The Great Outsmores

With the arrival of another bluebird nesting season, Georgians can help these brilliantly plumaged birds find the perfect home, according to the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. Bluebirds, a beloved symbol of happiness, have charmed generations with their cheerful song, their beauty and even their fondness for nesting boxes.

The birds once depended on naturally occurring cavities and abandoned woodpecker homes in snags for nesting. But because of a shortage in these cavities, a lack that has affected other cavity nesters as well, bluebirds have largely become dependent on humans for nesting sites.

“This is an excellent time to start putting up bluebird boxes because eastern bluebirds are already looking for nesting sites in Georgia,” said Jim Ozier, a program manager with Wildlife Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section.

The Wildlife Resources Division Web site (www.georgiawildlife.com) has information on building and erecting bluebird boxes, complete with diagram instructions for the traditional round-hole box and the slot box (including the Gilwood nest box).

“Research has shown that the slot box design is very well accepted by bluebirds,” Ozier said. “We have also found that they work well at sites where people are having problems with house sparrows, an introduced species that may compete with other cavity-nesting birds.”

The design of the slot box allows for more sunlight to enter, making this type of box less suited for house sparrows.

Place bluebird boxes in open habitats with sparse trees and low vegetation, such as old fields, pastures and orchards. Many bluebird nest box efforts fail because boxes are put in shrubby and forested sites. When possible, mount the boxes on metal poles or sunlight-resistant PVC pipes equipped with predator guards.

“If you feel you may not have enough open space in your yard, go ahead and put up a box anyway because you may encourage other cavity nesters such as the Carolina chickadee or tufted titmouse to take up residence in your newly erected home,” Ozier said.

Georgians can support conservation projects for migrating hummingbirds and other nongame wildlife through buying a wildlife license plate featuring a bald eagle or a ruby-throated hummingbird. They can also donate to the “Give Wildlife a Chance” state income tax checkoff. Sales of the wildlife plates are the main source of funding for the Nongame Conservation Section.

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