Great Backyard Bird Count: Feb. 15-18, 2013

[Major Nikon]

20. Here's how I did mine

I went to the hardware store and got a 2' and 6' section of rigid steel pipe and a connector to connect the two. I drove the 2' section into the ground just below grade. the 6' section is attached to the bluebird house which I can remove pole and all when it's not nesting season. I just put a cap on the pipe that's in the ground. If you have any problems with ant or snake pests you can grease the pole. The house itself is designed to resist pests like racoons. It's also designed to open up so you can clean out nests between nestings and you can also inspect for the right eggs (bluebird eggs are blue, house sparrow eggs are brown). If I find a clutch of house sparrow eggs I just throw the nest out and keep it cleaned out for the next few days. This usually is enough to discourage the house sparrows, although on rare occasions they are persistent. If you get a pair of bluebirds, they will spend most of their time near the nest. One of them will quite often be perched on my wall, fence, or nearby tree overlooking the nest. So if you can position the nest strategically, you will have a prime spot for bluebird photography.