Bluebird Cultivation

Step 5 View with box top removed

Same birds shown with the top of the birdbox removed. Once the hatchlings fledge, they never return inside the nest box. The adults will continue to feed them in perches nearby for a couple weeks. After a clutch fledges, you can thoroughly clean out the box, add fresh cedar shavings if you want, and hopefully the birds will build another nest, lay another clutch of eggs. I regularly have three clutches each season (Mid-Atlantic eastern U.S.) in the same nestbox from the same pair of adult birds, but you must clean out the old nests in a timely manner to encourage new nestbuilding activity. The birds tend to work to an annual schedule, which may vary with yearly climate changes. Have the box ready every year in early spring, then perform your stewardship duties until late summer by watching the birds' activities. The adults will bring bugs to the box when there are young inside, they will stop after the babies fledge.
You can get copius free information about bluebirds from the North American Bluebird Society's web page http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org and click "Bluebird Facts." Includes size, shape and siting of nestbox, plans for building your own, how to set up a "bluebird trail" on other people's or community land, how to join local chapter. You will not find there many of the practical tips for success I have just given you, though.
U.S.