Do blue birds and swallows share nest boxes.

[jimmy1]

We ahve always had three nest boxes out, one occupied each year by blue birds and the other two by tree swallows. Last winter I made up five more and placed them around the yard in the hope of attracting more blue birds.

This spring blue birds came around checking things out and it looked very promising but in the end all the boxes were taken over by the swallows, so I assumed the blue birds moved on. last evening there was a blue bird in the bird bath then later I saw one fly from one of the nest boxes. Then this morning on my way out the driveway to work I spotted blue birds coming from another box that had been occupied by swallows in the spring.

Does anyone know if this is a normal occurance? Are blue birds late nesters? do swallows only nest once?

Thanks in advance
Jim

 

[rcaretti]

I've read that if you have a lot of swallows, you need to group two boxes close to each other. The swallows won't let another swallow next next to them, but don't mind having a bluebird as a neighbor.

I know in my area Bluebirds will try (at least) a second nesting, so that's probably what you are seeing now. If you haven't done so, you should remove old nesting material from the earlier used nests (if they haven't been taken over by a new owner already).

I've had a few feral cat problems in my area, and have had sucess with Noel predator guards, which you can easily make yourself if you have cat or raccoon problems.

 

[DieselPower]

Sounds normal for me to. One day I look out and see swallows in a box, the next it's blue birds. They seem to flip flop back and forth until their pick one and stick with it. This year I have more blue birds than swallows.