Bluebird Boxes

City Council Names Eastern Bluebird as Official City Bird

Following a citizen request to name the Eastern Bluebird as the official bird of the City of Crossville, the Crossville City Council unanimously voted to approve the request. Non-native bird species contributed to the decline of the bluebird, however, measures taken in the 1960’s, that included providing nesting boxes specifically built for the bluebird, have allowed the population to grow. For more information about the Eastern Bluebird, visit the Tennessee Bluebird Society.

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Advantages of this type Bluebird house

Bluebird Society approved design
Proper size box to encourage Bluebirds
1 ½ inch opening excludes Starlings
Double thick entrance hole may discourage raccoons from reaching in.
No perch discourages House Sparrows.
Side opening for cleaning and observation
Screen inside front so babies can climb out
Ventilation at top and bottom
Drip groove on underside of roof so rain drips out, not in.

Bluebird House Assembly

Tools and supplies you will need

Power drill
Power screwdriver or standard Phillips screwdriver.
#6 (3/32” pilot) countersink drill bit.
#6 x 1 inch Philips head zinc flat head screws (13 per birdhouse)
#6 x 1 ½ inch Phillips head zinc flat head screws (6 per house)
3/4 inch flat head deck screws for left side. (1 per house)
¼ hardware cloth (screen) approximate 2 x 3 inch per house.
Knife or router or dremel tool for cutting grove on underside of roof.

Assembly instructions.

For purposes of this instruction the right side of the box is the right side when facing the front of the box. The side of the box that opens for cleaning and viewing is the left side.
Staple 2 x 3 inch piece of ¼ inch hardware cloth on the inside of the front panel just below the hole to allow footing for babies to get out of the box. You could cut shallow groves into that area with a knife or dremel tool for the same purpose, but there must be something for the babies to grip to get out of the box.
With a router or a knife cut a shallow grove on the underside of the roof about ¼ inch from the edge all the way around. The is a drip line so rain that wraps around under the roof will hit this grove and drop down rather than go to the inside of the box and soak the babies.
Place the two sides on edge on the workbench with the shorter sides up.
Balance the front in place on top with the sloped edge facing you.
Align the bottom of the front with the bottom of the right side.
With the countersink drill bit make three holes along the right edge of the front to make screw holes into the narrow edge of the right side.
Fasten front to right side with three #6 x 1 inch flat head Phillips head screws.
The right side of the box and the front are now connected
Now, turn the front of the box face down on workbench and balance the back on the right side and the still unconnected left side. Since the box is upside down, the left side is now on the right.
Align the back so that it is approximately ¼ inch above the sides, the same distance as the front is above the sides. Since the back is longer than the front or the sides, it will extend well below the front and the two sides.
While holding the back in place, drill three countersunk holes down the left side and secure the back to the right side (the side that is already connected to the front) with three #6 x 1 inch Phillips head screws.
You now have the front, the right side, and the back connected.
Next, place the bottom in place about ¼ inch above the bottom of the front and side panels. Drill countersunk holes to match up with the edge of the bottom in the middle of the front, right side, and back panels and secure the bottom with screws.
At this point, the front, right side, back, and floor or the box are in place.
Next, lay the box on its right side and align the left side in place with the bottom of the front panel.
Lay a square along the back and mark the location of the pivot screws that will go through the front and back panels into the edge of the left side to allow the left side to pivot open.
Drill the countersunk holes through the front and back panels into the left side and secure the side with 2 #6 1 ½ in Phillips head screws.
Make sure the left side swings up and open freely.
Countersink a hole in the middle of the left side panel into the edge of the floor and secure with a 1 ½ inch decking screw. I use a decking screw because it screws in and out faster when opening the box. Also the black screw easily identifies the side that opens.
Next lay the roof upside down on the workbench and place the box upside down on the roof and position it. The larger overhang should be in the front of the box to protect the hole from weather.
With a pencil, mark the corners of the box on the roof so that you can position it properly for drill holes and screws.
Place the box upright and the roof on top. You will have to peer under the roof to position it in line with the pencil marks. Countersink holes and secure the roof with 4 screws.
Next, place the box on the back and align the predator guard carefully to match the hole in the front panel exactly. Countersink drill and secure the guard in place with 4 screws.
No need to paint or stain the box.
Congratulations, you are done.

Pole and Mounting Instructions

Bluebirds like open areas with scattered trees.
If possible, face the hole to the box to the south or east away from prevailing winds. But if another direction lets you see the hole better, that is OK too.
Do not mount bluebird box on wooden post, tree, or side of building, etc. Predators will almost certainly get the eggs, babies, and mother if you do.
I like this mounting system. Drive a 4-5 foot section of ½ inch rebar about 2-3 feet into the ground. Then slide a 5-6 foot section of ¾ inch metal electrical conduit over the rebar. Press conduit into ground so that it won’t rotate in the wind. Mount box with U-brackets to pole.
I highly recommend the Predator Baffle system explained in the “Enjoying Bluebirds More” booklet available at Lowe’s or from Bird Watchers Digest to keep raccoons and snakes from preying on the eggs and babies.