I. Place houses at least 300 feet apart, because bluebirds are territorial.
II. Keep the bluebird houses in open habitat. It’s the environment they prefer.
III. Control the house sparrow or it will eliminate the bluebird.
IV. Add a second bluebird house 21 feet (7 paces) from the first house. This will allow the valuable tree swallow to also nest on your bluebird trail.
V. Control the most threatening parasite, the blowfly larva. If you don’t, you may end up fledging very few, if any, baby bluebirds.
VI. Attach a predator guard to your bluebird houses. This will protect the bluebirds from their predators and other enemies.
VII. Avoid handling the bluebird and/or tree swallow nestlings after they are 14 days or older. They may fledge prematurely, which could cause their death.
VIII. Monitor your bluebird trail at least once every week.
IX. Remove the old bluebird nests on your first nest check after the young have fledged.
X. Keep accurate field records. This is the first step toward achieving greater success on your bluebird trail.
1995 Andrew M. Troyer
“BRING BACK THE BLUEBIRDS”