Getting Started

Before taking your first step, you must decide how involved you want to become. Many people want to just enjoy bluebirds in their backyard, and to increase the chances of this happening, we encourage you to install a nest box.  For those who want to become a little more involved, we invite you to become a monitor of a bluebird trail. In either case, please read further.

   Becoming a Bluebird Monitor

We encourage you to become a bluebird monitor. It is very rewarding to get so close to bluebirds and it will help maintain and expand the bluebird population in California. Becoming a bluebird monitor is fairly easy and does not require much of your time during the nesting season. The first step is to contact an SCBC member closest to where you live who can help you get started. See the list of SCBC area coordinators in Contact Us.

An initial briefing will take about 30 minutes and will cover the following:

· Learning how to install and retrieve a nest box

· Reviewing the major steps in monitoring

· Reviewing the form for recording weekly activities

· Reporting year-end totals

 

There are two major items of monitoring equipment needed:

· Purvis Lifter – a lifter will be provided by the SCBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

· Expandable Pool Pole – any expandable type of pool pole will suffice as long as it expands to 16” feet. They can be purchased from most home improvement stores or pool cleaning stores for about $25. Google “pool poles” to find pole selections.

Do you want to learn more about bluebirds? There are two books we recommend to add to your library:

The Bluebird Monitor's Guide - This book is co-published by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the North American Bluebird Society and filled with information about bluebirds and other cavity nesters. There are hundreds of full color photographs and the photography is superb.

The book is divided into five sections. The first section is an introduction to bluebirds and describes how to attract them. Section 2 explains the importance of monitoring and provides excellent tips including nesting timelines. Section 3 describes nestbox trails and how to create and monitor them. There is even a section on an avid bluebirder from Yorba Linda, Linda Violett, and a photo of Linda with her ‘two-holed’ mansion box and a Purvis lifter. Section 4 contains lots of advice and explains what to do when problems arise. Section 5 explores nestboxes and hardware.

Dick Purvis contributed to this book and he is mentioned in several places. You can purchase the book at most book stores.
Children's Bluebird Activity Book - Bluebird groups across North America have wanted a good resource to use when educating school-age children. Mountain Bluebird Trail's (MBT)  Children's Bluebird Activity Book  was created with that purpose in mind. The printed version is 8-1/2" x 11" and is written for the 4th-grade and higher level. It provides 52 pages of facts, stories, quizzes, puzzles, pictures, pictures to color so parents, grandparents, teachers and other youth leaders can use it as a valuable tool when working with grade school-age children. You can view the book on the MBT website at mountainbluebirdtrails.com or use their order form.  The club has a limited number available for sale or presentation to schools and clubs.

   Recommended Reading

  Nestbox Plans

If you desire to build your own nestbox, we can help. The SCBC has developed plans to guide you. To see a detailed drawing, click on SCBC Nestbox Plans.. To see a 3D view click on 3D view

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BLUEBIRD CLUB

A Project of the International Humanities Center

         Protecting Bluebirds and Other Cavity Nesters in Southern California

CAUTION

Western Bluebirds have a few predators in southern California, but the most damaging is the House Sparrow, formerly called English Sparrow. These non-native birds are cavity-nesters as well and may peck holes in bluebird eggs, kill nestlings and adults, or totally take over a nest box with their own nestling material. One attraction for sparrows is a seed-feeder that many people have in their backyards. These feeders allow sparrows to feel comfortable in your yard and thus they become a built-in peril for bluebirds trying to nest. If you plan to install a nest box for bluebirds, we strongly suggest you remove any seed-feeders – Nyger feeders are OK.

Another predator is the house cat. It is not unusual to see young  fledglings fall to the ground when they try to fly. With all the feeding activity going on during this time, cats may be watching and ready to pounce on the vulnerable baby bluebirds. Try to keep pet cats under control during this period.

Because bluebirds are cavity-nesters, we encourage you to use a nestbox that meets certain dimensional criteria that has been designed by the Southern California Bluebird Club (SCBC). The next decision is whether to make your own nestbox or obtain one from the SCBC.

· Making Your Own Nest box – See Nest box Plans below.

·  Obtaining a Nest box – If you do not have the tools or desire to build your own nestbox, contact Sully Reallon at (949) 496-9618 or via email at hippolyte@cox.net.

Installing a Nest box At Home

   Monitoring Equipment