The first broods of bluebirds, Carolina wrens, and chickadees have fledged. So should we rid the nest boxes of old nest material and all its mess as soon as babies fledge? Research says, that depends.

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The types of birds that you attract in your yard can play a big role in the type of nesting activity that you'll see in your bird box and when ...

DEAR JOAN: What is the right time to remove a nest from a nest box after the nestlings have fledged? I removed an abandoned nest last year that had four unhatched bluebird eggs. A new family built a ...

Nesting season is behind us, and birdhouses — nest boxes — will be vacant until spring. Now is the time to clean the boxes of used nesting material, and to make any needed repairs. We will assume your ...

Three barn owls peek out of a nest box in Davis. A UC Davis study found the best time to clean nest boxes is in the fall, before the owls' winter breeding season. (Ryan Bourbour/UC Davis) When it ...