A bluebird sighting evokes thoughts of attracting these birds to your yard on a permanent basis. Bluebirds, unlike other birds, have very specific and limited requirements in order for them to set up residence in your yard. These requirements include access to shelter, food, water, and open space.
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Bluebirds will visit your yard if you provide nesting materials, food, and protection from predators. With a little creativity you can transform the area into one where bluebirds will return to raise their young.
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1) Start With the Right Nest Box
The best nesting materials you can provide are nesting boxes. When choosing a nesting box for Eastern Bluebirds, and Western Bluebirds select boxes that have entry holes that are 1.5 inches. This will allow the bluebirds to enter the nesting box, while keeping starlings out. For Mountain Bluebirds the same size entry hole should be used.
When positioning your bluebird box, try to choose an area with short grass and position the box about 4-6 feet off the ground. Bluebirds prefer to hunt insects in open areas rather than shaded areas with heavy vegetation, so try to choose an open area. Lastly, if possible mount the bluebird box with the opening facing away from the prevailing wind direction.
For the walls and other components, use raw wood, and skip the perch. Bluebirds don’t use perches, and perches only provide predatory birds with a place to wait and ambush. Small vent holes should be located on the top of the box, and there should be a small hole on the bottom to drain water so the box will be dry when it rains.
Do not hang boxes too close to feeder boxes or other busy areas, this is a very common error. During nesting season, check the box once a week and try to be quiet and let the birds take over.
2) Pairing Boxes: The Tree Swallow Strategy
House sparrows are very aggressive and one well placed open-front box can draw house sparrows attention away from bluebird boxes. Tree swallows actually compete with house sparrows for nesting spots. When tree swallows are given a shallow open-front box, they will move in and take full control of the spot where house sparrows would otherwise concentrate their efforts.
Position open-front boxes at 5-6 feet high and 10-25 feet apart from bluebird boxes. Place the box so that it is facing open space in the direction of the sky, and away from dense shrubbery. Swallows like sites that are close to water, but will nest freely without ponds in the vicinity.
Lastly, to help reduce the number of house sparrows in the area, do not put boxes too close to the feeders to avoid attracting house sparrows to the feeders.
3) A Low Platform Feeder Loaded With Mealworms
Place the box between 3 and 5 feet high in a clear area in your yard. Eastern, Western, and Mountain Bluebirds like areas where they can see predators so they can keep an eye on potential dangers while they eat, so make sure not to position any shrubs too far from the box.
You can offer dried or live mealworms in a shallow dish. Bluebirds are insect eaters, especially during the nesting season when they are actively feeding their nestlings. To keep the food fresh and to avoid attracting ants, place a small amount of food each day.
Bluebirds may also be pushed out by house sparrows and starlings at nearby tube feeders or seed stations. Make sure to keep the mealworm feeder quiet and away from these distractions.
Place the feeder where a fence post or other low perch is visible. Bluebirds are watchers, and you want them to watch from where you can see them. Once you see them land or perch move the mealworms to the feeder. Be sure to do this around the same time every morning. Bluebirds are extremely smart and they will learn & start to be there even a bit before.
A single pair of Eastern Bluebirds can deliver food to nestlings up to 15 times per hour during peak feeding periods. That adds up to hundreds of insects caught per day, which means a well-stocked yard with open hunting ground isn’t just a convenience for bluebirds. It’s a real competitive advantage for successfully raising a brood.
4) Native Berry Shrubs Make a Difference Year-Round
Bluebird will stick around longer in the in the summer when the serviceberry is ready. They will use the fruit to supplement their young’s diet and insects.
When selecting the species, ensure that you choose one that is native to your area and can thrive in full sun to light shade. You should also be mindful of the height of the species you are selecting; wide varieties can reach heights of 10 to 20 feet. Ensure you do not plant the species too close to a feeder pole or nest box; bluebirds prefer open monitoring space.
The most common error is selecting a non-native ornamental with berries that may look appealing, but are ignored by birds. Instead, choose native amelanchier from a local native plant store and avoid large big box stores that sell whatever is trending.
Bluebird facilities create habitat for birds for years to come. After establishment, native plants are self-sustaining and low-maintenance.
5) Short Grass Is Hunting Habitat, Not Just Lawn
When hunting, bluebirds perch and scan low to the ground before dropping down to catch insects. Tall grass limits their hunting by blocking the birds’ views of the insects scurrying below.
Your grass doesn’t have to be cut evenly to be beneficial to the bluebirds. You can leave certain areas taller to encourage nesting and make sure you have perch points to maximize hunting effectiveness. Elevated perches and visible ground are important to maximize bird activity.
Bluebirds are negatively impacted by the heavy use of pesticides as their insect prey are decimated and can bioaccumulate in the insects fed on by the birds. Bluebirds thank you for the bug activity.
“A perfectly manicured, pesticide-treated lawn is essentially a food desert for bluebirds. A slightly imperfect one is a hunting ground.”
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6) Moving Water Gets Their Attention Faster Than Still Water
Bluebirds appreciate shallow water. Ensure the deepest spot is 1-2 inches and slopes down gently. Bluebirds won’t use steep walls.
A small solar bubbler will do the trick. Moving water is far more appealing to birds than still water. It stays clean for extended periods of time.
Bird baths should be in an open area away from shrubs where cats may be hiding to avoid predation. Offer fresh water daily in warm weather and remove stagnant water to avoid losing bird visitors.
7) Predator Guards Are Non-Negotiable
Outdoor cats, raccoons, and snakes can get to an unprotected box quickly. However, a wide stovepipe baffle or cone-shaped guard will prevent this. This is true regardless of what species of bluebird you host.
In this case, metal poles are very important. Make sure to mount baffles on smooth metal poles because wooden posts can be climbed by the tree predators, box or baffle that are several feet above. For optimal use, the baffle should be positioned 4 to 5 feet below the box.
Make sure to check the guard before the nesting season to be sure it is secure, and that there are no nearby structures (such as branches, fence rails, or garden benches) that will allow the predators to jump over the guard.
8) Put Down the Pesticides and Pick Up the Pests Instead
The use of broad-spectrum pesticides should be the first targeted for elimination as they kill all of the insects that bluebirds depend on to feed their babies, and will kill the very insects you are trying to eliminate. These pesticides will also be present in the insects that the birds feed to their young, and will persist in the insects as they capture them.
To help maintain a healthy insect population for the bluebirds, regularly trap larger pests like beetles and caterpillars and place them in soapy water to dispose of them. For smaller outbreaks, neem oil sprayed in the evening will help to avoid collateral damage to bees during the day.
Do not spray the whole yard, as you’ll be killing insects that are harmless and even helpful. Bluebirds, for example, need a steady supply of insects, but will leave a yard that has been sprayed (you’ll notice the absence of birds before they do).
You need to start smaller, working with individual plants. Once you come to appreciate that you are collaborating with the birds, the experience becomes remarkably enjoyable.
Understanding Bluebird Behavior
There’s no need to guess about the timing of seasonal changes that affect bluebirds. Once you recognize the seasonal changes, it becomes clear what the right choices are; it’s time to set up for the birds.
Seasonal Patterns to Watch For
Eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) begin selecting nesting sites in late winter, and in warmer areas, this can happen as early as February. Western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) and mountain bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) select their nesting sites around the same time, depending on climate and their elevation.
During spring, the male bluebirds will establish their territory and begin to call from conspicuous places to signal the beginning of nesting season. These places include hanging branches, fence posts, and even your bluebird boxes.
Bluebirds may raise up to three broods a year in warmer climates. Generally, bluebird pairs will raise two broods a year. In spring and early summer, there is a lot of activity, but it will become quiet as the later brood’s fledglings disperse into the area.
Most people make the mistake of waiting until it’s too late to put up their boxes. Make it a point to put up and clean boxes in the late winter so that the birds returning for spring nesting have boxes waiting for them. A good guideline to follow is that you should have boxes set up before the first bluebird of the year arrives and sits on your fence.
How Bluebirds Choose Nesting Spots
Bluebirds like areas that have short grass and some scattered trees. They prefer places like meadows and fields over yards because they like to be able to see and drop down to hunt.
Eastern Bluebirds can adapt to suburban areas as long as there are some open spaces. Rural and agricultural settings are more suitable for Western and Mountain Bluebirds as they prefer areas with less building and foot traffic.
For the cavity evaluations, they look for specific entrance diameters; approximately 1.5 inches for Eastern and Western Bluebirds, and slightly larger for Mountain Bluebirds. The box should be placed 4 to 6 feet above ground and facing open space, not a wall of brush.
When starting out, people commonly make the same error in spacing. Bluebirds will actively defend their territory. They’ll even fight to the death with nearby rival pairs if boxes are placed under 100 yards from each other. With one box on an open yard edge fence line that is checked regularly, you will consistently out perform three boxes that are close together.
Being in the same family as American Robins and Hermit Thrushes means Bluebirds are also thrushes. That familial connection explains foraging style: the perch-scan-drop hunting behavior is characteristic of all thrushes, which is also why open ground is especially important for bluebirds.
Troubleshooting Common Challenges
There are specific requirements for nesting boxes when it comes to bluebirds. Slight modifications usually help with most concerns. Challenges arise mostly due to competitor birds overtaking nesting boxes, or the boxes being relocated and not properly positioned to be noticed by the birds.
Keeping Other Birds From Taking Over
Before bluebirds arrive, house sparrows and European starlings will try to take over bluebird boxes. These invasive species can outcompete nesting bluebirds and even physically bully them, and they are very persistent.
Eastern and Western Bluebirds use 1 1/2 inch entrance holes while Mountain Bluebird territories use 1 9/16 inch holes. There should be no perches on nest boxes. Bluebirds avoid boxes with perches, but house sparrows will use the box if it has a perch.
These boxes should be checked regularly during nesting season. It is easy to identify nests from house sparrows as they are made of thick coarse grass and shortly after construction, they will fill the entire box. Remove nesting materials first to prevent eggs from being laid – this will be the most effortful task to complete.
While designing a proper box is important, placement is equally if not more important. Avoid placement near dense shrub areas as house sparrows will nest there. Bluebirds like more open areas with less competition from the house sparrows, so areas with short grass will work best.
If you can’t get a bluebird to use your nest box, you can move it 50 to 100 feet further to an open area and see if you have any success in the first season.
What to Do If You Don’t See Bluebirds Right Away
It is not uncommon for bluebirds to overlook a brand-new nest box for several weeks to even an entire nesting season. If it goes unnoticed, it is not a reason to second guess yourself.
In the meantime, be sure to have the three essentials for attracting bluebirds: an open area where the birds can find insects to feed on, a clean nesting box, and a nearby perch where the birds can hang out and scout for insects. If you have used broad-spectrum pesticides, it will work against you. Pesticides kill insects and in turn will drive away birds.
When it comes to placing the nesting boxes, do not put too many boxes close to each other unless you intend to pair boxes 5 to 15 feet apart to help control the population of house sparrows. Other than that, the boxes should be about 100 yards apart. Once you do place a box, try not to move it. Bluebirds prefer quiet and stable places.
Keep the box up all year round. After each brood, clean it out and let it age a little. A box that has been out for two nesting seasons and shows weathering will be more attractive to birds than one that has been up for just a weekend.
The bluebirds are out there, and eventually, they will decide that your yard is worth the investment.
