A bird has nested in the newspaper slot of my mailbox (houses, safer)

[MikeyKid]

In the open newspaper slot below my primary mailbox, a bird has decided to build a nest. It's a blueish purple swallow looking type of bird - any area bird experts maybe could advise on what type of bird is and/or help with a humane way of encouraging it to move elsewhere?

[brokensky]

Pictures! I wanna see a photo!

Could it be a purple martin? They like to nest in bird houses and so I could see them nesting in your mailbox slot.

www.alanmurphyphotography.com

[MikeyKid]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Pictures! I wanna see a photo!

Could it be a purple martin? They like to nest in bird houses and so I could see them nesting in your mailbox slot.

www.alanmurphyphotography.com

I think that's it!! Coloring and beak are definitely about right.

Every time I try to get close (even from behind), she (assuming it's a she!) flies away immediately! So it's impossible to snap a pic or get a real good look at her.

I'll keep trying.

[MikeyKid]

Yeah, she won't let me get close at all...

[chicagomichauds]

There's got to be some wildlife hotline you can call so the bird is removed to a safer place (and out of your mailbox). Maybe the city (311) would know.

[mayday30]

I have this happen every year in my box and it is identical to yours. I let her nest raise her young and then clean it out. THey are generally gone in a few weeks. I put a little sign on there so people do not cram junk advo in the box and kill the babies. I wonder every year how she last in that black box in direct sunlight in the heat of the summer. Maybe that's why they are not there that long. Also my paper guy has never put the paper in the box so all our ever gets is junk.

[Sundaydrive00]

Originally Posted by MikeyKid

In the open newspaper slot below my primary mailbox, a bird has decided to build a nest. It's a blueish purple swallow looking type of bird - any area bird experts maybe could advise on what type of bird is and/or help with a humane way of encouraging it to move elsewhere?

I'd say just let it be for a few weeks. I don't really think there is a way to move it without confusing the bird. I have a bird (which I think is a house finch since mama bird is brown and papa bird has a bright orange/red breast) that made its nest right outside my patio door before we moved in. I'm always forgetting its there, and it scares me every time I go out there as it flies away. The little baby birds just hatched about 2 days ago (so cute watching them get fed!), so I'm thinking it won't be long before I can have full ownership of my porch. As someone else said, just find a way to keep people from using that slot so not to kill the birds, and soon enough things will be back to normal!