• Whether or not to clean my next box

    Question

    Should you clean out your birdhouses every year? I have one that fell down and was occupied.

    Naturalist's Response

    Nest boxes should be cleaned out after the birds have finished nesting. Some birds, such as Eastern Bluebirds, nest multiple times in one season, so you can clean out the nest box in between each nesting. If you watch the box on a regular basis, you’ll know when they have finished nesting. It is also a good idea to clean out the boxes in early spring because other animals like field mice often make a cozy home inside the nest boxes for winter.

    -Naturalist Denise Wolfe