Attracting Bluebirds:

Three species of bluebirds – eastern, western, and mountain – reside in North America. Bluebirds nest in tree cavities caused by natural decay or excavated by woodpeckers. House sparrows and European starlings were introduced from Europe in the 1800s. Both out-compete bluebirds for cavities. This competition, plus habitat changes, caused serious declines in bluebird populations a century ago. Fortunately, humans who provide nest boxes have greatly aided bluebird recovery.

Starlings can be excluded from nest boxes by making entry holes 1½” diameter for eastern and western bluebirds and 1 9/16” for mountain bluebirds. Titmice, chickadees, and house wrens will also use nest boxes. They tend to choose more brushy or wooded locations. For best success, locate bluebird homes near meadows, pastures, or large lawns.

Bluebirds capture grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars in open, short-grass sites. They perch on fence posts or dead tree branches while hunting. In addition to eating insects, bluebirds relish mulberries, wild cherries, blackberries, and blueberries in the summer. In fall and winter, they survive by eating fruits of wild grape, dogwood, pokeberry, mountain ash, holly, hackberry, sumac, and multiflora rose.

Eastern and western bluebirds usually raise two broods per season. Clean and repair nest boxes after the occupants leave. During cold weather, several bluebirds will sometimes spend the night together in a nest box to keep warm, so keep boxes up all year. Don’t forget to offer bluebirds water in a clean birdbath. Inviting bluebirds into your yard and viewing them at close range is a tremendously rewarding experience!

Contact us via email for more details about wildlife habitat landscaping workshops that will help you learn how to attract bluebirds and about photo classes with opportunities to photograph them.