It used to be common to spot a flash of brilliant blue, but now it feels more like a special occasion. If your yard has not been blessed by the presence of the "bird of happiness" (a.k.a. bluebird), it is more likely due to something you are doing than a naturally occurring reason. You may be making some mistakes (that will be discussed) that are making your property a no fly zone for bluebirds. The great thing is these mistakes are easy to correct. From the size of the entrance to your birdhouse to a cleaning mistake that is sending a signal to bluebirds to stay away, we will discuss the little known reasons bluebirds are avoiding your home and ways to entice them to visit again.

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Your Birdhouse Entrance Exceeds Quarter Size

A perfectly organized lawn can be compared to a hospital room devoid of life. There is no space for wildlife to occupy that perfectly raked and pruned environment. Bluebirds like controlled chaos. They don't want hospitals, they want natural insect habitats, perches, and unmowed areas where they can thrive. Your HOA might want to sculpt nature, but bluebirds want your lawn as natural as possible.

You Clean Nest Boxes Like a Germaphobe

Using bleach and disinfectants on your nest boxes is overkill. Bluebirds benefit from having some of the natural scents and bacteria present in a nest box, and over cleaning removes the chemical cues that indicate a box is \"safe\" and a \"successful\" nesting site. You only need to do a light rinse, and take out the old nesting material. Think spring cleaning instead of a hazmat cleaning.

There are too many predators in your yard

Free-roaming cats are a threat to bluebirds’ nests, and they will avoid your yard because they know that cats can attack them at any time. Even if your cat is well-fed it will still hunt and extremely place to hunt are bluebirds that feed from the ground. No matter how well you’ve decorated your property or placed your nests and your boxes feeder the bluebirds will know to stay away from your yard. Bluebirds are able to detect cat territories and will avoid your yard.

You are putting Non Native Plants

Exotic ornamental plants may look sophisticated, but they're like fancy restaurants to bluebirds: all style, no substance. Bluebirds do not eat non-native, ornamental plants, and these types of plants do not house the native insects that bluebirds need to feed their young. Non-native ornamental plants create a beautiful but sterile environment that cannot support any bird families. It's the difference between a yard that looks good and one that works as a living ecosystem.

Your Nest Boxes Have Perches

The little platform perches below the entrance holes may look cute, but they are used as landing strips for predatory birds and bully birds! While bluebirds are able to land directly on the entrance and slide into the nest, starlings and house sparrows use this as a staging area for hostile takeovers. Removing the perches is like taking down the welcome mat for unwanted visitors, but keeping the door open for your intended guests.

You are Overlooking the Bluebird Trail Network

Putting up one nest box in isolation is like opening a lonely roadside diner on an empty highway. Bluebirds use particular migratory and nesting routes that link appropriate habitats. By participating in or establishing a bluebird trail network with neighboring landowners, you integrate your efforts into a larger conservation initiative and habitat system.

Your Timing Is Off

Putting up nest boxes in May is like arriving to a party as everyone is leaving. You have missed the critical time frame of birds scouting nesting locations. Bluebirds start looking for places to nest in late winter and early spring. Because of this, nest boxes should be put up by February or March at the latest in most areas. If you put up boxes too late, it is as if you are putting up a 'For Rent' sign when all of the good tenants have already signed leases elsewhere.

Commonly Asked Questions About Bluebird

Since you now know what to avoid, below are answers to a few frequently asked questions about drawing in these magnificent birds.

What should I feed bluebirds?

Since bluebirds are insect eaters, they won't consume the usual bird feed you have out for other birds. Their most favored food is live mealworms! You can put mealworms in a special feeder with smooth sides (to prevent the worms from crawling out) or in a regular glass dish. Mealworms, especially during spring and winter, when other insects are far fewer, are one of the quickest ways to make your yard a bluebird hotspot.

What are some ways I could safeguard a nest box against predators?

For best results, mount your nest box on a straight metal pole (like electrical conduit). To stop climbing predators (raccoons, snakes, and cats), put a predator baffle on the pole below the nest box. A baffle is a cone or cylinder-shaped structure that prevents the critters from having anything to hold on to to climb past it. This is the most important thing you can do to provide safety to nesting bluebirds.

How often and when should I clean the box?

After each brood has fledged, clear out the box. Bluebirds typically have 2-3 broods a season. Once the birds have left, remove the old nest material (gloves required) and use a putty knife to scrape out the bottom. It is not necessary to use any cleaning solution, but if you choose to, a quick clean with vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 10 parts water) is okay. Do not use any strong/harsh cleaning chemicals. The next nesting attempt will be easier and cleaner with fewer parasites.

How many types of bluebirds do you think there are in North America?

There are three species to look for:

• Eastern Bluebird: Rocky Mountains means most of the USA and all of Eastern Canada. The male eastern bluebird has a brilliant blue head, back and tail, while also having a rusty-red throat and breast.
• Western Bluebirds live to the west of the Rocky Mountains. Males are alike with the Easterns but usually have a chestnut patch on the back and have a blue (no red) throat.
• Mountain Bluebird: Higher echelons of the western U.S. The male is completely sky blue, with no red or rusty coloration on the breast.

You said not to include any perches, but my decorative birdhouse has one. Is it that big of a deal?

Yes, it's that bad. Bluebirds do not need a perch to access a nest box. But, House Sparrows and starlings (aggressive, non-native species) will use perches as a place to stage attacks on the box, harassment of the parents, and killing of the nestlings. Birdhouses with perches are serious safety issues for bluebirds. Please try to remove it.