Gift Idea 4- Bluebird House- a good one!

Give them bluebirds... well, at least a decent house that's NABS Approved!

In a birder's world, there's not a whole lot that compares to watching the nest process, fledge and journey for a new family of bluebirds.

Because they actually have 2-3 clutches per season, older siblings will offer their services to help mom & dad raise the youngin's. It's probably one of the coolest things to witness.

At first, folks may be hesitant to monitor a bluebird house for fear of scaring the birds off. But it's not the case! So long as one learns the habits of their blues, avoids nest checks at dawn or dusk, and most importantly to steer clear a few days prior to fledge time, the birds really don't mind much. Oh yeah... knock first, always knock first!


So who is NABS and why do they have approved boxes? The North American Bluebird Society actually recommends and strongly encourages monitoring nest boxes, the main reason being that it helps the birds thrive. Being aware of predators and/or other mishaps gives your blues a better shot at successful fledges.

For this reason, a bluebird house with front- or side door opening is preferred because they're easy to monitor.

One exception might be the Gilbertson Nest Box which is also very easy to monitor. Also NABS approved, though unlike a traditional bluebird house, it operates in a different fashion.

Another great option is vinyl because it's mold and bacteria resistant, and unlike wood, PVC/Vinyl material lasts a lifetime. This front-door bluebird abode features a copper roof and other amenities blues will surely dig!