Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!world!rmura From: rmura@world.std.com (Ron Mura) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: Re: Bluebirds in N.E. Message-ID: Date: 1 Apr 91 17:45:29 GMT References: <1137@nih-csl.nih.gov> Sender: rmura@world.std.com (Ron Mura) Organization: The World Lines: 25 In-Reply-To: foley@helix.nih.gov's message of 29 Mar 91 14: 37:43 GMT In article <1137@nih-csl.nih.gov> foley@helix.nih.gov (Charles K. Foley) writes: > By the way, can anyone give me the optimum dimensions for a bluebird > house? The one I built may be a little small: > > 5 1/2" x 4 1/2" floor, > > Box height is 9" at back, sloping to > ~7.5" in front. > > The center of the 1.25" diameter hole is > 5.5" from the floor. Typical dimensions have a 1.5" hole. Some people say 1 3/8" allows bluebirds to use the box but not starlings, so they use that size. The 1 3/8" hole works for Eastern Bluebirds and one other species (I can't remember if it is Western or Mountain). The third species is slightly larger and cannot get in the 1 3/8" hole. Yesterday two bluebirds checked out the boxes in our backyard (in Natick, Mass.) for about 20 minutes before moving on. That was a first-time-ever for our yard, although it is fairly common to see a pair at the nearby Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. -- - Ron Mura, Boston, Mass. rmura@world.std.com