Where and how should I locate a bluebird nest box?
Ideally, nest boxes should be mounted on a smooth metal pole. Such as a fence post, pipe, or electrical conduit. The boxes should be at least 50 feet from nearby trees and shrubs, and 200 feet if house wrens are likely to compete for the nest site. Bluebird boxes should be placed at 300-foot intervals or greater. If possible, obscure the nest boxes from each other by distance, a small hill, an obstruction or other barrier. If tree swallows are using your boxes another bluebird nest box may be paired with the other and spaced at least 10 to 25 feet apart. The nest box should be no higher than is convenient to monitor and maintain the box. Bluebirds will tolerate nest boxes mounted as high as 15 feet or as low as 3 feet above the ground. Boxes that are mounted less than 4 to 5 feet above the ground will become more accessible to ground dwelling predators. The opening of the nest box should be directed away from prevailing winds to prevent rain from blowing in. The direction of the openin
