Thanks for mentioning that sparrows ( in general) are invasive. Keeping them from taking over is very helpful to the native species. This is also true of many plant species. In Texas, you're having problems with the Chinese Tallow Tree, for example. There are many more and I hope that people become more aware and join in efforts to prevent invasives from causing more harm to native ecosystems.
Hey Austin, thanks for sharing some excellent conservation efforts. If you're okay with it I'd love to provide some feedback: Slot boxes keep birds cooler than hole entrances, so in hot climates this is a huge plus. Adding extra holes on the North having side can even keep it cooler if needed If you have scrub Jays or mockingbirds in your area, slot entrances can make it easier for these opportunistic predators to reach in and nab your eggs or babies. Some suggest making your slot boxes 2" deeper to help prevent this. Finally, if you have snakes, possoms or racoons in your area, when you mount your box on a wall, a wood post, or anything climbable, you're almost guaranteeing the death of baby bluebirds, and sometimes even the parents. That's why it's recommended you only place bluebird boxes on steel poles. In heavy predator areas, people will even add predator guards on the poles to prevent persistent predators. Keep up the great work!
Wow! This is a lot of great information. I am going to have to look into this and possibly even upgrade my current situation. Unfortunately my slot box doesn’t have bluebirds in it right now, so I am looking to see what all I can do to increase the chances. I made a couple for my sister and mom and they are having some good luck, but I am definitely going to look into your suggestions. Thanks again, Austin
@@AustinMakesVids To make it easier to mount, I just use two pipe brackets to screw into a block of wood. Slide the pole through and tighten. Then I screw the box right into the block of wood once the pole is up. So encouraging to see young people doing this?
@@annereynolds66 Not sure what size you are referencing, please clarify. Here’s a credible website that has dimensions for both hole and slot entrances. If you don’t have sparrows in your area, I’d go with a hole entrance as it has greater chance of fledgling success %. If you do have sparrows, and have a 1-9/16” hole, check out the bluebird mansion with two entrances. Best of luck! www.sialis.org/nestboxproscons.htm
@@jeffseeker4158 thank you , I was referring to the slot , hoping that that will deter house sparrows. We have a few house sparrows and I bought two of the traps you put on the bird houses for sparrows . Am just having a hard time trying to get them eliminated, have not brought myself to euthanize them
Hi Austin. I love the slot method for the bird house. I have never used it but I do have about 22 bluebird boxes around my property and their in use about all the time period I love the way you color coded your instructions and use a Cedar picket, I never thought of that. I will be replacing several of my old boxes and have discovered other ways by using a slave or rebar to put the condo it pop in and attaching the birdhouse and it makes the easy to attach predator guards.
I definitely will try this this year. My problem in the COlorado mountains are house wrens and tree swallows taking over blue bird nests. We'll see if a slot box is easier for a bluebird to defend. thanks.
Nice box, I would add to that fence post and bring it up to 5 ft to keep it more out of reach of predators. Metal flashing around the post will keep anything from being able to get a grip if attempting to climb.
I like your video and your slot box idea. I followed the link for the plans but charging for what I hear you say free plans? Has someone hijacked your website or am I going to the wrong site?
They like their boxes at least 7 feet off the ground. They want to be near a tree or limbs that the fledglings can fly to once they leave the nest. Also, I have had the best luck using three-quarter or 1 inch galvanized metal pipe in 10 foot lengths, and I use a flange that I attach to the bottom and screw it on top of the pipe. From what I found in my research, the best direction is to face the hole towards the east.
Now I have to buy a slot bird house. I have had mine on plumbing pipe and the flange is connected to the floor. I use flat nuts and bolts and then screw it onto the pipe. I put the pipe on rebar I hammered into the ground.
Two comments/questions: Exactly how does this design enhance the bluebirds ability to defend the house? It seems that you live in an environment that is not first choice for House Sparrows. 🤔
Simple a defensive tactic is if you can deter or prevent entry your home is more secured & therefore more defendable. This slot design is similar to the crescent or half circle for purple martins that as well deters sparrows.
@@AustinMakesVids thanks for taking the time to educate people. I wish people were more educated about sparrows. They are flooded with environment this and environment that but know nothing about things they can actually control! It is maddening that I live in a neighborhood that could be rich with bluebirds and swallows if only people knew this. Instead they have bird houses hanging on trees and fences stuffed with sparrow nests while I have to fight their offspring constantly to just try to get the bluebirds and tree swallows to stick around.
Actually it's the European house sparrow that gangs up on the bluebird adults and chasing them away from the nest while another one goes in and kills the babies then they leave. When the bluebird Mom and Dad come back see their babies are dead and abandoned in the nest. Then sparrows just build a nest right on top of the dead babies those are The sparrows you need to euthanize. If you see them building a nest get rid of it. Our native Sparrows are called the Tree Sparrow will not do that. So before you go on a get rid of every Sparrow you see spree The native tree Sparrows has a chestnut colored head and looks totally different from the European house sparrow which has a gray patch on its head and has gray streaks in its wings. fun facts about American Tree sparrows. 1) Europeans totally missed name them. 2) they eat, and nest on the ground they breed in shrubs or towards the tree tops. 3) they will not use a bird box 4) they hang out in large groups migrate up towards Northern Canada to breed. 5) They will winter only in the northern part of the United States 6) They will not come to the Southern part of the U.S. 7) American tree sparrows and bluebirds hardly ever mingle unless it's at a bird feeder. Hope you fine this information helpful. 🐦
Here is a direct link to the plans. The website got a little too expensive. drive.google.com/file/d/1b_ulgodO6kfTnCJgD0qgvSfmXcGjnZ4v/view?usp=drivesdk
You're not doing anything wrong dude. The birds like it, nuff said. You might consider covering the top with a piece of copper. Any metal will work to stop the direct sunlight from destroying the board but copper kills mold, mildew. Find it at the big box hardware cheap enough. Thin, used for wrapping framing boards in damp places like your crawl space. I have more birds come to my boxes with pretty copper on them. Nahh that's complete BS. lol
No it doesn't heat up. I have it on my bird boxes and beehives. It'll outlast anything else you can use. Cedar is better than most but it'll do all the better with some help. Radiation and UV light makes short work of any kind of wood facing up at the sun for a living.
I can't answer honestly. My tops are slanted and they try but slide off lol. I made a perch above them for that reason. Most of the time they fly straight to the opening but the males do seem to like to sit above the nest sometimes.
They can outside the box, but the sparrows trap the adults inside and peck them to death. I think that the theory on the mansion boxes is they have more room to fight off inside and can escape out the second hole
@@jeffseeker4158 I wish they sold the mansions somewhere.... it's a brilliant idea. Not sure why it isn't.taking off. I tried to build one but the bluebirds didn't use it. Swallows did though. Too heavy though.
@@jeffseeker4158 thanks I will check it out and build one. I built a couple of Peterson bluebird houses. Bluebirds check them out but never seem to nest there. Tree swallows always do. It's about 30 feet from my back deck I think that's the reason. Bluebirds tend to be more weary of human activity from what I've seen. I like tree swallows but I never have luck getting blue birds to nest.
@@jeffseeker4158 Update, first time in 20 years bluebirds have nested in my backyard. They settled in one of my Peterson BB houses and chicks about ready to fledge. Strange, I looked inside, seems extremely cramped, but whatever, they seem to like this birdhouse.
This design would not be suitable for colder climates like Sothern Canada/ Northern States. Cold spring weather is a great enemy of bluebirds and tree swallows...
![BRASIL vs. PERÚ [4-0] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 10](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tbyOJKXfQnI/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you for the bluebird house plans. Much appreciated.
You are welcome, I hope they work out for you!
I would have never thought of a slot. Now I need to remake my birdhouses.
Thanks for mentioning that sparrows ( in general) are invasive. Keeping them from taking over is very helpful to the native species. This is also true of many plant species. In Texas, you're having problems with the Chinese Tallow Tree, for example. There are many more and I hope that people become more aware and join in efforts to prevent invasives from causing more harm to native ecosystems.
Hey Austin, thanks for sharing some excellent conservation efforts.
If you're okay with it I'd love to provide some feedback:
Slot boxes keep birds cooler than hole entrances, so in hot climates this is a huge plus. Adding extra holes on the North having side can even keep it cooler if needed
If you have scrub Jays or mockingbirds in your area, slot entrances can make it easier for these opportunistic predators to reach in and nab your eggs or babies. Some suggest making your slot boxes 2" deeper to help prevent this.
Finally, if you have snakes, possoms or racoons in your area, when you mount your box on a wall, a wood post, or anything climbable, you're almost guaranteeing the death of baby bluebirds, and sometimes even the parents. That's why it's recommended you only place bluebird boxes on steel poles. In heavy predator areas, people will even add predator guards on the poles to prevent persistent predators.
Keep up the great work!
Wow! This is a lot of great information.
I am going to have to look into this and possibly even upgrade my current situation. Unfortunately my slot box doesn’t have bluebirds in it right now, so I am looking to see what all I can do to increase the chances. I made a couple for my sister and mom and they are having some good luck, but I am definitely going to look into your suggestions.
Thanks again,
Austin
@@AustinMakesVids To make it easier to mount, I just use two pipe brackets to screw into a block of wood. Slide the pole through and tighten. Then I screw the box right into the block of wood once the pole is up. So encouraging to see young people doing this?
What size do you use for slots , I want to convert the ones I have already
@@annereynolds66 Not sure what size you are referencing, please clarify. Here’s a credible website that has dimensions for both hole and slot entrances. If you don’t have sparrows in your area, I’d go with a hole entrance as it has greater chance of fledgling success %.
If you do have sparrows, and have a 1-9/16” hole, check out the bluebird mansion with two entrances.
Best of luck!
www.sialis.org/nestboxproscons.htm
@@jeffseeker4158 thank you , I was referring to the slot , hoping that that will deter house sparrows. We have a few house sparrows and I bought two of the traps you put on the bird houses for sparrows . Am just having a hard time trying to get them eliminated, have not brought myself to euthanize them
Thanks for the update, getting into pallet wood projects myself going to build a few of these.
It’s pretty relaxing just batching out a bunch of these. Pretty cheap too.
GET OTTA HERE SPARROWS! LOL I'm making sone of these for the 3 species of Grand Canyon blue birds. Thank you.
Hi Austin. I love the slot method for the bird house. I have never used it but I do have about 22 bluebird boxes around my property and their in use about all the time period I love the way you color coded your instructions and use a Cedar picket, I never thought of that. I will be replacing several of my old boxes and have discovered other ways by using a slave or rebar to put the condo it pop in and attaching the birdhouse and it makes the easy to attach predator guards.
I definitely will try this this year. My problem in the COlorado mountains are house wrens and tree swallows taking over blue bird nests. We'll see if a slot box is easier for a bluebird to defend. thanks.
Yellow finch towards the end. " Hey guys, what'sup?"
Nice box, I would add to that fence post and bring it up to 5 ft to keep it more out of reach of predators. Metal flashing around the post will keep anything from being able to get a grip if attempting to climb.
I like your video and your slot box idea. I followed the link for the plans but charging for what I hear you say free plans? Has someone hijacked your website or am I going to the wrong site?
How you get rid of house sparrows? I trap them and trim the wings and the hawks get them....iam planning on becaming a bird landlord
Since my neighbors began feeding the House Sparrows, they now own my property and every birdhouse on it. All in less than a year. 😩
They like their boxes at least 7 feet off the ground. They want to be near a tree or limbs that the fledglings can fly to once they leave the nest. Also, I have had the best luck using three-quarter or 1 inch galvanized metal pipe in 10 foot lengths, and I use a flange that I attach to the bottom and screw it on top of the pipe. From what I found in my research, the best direction is to face the hole towards the east.
I can’t find the free plans in your website, only a button to buy.
Thank you. Will try to make these. Wll look for your plans. Trying to keep the sparrows out of my blue bird box now.
Hope you found the plans easy to follow and had success building it!
sparrows will kill bluebirds. Thats one of the bad things. my friend had it happen to him. Maybe the slot could be the answer.
Now I have to buy a slot bird house. I have had mine on plumbing pipe and the flange is connected to the floor. I use flat nuts and bolts and then screw it onto the pipe. I put the pipe on rebar I hammered into the ground.
Have you tried a bluebird house with a skylight? I saw one built with a clear plastic cover over the skylight and it was supposed to deter sparrows.
Have yall ever made beehives plans and videos are on youtube
Do you have trouble with wrens? Wrens will use slots.
He means House Sparrows, which are native to Europe.
It says your download is $2 for the Blue Bird box but you said it was free?
Thank you!🐥🐤
amanda sue thanks for watching!
I tried to go to your website to get the plans but it is not working. You may want to check on that. Thanks for making the video.
This, after I purchased a special hole saw!
Cool!
*Go Longhorns!*
What area are you in?
What size is your slot?
Two comments/questions: Exactly how does this design enhance the bluebirds ability to defend the house? It seems that you live in an environment that is not first choice for House Sparrows. 🤔
Simple a defensive tactic is if you can deter or prevent entry your home is more secured & therefore more defendable. This slot design is similar to the crescent or half circle for purple martins that as well deters sparrows.
Should put on a pole so predators don't get in. Cats and snakes can sit on top.
Definitely will on my next one. Thanks for the tip!
@@AustinMakesVids thanks for taking the time to educate people. I wish people were more educated about sparrows. They are flooded with environment this and environment that but know nothing about things they can actually control! It is maddening that I live in a neighborhood that could be rich with bluebirds and swallows if only people knew this. Instead they have bird houses hanging on trees and fences stuffed with sparrow nests while I have to fight their offspring constantly to just try to get the bluebirds and tree swallows to stick around.
@@uhill74: Exactly! 😖
Giggum Aggies 👍
Is the slot 1.5 inch tall? Thanx
That's what most plans call for.
Actually it's the European house sparrow that gangs up on the bluebird adults and chasing them away from the nest while another one goes in and kills the babies then they leave. When the bluebird Mom and Dad come back see their babies are dead and abandoned in the nest. Then sparrows just build a nest right on top of the dead babies those are The sparrows you need to euthanize. If you see them building a nest get rid of it. Our native Sparrows are called the Tree Sparrow will not do that. So before you go on a get rid of every Sparrow you see spree The native tree Sparrows has a chestnut colored head and looks totally different from the European house sparrow which has a gray patch on its head and has gray streaks in its wings.
fun facts about American Tree sparrows.
1) Europeans totally missed name them.
2) they eat, and nest on the ground they breed in shrubs or towards the tree tops.
3) they will not use a bird box
4) they hang out in large groups migrate up towards Northern Canada to breed.
5) They will winter only in the northern part of the United States
6) They will not come to the Southern part of the U.S.
7) American tree sparrows and bluebirds hardly ever mingle unless it's at a bird feeder.
Hope you fine this information helpful. 🐦
How big is the slot?
Would be 1 1/8"
Can the birds withstand the summer heat living in a birdhouse installed in an open place?
Yes. Especially with a large entry slot like that which is way more ventilated than most birdhouses.
bird's body temp is 102-109 degrees F so they withstand higher temps. Bluebirds prefer a box in the open, over one in the shade.
@@ureasmith3049: The entry slot offers only as much ventilation as the exit ventilation (holes or slots) allow. 🤨
did you change web address?
Here is a direct link to the plans. The website got a little too expensive. drive.google.com/file/d/1b_ulgodO6kfTnCJgD0qgvSfmXcGjnZ4v/view?usp=drivesdk
You're not doing anything wrong dude. The birds like it, nuff said. You might consider covering the top with a piece of copper. Any metal will work to stop the direct sunlight from destroying the board but copper kills mold, mildew. Find it at the big box hardware cheap enough. Thin, used for wrapping framing boards in damp places like your crawl space.
I have more birds come to my boxes with pretty copper on them. Nahh that's complete BS. lol
if it is Cedar then you will probably be pushing Daises before it needs to be replaced...
No it doesn't heat up. I have it on my bird boxes and beehives. It'll outlast anything else you can use. Cedar is better than most but it'll do all the better with some help. Radiation and UV light makes short work of any kind of wood facing up at the sun for a living.
I can't answer honestly. My tops are slanted and they try but slide off lol. I made a perch above them for that reason. Most of the time they fly straight to the opening but the males do seem to like to sit above the nest sometimes.
bluebirds can't defend themselves against sparrows.
Not true. Google bluebird mansion box. Did a 100 box study and proved they can thrive given the proper set up, even in heavy hosp populations
They can outside the box, but the sparrows trap the adults inside and peck them to death. I think that the theory on the mansion boxes is they have more room to fight off inside and can escape out the second hole
@@jeffseeker4158 I wish they sold the mansions somewhere.... it's a brilliant idea. Not sure why it isn't.taking off. I tried to build one but the bluebirds didn't use it. Swallows did though. Too heavy though.
@@jeffseeker4158 thanks I will check it out and build one. I built a couple of Peterson bluebird houses. Bluebirds check them out but never seem to nest there. Tree swallows always do. It's about 30 feet from my back deck I think that's the reason. Bluebirds tend to be more weary of human activity from what I've seen. I like tree swallows but I never have luck getting blue birds to nest.
@@jeffseeker4158 Update, first time in 20 years bluebirds have nested in my backyard. They settled in one of my Peterson BB houses and chicks about ready to fledge. Strange, I looked inside, seems extremely cramped, but whatever, they seem to like this birdhouse.
What no house sparrow bodies laying about. How disappointing.
This design would not be suitable for colder climates like Sothern Canada/ Northern States. Cold spring weather is a great enemy of bluebirds and tree swallows...
Whats the size of the hole
Takes an Aggie to make a better bird house.
Gig 'em!
Native? Bluebirds are native to what? 😀
To Texas
Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky...
North America
And we have Western Bluebirds on the west coast :-)
Florida