Cairns and Bluebirds

[wheezie23]

It's getting to be that time of year again. <sigh> I have a decision to make. I've been an avid backyard birder for years now. I also have several bluebird boxes on my property for the Eastern Bluebirds that nest here. Before I had Zoe, I had probably helped dozens of baby blues to make it to fledging. They are a passion for me.

Zoe never seemed to bother them too much. She didn't even bother the birds at the feeder. Well, that's all changed now. We have a cat who is a very good birder. And now we have Tucker and Scruffy who get immense pleasure from scaring off all the birds that come to the feeders.

My bluebird boxes are not in the backyard where the dogs play. However, the one box that the blues prefer is on the other side of my fence. When the babies fledge, they usually fly to that fence. A lot of times they end up in the backyard until their parents can coax them up to the trees.

Should I just go ahead and take the box down? I hate to do that because this pair has been coming to that box for several years now. They have adult children that come to the worm feeder too. Am I being unrealistic and selfish? I've thought about repositioning the box so that the opening will face away from my backyard and hopefully the babies will fly to a different direction. But am I setting myself up for disappointment? Anyone with experience with cairns and nesting birds?

Thela

This is a picture of the handsome daddy.

[toomanypaws]

What a beautiful bird! Could you maybe just fence off the area in your yard that the baby bluebirds might possibly fall into? Sorry I don't have any experience w/ this but I know my oldest cairn, Kiara would never leave a baby bird alone.

[CathyAnn]

Tough decision......My little guy, Piper, actually caught several birds this past summer and sent them to 'birdie heaven".

Could you move the box to a different spot gradually (little bit everyday) so as not to shoo them off?? They are such gorgeous birds....

Cathy

[vvalenti]

Gosh, that