Welcome to the 786th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a great weekend! Many, many years ago when my son was in elementary school, I worked at the Chattahoochee Nature Center as a volunteer. Back then, on weekends during the month of October, the Nature Center would host educational Halloween Hikes through the woods that surround the nature center. The hikes also ran out the boardwalk that runs alongside and out over portions of the Chattahoochee River. During the hikes, the children (and adults) would come across costumed woodland creatures (river creatures on the boardwalk) who would share information about themselves. One year I was a bat in the woods, another year I was a beaver on the boardwalk. Ha! I just checked and it appears that the hikes are still taking place each October—read more about those here: Halloween Hikes.
Throughout the rest of the year, I volunteered in the Nature Center Gift Shop each week. It was around that time that I really became interested in learning more about birds. From the Gift Shop, I purchased some great birding books that I still use today to identify the birds I see coming to my feeders. A favorite of mine that I purchased back then is the Peterson Field Guide to Birds. Because of how the book is laid out, it makes it really easy to identify the birds I see coming to my feeders or nesting in my yard.
During the time I was working in the gift shop, I purchased a bluebird birdhouse in hopes of attracting bluebirds to my yard. At that time, there was a real push to help the bluebirds whose numbers were waning every year. I remember a lot of bluebird houses were being put up along golf courses and those efforts back then really helped and their numbers began to increase. I hope that is still the case. I think this may be my second bluebird house, seems like I remember the one I purchased from the Nature Center Gift Shop didn’t have a metal predator guard around the opening into the house. In any case, this one has seen better days for sure. It’s starting to look pretty rough after being here in the elements for so many years.
It has deteriorated quite a bit, although I still see the bluebirds nest in it each year.
A few months back I purchased a new house with plans to replace the old one before nesting season. The birds in my yard are definitely more active lately, I think they know spring is just around the corner. So yesterday I removed the old birdhouse and installed the new one. There was still an old nest in the house from last year.
I ran into a little problem while installing the mounting plate for the birdhouse, the screws that came with the house were way too long. I ended up using the original screws that had come with the mounting plate, but even those were a teensy bit too long and just barely protruded into the back of the house.
Hard to see, but here’s a close-up of the tip of one of the nails that was sticking out into the house.
Several weeks ago I ordered a set of Dewalt cutting pliers to replace some old pliers that I’ve had for many years that stick badly and are difficult to use. It took a couple of weeks for the new pliers to arrive but they arrived a few days ago, just in the nick of time.
I removed the screws and snipped off the very tip of each one with a pair of my new cutting pliers. I seriously LOVE these pliers—they were worth the wait! (Cutting pliers are available here: DeWalt Pliers/Wire Cutters, 3-Pack.)
Even though a nest will most likely cover that area, I didn’t want to risk a bird bumping into a screw tip and getting scratched.
Now the back of the nesting box is nice and smooth.
The new bluebird house is up and ready for its first residents. Sometimes that turns out to be chick-a-dees if they happen to beat the bluebirds to it, but usually, it’s bluebirds that move in. lol
I wonder if the bluebirds will nest here this year or if it will feel too new to them. I’ll have to wait and see. The house is made of cedar and doesn’t seem to have any smell that I noticed, so hopefully the birds will love their new digs this spring.
The bluebirds who visit my yard also love nesting in the two dovecotes I have in my front yard. I had to replace this one a while back after a woodpecker destroyed the wood roof two different times. Argh.
Do you see Mrs. Bluebird sitting on her front porch, waiting for Mr. Bluebird to bring home the bacon, uh, I mean mealworms? They love dovecotes, which reminds me, I need to clean those out so they’ll be ready for nesting this year. (Dovecote is available here: Dovecote Birdhouse. I really like the pretty scalloped roof design of the new dovecotes! Here’s one more design to consider: Dovecote Birdhouse. I like it, too!)
Every spring I put out fresh mealworms for the birds. So many birds love them, not just bluebirds.
Mr. Bluebird heading back to the nest with dinner.
Bluebirds meeting for lunch…
If you would like to put up a bluebird house this spring, the house I purchased is available here: Cedar Bird House. I know your backyard birds would appreciate the help! 🐦 Update: I found this information online about what size birdhouse is best for the the types of bluebirds (and other birds) that like to nest in this style of house.
My house is on a 15-square-inch floor since we have Eastern Bluebirds here.
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Metamorphosis Monday: Metamorphosis Monday is a party that’s all about Before and Afters. Please link up your Before and After projects like DIY projects, room makeovers, craft projects even recipes. Please do not link up Table Settings, save those for our Tablescape Thursday party on Thursday. If you are participating in Met Monday, you’ll need to link your post to the party using the “permalink” to your MM post and not your general blog address. To get your permalink, click on the name of your post, then copy and paste the address that shows in the address bar at the top of your blog, into the “url” box for InLinkz when prompted.
This party has ended, click button below for the links to all who participated.
I love that you get bluebirds consistently, so does my sister. You have some awesome photos of them. I like the new real estate development (and the tools!). Th bluebirds are bound to love it too.
lol Thanks, Rita! Yes, the bluebirds are moving on up, going to be living in high style this spring. 😉
Perfect! You did all the “leg work!” Four bluebird houses ordered! TY!! franki
Oh, you are going to have some very happy birds soon, Franki! I would love to see them once you have them up!
Such a handsome bird house. Which reminds me I need to get one of these, as we have several bluebirds around here. Have a great week!
They would love it, Debra! Thanks, hope you have an awesome week, too!
It’s so important to take care of the birds and the bees. Your new birdhouse looks nice, I hope the birds love it! Great photos, thanks Susan!
Thanks, Jenna! I love helping when I can. Birds are such a wonderful blessing, I love hearing them sing so much!
Merlin has an app that will identify the birds in your area. I have it installed on my phone and was quite surprised of the variety of birds here.
Very cool! I think I have one on my iPad, too. I need to check.
Your birdhouses are so cute! And thanks for the links. We’ve been thinking about getting one for quite a while. I don’t know how many bluebirds we have in our area, but it’s definitely worth putting one up as an invitation! 🙂 Thanks so much for hosting the party – Happy Monday!
Thanks so much, Barbara! If you put up a house and put dried mealworms a few times a week, they will find you! 🙂
I need a new birdbath. I leave things in the yard for the birds to build a nest. My mother loved to sew and we would put leftover threads in the yard. I put leftover floral excelsior and bits and pieces birds will take to build a nest. We have hawks in the area, so I have to be careful where I feed birds.
Love that, Myrna! Last year I purchased some nest building materials online and stuffed them in a suet holder. I think they were used since I kept seeing pieces pull part way out of the feeder. I put it back out again a few days ago. If I still had a cat, I would brush him and save the fur. Some birds love using animal fur in their nests.
I know what you mean, I have Hawks that visit too. I can always tell when they are hanging out in my backyard trees scoping out the chipmunks that eat the seed that has fallen from the feeder because the birds all vanish and are sometimes no where to be found for days. Eventually, the hawk does move on, though.
Susan,
Great birdhouse!!
Thanks so much for hosting this lovely party!! I really appreciate the time and effort that goes into it along with visiting all the links!! I hope you are having a great week!! And thanks for providing so much inspiration!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
Thanks!
Have an awesome week/weekend, Deb!
XXX
Bummer, condo provides no place for a birdhouse but what great, amazing photos you’ve taken!
Thanks, Mia! I hope you get to enjoy them in the nearby park.
We love our bluebirds and chicadees and just yesterday my hubs put out a bunch of mealworms and the robins went nuts – I am afraid they left none for those beautiful bluebirds.
We have a few houses – I forget which nasty bird always shoots them out of their own house – is it starlings? (Starlings are obnoxious nasty birds.)
May need to put that birdhouse on my Mother’s Day wish list. Thx, Susan. Hope it goes well for you!
Oh, those robins do love them! My chickadees and titmouse love them, too.
I know. I’ve heard that house sparrows do that, too. I would be so upset if I witnessed that! 🙁
Loved seeing your blue bird home update!
Thanks, Linda!
XXX
How precious! I love that awesome “electric blue”, they are so beautiful.
Some years back, my husband made two birdhouses that go on our front pickets. Sometime the blubirds get their first and other times the chickadees, who I also love.
I sit on my front porch swing and watch them make their endless trips back and forth. What a delight!