I’m not sure the bluebirds actually need us as much as we need them. The next generation needs something to be amazed by.
– Keith Kridler at NABS 2006 conference
Amid the chaos and upheaval of COVID 19, we will always remember 2020 as the summer a mating pair of bluebirds chose our backyard to raise their family. Happy and Joy (named after the Ren and Stimpy theme song) arrived at our backyard March and raised two broods of 7 chicks.
Bluebirds are the most domestic of songbirds. This may be wishful thinking, but Happy and Joy seemed to enjoy our company. Their hunting patterns coincided with my location in the yard. My daughter is convinced they followed her as she circled the yard on her daily walks. Bluebirds are not much for social distancing as they often enjoyed mealworms from a ground feeder less than 6 feet from our outdoor seating area.
Consider these backyard adjustments and additions to increase your odds for Bluebird visits and tenants. Let's start with your backyard value prop from my previous blog:
"My backyard is loaded with the food you seek, fresh water, shelter, and is considered the honeymoon capital of the biosphere!"
This value prop works will attract any living creature to your yard. The next questions are Bluebird specific:
What food?
What shelter?
What needs to change in my yard?
Hang a nestbox
Hang a Bluebird nestbox on the east side of a tree or a free-standing pole at the edge of your yard about six feet high. To provide traction for chicks venturing from the nest, score four lines below the entry hole about 1/2 inch apart.
Avoid pesticides and lawn chemicals
Bluebirds are insectivores. They are ground feeders that hunt the grubs and insects that live in your lawn. Chemically treated lawns expose foraging bluebirds to toxins that inhibit their ability to breed and raise their young. Ditch the lawn chemicals and trust bluebirds and other insectivores to kill lawn pests- they will do a much better job!
Offer mealworms in platform feeders or ground feeder trays
You can purchase a bag of freeze-dried mealworms at any hardware or pet food store for $10. In early March, put about 50 mealworms per day on a tray feeder on the ground near your nestbox. Caterpillars are scarce in early March; if there are bluebirds in your area, they will find your mealworms.
Bluebirds will also visit suet feeders.
Here is a pro tip; When you are edging your lawn or digging up grass, look for the white "C" shaped Japanese beetle grubs feeding on your grassroots. These grubs are the "lobster tails" of the bluebird diet. Happy and Joy dive-bombed the feeder tray every time I added grubs!
Bluebirds feasting on Japanese beetle grubs
Offer water
A pedestal birdbath near the nest box will complete the demands bluebirds require to consider your yard to raise their young.
Be patient; you may not get bluebirds on your first try, but wrens or some other deserving local bird will enjoy the food, shelter, and water you provide until the bluebirds arrive!
Are you feeling handy? Build your bluebird nest box with the plan below. Good luck!
Great site! Thanks for the mealworm tips. I am going to try this for my bluebirds that just moved into my backyard! So happy about it!