A much more complete nest today. They may add some more pine straw or maybe there will be eggs next time.