Customer Reviews

Coveside Sparrow-Resistant Bluebird House

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I highly recommend educating yourself with this website or The Bluebird Monitor's Guide from Cornell before buying a bluebird box. This box is one option, with which I am currently having success. But there are lots of other choices, some also made by Coveside and available on amazon. I have a family of bluebirds doing well and about ready to fledge in my box. But I made quite a few mistakes before learning the ropes and would do it differently if I had it to do over again. I previously rated this three stars due to the difficulty mounting it to a tree, only to learn that a tree is not the best place to mount a bluebird box (too accessible to predators). There are also quite a few independent "garage" manufacturers of bluebird houses out there who make great boxes, and it's fun to try different styles. The website I reference has links to those builders, and a wealth of information on how to attract and take care of bluebirds and other cavity nesters (like tree swallows).

My neighbor was having a heck of a time with house sparrows taking over his bluebird house. A couple of weeks back, I talked to him while he was hiding behind his bushes with a BB gun just waiting for the darn things to show up yet again. At the time, I didn't even realize that 1) house sparrows are nasty pests and 2) regular bluebird houses don't keep them out. After doing some research on the web, I found this Coveside Sparrow-Resistant Bluebird House and recommended it to him. He bought it and installed it on the pole he was using for the old house (because it was mounted on a pole, he used screws through clamps coming in from the outside, so he didn't have the mounting problem mentioned by the other reviewer). The bluebirds immediately moved in and the house sparrows have kept their distance. He's VERY happy with this bird house and so are the bluebirds. I've never mounted a birdhouse against a tree, so I can't give an opinion about that method. But, if you're mounting your birdhouse on a pole, I rate this house at an Excellent 5 stars out of 5 and highly recommend it.

Length:: 1:30 Mins

These houses have been so effective at attracting Bluebirds (and Tree Swallows) that I have now purchased and posted 4 of them,
and given 2 away as gifts. While I am sure everyone's experience is different, I will say that the people who put this box up, did
not have success (or get the "right" birds) need to be patient.

I also got The Bluebird Book (Stokes) here on amazon, and one tip in particular has been amazingly accurate...despite everything else
you hear from "experts" the fact is that you CAN mount these boxes near your house (we have 2 sets of 2 about 50 yards apart on our
backyard fence) and that BOTH bluebirds and tree swallows can move into houses that are less than 5 feet apart. [This is happening
right now 5-19-11]

They do not fight, and actually seem to protect each other from "shoppers" like sparrows.

Further, the sparrows that have even attempted to inhabit these houses have given up in short order. In 2 years of having these boxes
up (and we live in a totally suburban area) we have had only tree swallows and bluebirds....good luck!

This product arrived promptly and was very well made. It included useful information about bluebird nesting habits. Unfortunately, the morning after I installed the box on a post outside my house, a male sparrow decided to lay claim to the house. This guy spent weeks trying to lure a female to move in with him, but to no avail, in spite of an abundance of sparrows in the neighborhood. After about 3 weeks a pair of bluebirds took an interest in the house. They built a nest, ignoring loud protests by the male sparrow. Recently, it appears that the bluebirds have given up. Continuous chattering and aerial attacks by the sparrow seems to have been too much. I am impressed that the bluebird pair liked this house while female sparrows steered clear. Now, if I can find a way to deal with those moronic males...

I have had the box for 2 years now. Nice box, but the house sparrows go back to it time and time again. I remove the nest materials while they build and they build again. I made the box more shallow with the block of wood given. I also removed the perch. It doesn't matter. The sparrows call it home.

I installed it and within 15 minutes, the sparrows were building their nest in it, even with the wooden inserts in place, to raise the floor. So, save your money. I'll be doing some more research to try to keep these pests out, after they have just raided the blue birds nest in my old blue bird house.

A well-constructed, properly dimensioned Bluebird house. It was a gift for my Mom, who can't wait for spring to see if the Bluebirds agree!