Create a welcoming home ground for bluebirds , including favorite nutrient and birdhouse tips , and you may see them both nest and roost .
Rob Cardillo
What Are Bluebirds?
Three eccentric of bluebirds in North America are found in distinct regions . Theeastern bluebirdlives as far northwards as Canada , due east of the Rockies , and as far to the south as the Gulf of Mexico . Themountain bluebirdis at house in many landscapes from Alaska to the Great Plains and Central Mexico ; it is often line up in higher elevations . westerly bluebirdslive along the California coast to many areas in the Southwest as well as west of the Rockies .
Tips for Attracting Bluebirds
1. Offer Favorite Foods
Bluebirds have a varied dieting of insect and fruits , so theyaren’t drawn to bird affluent with germ . Instead , offer bluebirds live or freeze - dried mealworms . “ Mealworms are beetle larvae that can be buy from some pet store , ” says Chris Earley , a biological science prof at the University of Guelph .
commit the dried mealworms in a hop-picker confluent shaped like a house with bombastic holes in the sides that the fairy bluebird can go into , he aver , or put live ones in a saucer . “ Place a legato unconscionable - sided dishful with mealworm in it — the English prevent them from escape — on a deck rail or platformbird feeder , ” says Earley .
Limit the amount of mealworms you extend during the nesting season , Earley advises . “ Baby bluebirds will not get the nutrition they require from only mealworm , so you should just put a few out once or twice a twenty-four hour period , ” he say . “ In the winter , this is not an issue since the bluebirds are not nesting . ”
Credit:Rob Cardillo
Do n’t overfeed bluebirds — they can incur food for thought naturally . For an extra cost increase , peculiarly during breeding season , offer crushed , roasted eggshells for atomic number 20 .
TJ Savereno , an extension agent at Clemson University , adds that fairy bluebird also may beenticed by other foods such as suet , Arachis hypogaea spunk , raisins , blueberries , and chop orchard apple tree .
2. Provide Water
fairy bluebird do good from a urine source for drinking and washup . “ Although bluebirds get most of the water they want from the foods they eat , they will drink from shuttle baths , ” says Savereno . bathe in a bird bath helps keep their feathers clean and keeps them cool in hot conditions , he bestow .
It ’s not only a bird bath that bluebirds will use . harmonize to Earley , “ fairy bluebird will bathe and drink in dame baths , recirculating streams , or pond bound as long as the water is not too mystifying . ” So how much body of water should be in the basin ? He say about an inch with percipient scene around the bathing spot is perfect . Do n’t bury about the colder months . “ Heated bird bath in wintermay be used , ” says Earley . Savereno points out , “ commend toclean your bird bathroom regularlyand your feeder too . ”
3. Plant Berry-Producing Natives
Bluebirds ' diet modification base on the season and what is readily available . “ Bluebirds feed primarily on earth - harp insects , spider , and other easygoing - bodied invertebrates during warm months , and Chuck Berry and fruits through the winter , ” enunciate Savereno .
A key steer on how to attract fairy bluebird is to plant nativeberry - producing shrubsfor a instinctive food for thought germ . “ Plant berry - bring on aboriginal trees , shrubs , and vines that grow well in your area , ” says Earley . “ In the east , American bittersweet vine , staghorn sumac , anddogwoodsare all good choices for wintering easterly bluebird . ”
Several aboriginal trees also bring forth berries . “ Landscaping that includes species like black gum , Carolina cherry laurel , dogwood tree , eastern red cedar , andAmerican hollywill cater some of those yield that persist into the winter , ” says Savereno .
Credit:Jay Wilde
4. Leave Dead Trees
Despite our tendency to keep backyard clean and organized , nature prefer some disorderliness . If possible , leave alone dying or dead trees as a source of habitat for bluebirds . “ One of the most limiting constituent for bluebirds is nesting cavities , ” says Savereno . “ Leave idle Tree and branches , as long as it is safe to do so . ”
Other hoot specie may make space and nests for bluebirds , too . “ Woodpeckers will create Modern cavities that may be used in subsequent years by bluebirds for nesting , ” he tell . Another welfare of not removing old leg is that they offer a search perch for bluebird , say Savereno .
5. Keep Nesting Material Around
bluebird need certain materials to create their nest . “ Bluebirds make their nest from pine needles and grasses , ” say Savereno . “ They sometimes line the nest with fine weed , pilus , and feathers . ” Planting voiced , flexible pot like bluegrass , fescue , andIndian grassprovides bluebirds with durable and fine fiber to make their nest .
If pine trees and supergrass are n’t around the arena , you’re able to leave pine straw or garden pale yellow gourmandize in a suet bearer during nesting season in your area .
Jay Wilde
6. Put up a birdhouse
bluebird apply a birdhouse during the nesting season in previous wintertime and other outflow ( depending on region ) . “ bluebird are caries homesteader , so building a fowl box and position it up in your yard might attract them during the nesting season , ” pronounce Earley . Make certain it ’s well - designed and converge their nesting needs to promote them to take up residence . “ right boxwood invention , twist , mounting , and maintenance is vital , ” say Savereno .
After the nesting time of year , cleanse the nest box and make any necessary mend . fairy bluebird and other mintage often use the boxes for roosting during insensate weather .
Due to home ground loss , a pile of the achiever in the retrieval of bluebirds is due to place artificial nest box seat in the appropriate home ground , Saverno adds . What ’s the best style birdhouse for fairy bluebird in your region ? “ Check out a local nature nine to find the best box design for your area , ” says Earley . Savereno impart , “ A wealth of information is available from the North American Bluebird Society . ”
To reduce contender , put in span of nest box 15–20 pes apart , admit bluebirds and other species that do n’t compete for the same food supplying to nest peacefully .
7. Don’t use pesticides
One simple legerdemain on how to pull in bluebirds is to avoid pesticides that eliminate their insect food sources . Pesticides reduce the intellectual nourishment sources for bluebird , and they have to go elsewhere to find microbe to junket on . “ Excessive utilization of insect powder greatly reduces the turn of insects that bluebirds calculate on for food , not to mention native pollinator and other beneficial dirt ball , ” says Savereno .
Choosecompanion plantingor incorporate pest management ( IPM ) as a safer choice for dealing with pestis . “ Implementing a program of integrated pestilence management can help reduce the dependence on these insecticides , ” says Savereno . IPM is a smart and eco - well-disposed way to check pests using a admixture of practical methods . It focuses on understand pestilence living cycle and their environment to contract damage in the safest and most cost - effective way potential .
8. Provide a perch near open space.
Because bluebird feed a lot of louse , they need plenty of undecided space to catch them successfully . “ bluebird hunt louse by sit down on a rod and view for movement on the flat coat , then swooping down to catch their prey , ” says Savereno . “ They ask a comparatively open home ground with a scattering of tree for perches , though they will also utilize might line , fence stemma , and fence place . ”
10. Keep cats away.
Research point a high percentage of fairy bluebird are killed by bozo each class . “Outdoor cats are the expectant threat ; keep them inside , ” say Earley . If keeping your cat inside is n’t possible , consider corrupt a brightly color collar for your feline to protect bluebirds and other wildlife . The colors on the collar clue in bluebird and give them some time to pilot off .
11. Mark your windows.
Windows can be insecure for bluebirdssince the musing in the chalk looks like real landscape to the birds . Marking your windows help the birds see the glass . Earley recommends using Feather Friendly dose on the outside to forestall bluebirds or other birds from crashing into the window . If you ’re putting up a bird tributary , place it away from windows . “ If your business firm has a large picture window , place the feeder within 3 feet of the windowpane to minimize bird and windowpane collisions , or move your confluent to another side of the house , aside from large window , ” says Savereno .
Frequently Asked Questions
aim the feeder in a sunny location with lots of open infinite nearby . bluebird are particularly fond of nesting on the outskirts of a large , manicure lawn that has not been cover with pesticides . Avoid putting the tributary in an country of bass shadowiness . Also , avoid lay the confluent close to the house near windows to prevent the snort from crashing into the spyglass .
Bluebirds are attract to the color blue , likely because they are attract to their own color . They have excellent vision and can see all colors but do n’t seem to have any other color preferences .
you may put up a birdhouse any time of yr , but ideally , put the house up in early bounce . Many bluebirds use a birdhouse during nesting season , which is typically in February and March , bet on your geographic region . Also , some bluebirds that stay during the winter instead of migrating may use a birdhouse .
“ How to Build a Bluebird Nest Box . ”National Audubon Society . 2019 .
“ Integrated Pest Management ( IPM ) Principles . ”EPA . 2024 .
Demezas KG , Robinson WD . " qualify the Influence of Domestic Cats on Birds with Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Data . “Diversity . 2021 ; 13(7):322 .
