Bluebird Recovery Program

Conservation Guardians of Northwest Illinois


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Home • Birds • Bluebird Recovery Program

Winterize Those Nest Boxes

In Jo Daviess County bluebirds may not stray far in winter, if weather is not too severe.

Yet, birds need a cozy spot to get out of the worst of the weather, and nest boxes make a fine roost.

Have you seen the picture of 10-12 bluebirds huddled together in one box to stay warm at night during the winter?

What about all those big vent holes? Brrr! I have made the rounds of my bluebird trail and plugged all the slots and holes I could find.

Good ’ole duct tape if it’ll stick, cork, or little pieces of leftover carpet foam will work.

I even put dry fine grasses in the bottom of the box to make a soft sofa for them.

It’s still not too late – get out there on a nice day. You’ll sleep better, and so will the birds!

—	Grace Storch December 2006

Bluebird Recovery Program

The comeback from near extinction has been dramatic.

The following three species of North American Bluebirds, all members of the Thrush family, were in trouble:

The Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis

The Mountain Bluebird, Sialia currucoides

The Western Bluebird, Sialia mexicana

Why bluebirds need help

They've lost their habitat. Being a cavity nester, bluebirds acutely felt the highly aggressive competition of introduced European species, the European Starling and the House Sparrow (English Sparrow).

To add to the nesting woes, people cut down trees to make way for urban sprawl. In the country, farmers installed metal posts as replacement for old wooden fenceposts, which contained nesting cavities.

How people are helping bluebirds

With its gentle ways, beautiful song and colors of the sky, the bluebird won the heart of many people, who experimented with designs of nestboxes for them.

The eastern bluebird needs a hole exactly 1.5 inches in diameter, the other bluebird species slightly larger.

MONITORING, checking the boxes regularly to insure success, and HABITAT, the proper placing of the box, are the two most important factors in successful bluebirding.

People can provide nestboxes along country roads and in rural yards. Bluebirds prefer open areas with short grass — away from wooded and brushy areas which attract the people-friendly, but aggressive House Wren.

People must also consider other predators, such as house cats and raccoons. That's why it's a good idea to use predator guards on the nestbox poles.

Various designs of bluebird boxes offer varying levels of safety to bluebirds. You can obtain a box plan that provides optimal safety by contacting the Conservation Guardians or the North American Bluebird Society (NABS).

How people in Jo Daviess County are helping

The Natural Area Guardians began a Bluebird Recovery Program in 1991 with just 25 boxes. Since then, the number of bluebirders has expanded. Thanks to the efforts of many volunteers, the bluebird population in the county has increased significantly.

Our bluebird statistics, yearly from 1992.