In evaluating the quality of our nestboxes it is important to understand that these are functional items, not asthetic. Not that they don't look great outdoors. But, their primary objective is to provide the safest and most productive shelter possible for wild bluebirds. There's a reason we call them "nestboxes" and not birdhouses. It is a wildlife conservation product, not a decorative item.
NABS Compliance
The first thing to know about our Backroads Bluebird Nestboxes is that they are compliant with the very specific guidelines established by the North American Bluebird Society (NABS). The expert bluebird conservationists who have been involved with NABS over the years have done extensive research and study to determine the optimal design for a bluebird nest box. Of course the bluebirds themselves are not that picky. But, as bluebird conservationists, our goal is to maximize our rate of success, and every little improvement in nestbox design and monitoring procedures helps more bluebirds survive and thrive. So, what are these requirements?
The first thing to consider is the entrance to the nestbox. Bluebird conservationists have determined that the optimum diameter for the entrance to the nestbox is slightly different between the Eastern Bluebirds and the Westerns and Mountains. The right diameter for the Easterns is 1.5 inches. For the Western and Mountain Bluebirds, the best size is 1 & 9/16th inches. That's right, just 1/16th of an inch difference! This is the first reason why we categorize our nestboxes into Eastern boxes on the one side and Mountain and Western Boxes on the other. The entrance holes to our nestboxes are precisely the right size for the right species. You can't tell the difference in the pictures, but it's there.
The actual interior dimensions of the box also differ slightly between the Easterns and the Westerns and Mountains. Our Eastern nestboxes are 4 inches by 5.5 inches on the inside, while our Western and Mountain nestboxes are approximately 5.5 x 5.75 (these dimensions can vary slightly based on our wood supply). Mountain Bluebirds typically lay one more egg than Easterns and Westerns. Therefore, they do a little better in a slightly larger box. The Western Bluebirds don't really need this extra space, but since the Western and Mountain Bluebird ranges overlap so much, we use the large box in these areas. The slightly larger box does not matter to the Western Bluebirds, but makes a difference to the Mountain Bluebirds.
The other specifications are universal between the three species. The boxes must have ventillation holes or cut-outs near the top of each side. There must be a front over-hang (Ours is a good four-inches). There must be drainage holes or cut-outs on the floor of the box. There should be grooves cut into the inside of the front side under the entrance. The boxes also must be able to be opened so that people can check in on the bluebirds nesting inside.
As you can see, there is a lot more to these simple-looking boxes than meets the eye, and we have made sure that all parts of the design of our boxes meet the NABS design requirements.
Additional Qualities Beyond NABS Compliance
Beyond the NABS specifications, there are other characteristics of our nestboxes that we believe give them a high level of quality.
First is the wood we use. No plywood! NABS specs indicate that it is acceptable to use plywood, but we don't believe in it. We only use solid pine, cedar or aspen, which are all woods that hold up for many years out in the elements. Our nestboxes have been tested in the severe weather conditions of the Rockies year after year. And, we never use treated lumber. This is a big one because the chemicals in treated lumber can be harmful to the bluebirds, so we make sure never to use it.
Next, our nestboxes are constructed with screws, not nails. This enables you to disassemble and reassemble them easily if you ever need to. Maybe down the line you want to add a new type of predator guard, or maybe a remote camera. It will be very nice to be able to work with screws and not nails!
Next comes our slanted roof. Some nestboxes are constructed with a flat roof, which is not against NABS specs. But, we like the slanted roof for two reasons. One, in the often snowy Springs of the Rockies, snow will only collect so high on a slanted roof before it slides off. On a flat roof, collected snow can put a lot of weight on the box and whatever it is mounted on. The other reason is a flat roof will take the brunt of the elements causing even the best wood to deteriorate faster over time. A sloped roof allows precipitation to strike it at an angle and quickly drain off. This increases the life of the nestbox.
Why is the Side Door Better?
Now, let's talk about one of the most important distinctions of our nestboxes: The side door. This is the "people door," the one we use to monitor the bluebirds.
Many nest boxes are built so that either the front or the top opens. The problem with a front-opening box is that, by opening the front, you are blocking the escape route for the adult birds who may be in there, potentially adding stress. Could you imagine being all cozy in your home, and all of the sudden something the size of King Kong opens the only door you have and reaches in? Wouldn't you prefer to have a way out? By opening the side door, we are giving any adult birds the chance to exit through their front entrance. However, this makes it doubly important not to open the box after any of the hatchlings have reached about 12 days old (to avoid pre-mature fledging).
Other bluebird nestboxes open from the top. This has two problems. First, opening from the top may cause debris or moisture to inadvertently fall into the nest, which is not good. Second, it makes it hard on you, the bluebird monitor. You have to get above the house and look down into it. If you mounted your box the recommended five feet high minimum, then you will have difficulty with that unless you are over six feet tall. Our nestboxes open from the side, which is the safest, easiest and most efficient design, in our opinion.
We built our nest boxes and monitored them for many years before we ventured out into selling them. They have proven to be durable, effective and safe for both people and bluebirds. We hope you will agree.
Our Sectional Mounting Post
What about our sectional post? Many people use 1/2-inch electrical conduit. We choose to use the stronger and sturdier 3/4-inch conduit. This extra thickness provides significantly more "stoutness" to the post. The other advantages of our mounting post are functional. We provide the post in three 30-inch sections with coupling hardware to re-attach the sections together when mounting your nestbox. This gives us the ability to ship it, and gives you the ability to easily transport it to your bluebird site(s). If you purchase one of our nestbox kits with the sectional post included, we include all of the necessary hardware you need to connect the pieces and attach the box to the post. We also provide basic instructions.
