Build a Bluebird Trail

Conservationists across North America are working to help protect and support bluebirds, and you can do your part by creating a bluebird trail. This is simply a series of nesting boxes (anywhere from a few to a few thousand) set about 300 feet apart along a prescribed route. Dale Gelfand tells you what you need to know about bluebirds and their habits, and she shows you how to create and monitor an effective bluebird trail with well-designed nesting boxes. Dale Evva Gelfand, author of Taking Time for Friends, is a freelance writer and photographer. A staunch believer in creating and preserving wildlife habitat, she has written other Storey titles that speak to her affinity for nature: Building Bat Houses, Grow a Hummingbird Garden, Creating Habitat for Backyard Birds, and Build a Bluebird Trail. She lives amid the Taconic hills of upstate New York. Introduction
A Little History
A Population on the Upswing
A Summer in the Life of a Bluebird
The Eastern Bluebird
The Mountain Bluebird
The Western Bluebird
Starting Your Bluebird Trail:
Where to Locate Nesting Boxes
When's the Right Time?
Why Monitor the Boxes?
How to Monitor
Identifying the Nests of Competitors
Choosing the Right Nesting-Box Design
Building a Bluebird Nesting Box
Guarding against Common Predators
Cultivate Patience and Good Humor
Resources Since the 1973 publication of Storey's first Country Wisdom Bulletin, our commitment to preserving the arts, crafts, and skills of country life has never wavered. We now have more than 200 titles in this series of 32-page publications, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.
Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins contain practical, hands-on instructions designed to help you master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. From traditional skills to the newest techniques, Storey's Bulletins provide a foundation of earth-friendly information for the way you want to live today.