Should I clean out the bluebird house to prepare for new birds?

[Anonymous]

I think the old aviary tenants left their stuff behind and I would like to see some bluebirds this spring.
Should I clear out the bird house? Or do birds look for a furnished bird house?

[Anonymous]

Yes, clear it out. Nesting is part of the mating process.

[Anonymous]

yes, clean it out.

signed,
bluebird mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yes, clean it out.

signed,
bluebird mom

Is it too late for spring birds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, clear it out. Nesting is part of the mating process.

This.

[Anonymous]

Well, I opened it up slowly this afternoon, tapped on the wood several times, said out loud, ‘I’m sorry, but I have to clean this out!’, and after one minute of all of this - as I am mid-scraping out sticks, a bird bolted out of there and flew right over my head!
I was so startled!

(Then I apologized to the bird’s nest and laughed at the silliness. Some poor bird was setting into their bedtime tonight and I just kicked him out.)

~ OP here

[Anonymous]

I always clean up after each batch and then in early fall. Get a brush, scrub with seven generations all purpose cleaner with thyme, then diluted bleach, rinse, let it dry outside in the sun. They are looking for houses now and they will start to nest in late Feb/early March, so do it ASAP.

[Anonymous]

There are bluebirds near my bluebird house - and they have even gone inside - but sparrows are taking up residence.
Can I continue to kick out the sparrows?
I’ve done it twice but they keep returning.
I would like bluebirds to nest but I feel badly continuing to pregnant birds.

[Anonymous]

Don't they re-use nests?

[Anonymous]

Don't put up bluebird houses unless you're willing to trap and kill house sparrows. House sparrows are an invasive species. Also, they will literally kill bluebird nestlings and build their nests on top of them. So when you attract bluebirds to a house, you are often attracting them to be killed themselves or have their babies killed. They are better off building a nest in the wild rather than in your birdhouse.