Many of the homeowners that provide eastern bluebirds with nesting sites like to monitor the boxes to determine the nesting success of the beautiful birds nesting in them.  Here are some recommendations offered by the North American Bluebird Society (NABS) to help ensure that nesting attempts are successful.

       If you are certain the birds nesting in your nest boxes are bluebirds, once a nest has been completed, the female will typically lay one egg per day until her clutch of 4-6 eggs has been completed. Female bluebird usually 4-6 eggs.

       After the clutch is complete, incubation begins.  This process will last anywhere from 12-14 days.  After the hatchlings emerge, they remain in their nest from 17-20 or more days.    With that in mind, the NABS recommends that after 12-23 days, boxes should only be monitored from a distance.  The reason for this is during this critical time in their lives the young bluebirds might prematurely jump or fly from their safe haven.

       Box checks should only be done when the weather is calm, mild and dry.  Open a box cautiously and make your visit is as short as possible as this prevents the chilling of eggs or nestlings.