Attracting Bluebirds to a Backyard
Bluebirds are a favorite species of backyard bird watchers. Different than other bird species in which providing food and bird seed is the primary draw to a garden habitat, for eastern, western and mountain bluebirds alike, it’s a bird house which will attract them initially. As a result of of the decline in bluebird potential homes in natural settings, such as dead trees and wooden fence posts, along with competition from European species of sparrows, there has been a grievous decline in bluebird populations. Therefore, place a bluebird box or bird house for these spectacular avian friends and you will have a much better chance of them being attracted to your yard than without a box.
Bluebirds also are attracted to meal worms and insect foods, which are the larvae of a beetle. They can be purchase live, freeze dried or moist in cans. Live meal worms need to be stored in the fridge and served in a tray feeder or special blue bird feeders, with sides that are at least 2" deep. Meal worms can crawl and will crawl out of a shallow tray. Meal worms are particularly prized during the cold winter months while the insect and bugs which bluebirds consume are meager. They will also enjoy peanut butter dough. Mix one part peanut butter together with six parts of cornmeal, and set the dough in a suet bird feeder or on a platform type tray bird feeder.
And finally, bluebirds are very big on bathing, so be sure to place a bird bath in the backyard, or a pretty shallow dish for them to drink and bathe in. Make sure the bath has a textured bottom so they won’t slip, or else they will not get in it. A depth of about 2" is perfect!
