Pole Baffles

I was checking the bluebird boxes at the Eau Galle Cheese Factory the other day, when a man in a pickup pulled up next to my car.  He had a question:  What's the white pipe for?

I invited him over to take a look at how it was installed, and explained how it works to deter bluebird predators.   Cats, raccoons, squirrels and snakes can easily climb up trees, wood poles and fence posts. Snakes have no problem with metal fence posts and poles.  These predators will eat the eggs, chicks and adults.

While there are several effective pole baffles, this wobbly plastic pipe is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.  And it works!

"And here I thought I was doing a good thing by putting bluebird boxes on my metal fence posts," the man in the truck said.

Then we got into the conversation about monitoring nest boxes.  He was amazed to learn that if you don't monitor the next box, you may be doing more harm than good.  And no, the birds don't abandon the nests if you touch the eggs and chicks.

Another "old husband's tale," I said.   While all birds have an olfactory nerve and thus a sense of smell, it's not very well developed in most songbirds.  There's no evidence to support the belief that birds will abandon their nest and young if you open the box and touch them.

For more information on how to set up and monitor a bluebird trail - and deal with predators - go to www.braw.org.