If you live near farmland or open space, you may have bluebirds nearby! There are 3 species of Bluebirds in North America and the names describe which regions they inhabit: Eastern, Western and Mountain Bluebirds. Here are a few simple things you can do to attract Bluebirds to your property:
- Provide proper housing specifically made for the Bluebirds in your region.
- Every time you mow your lawn you are creating ideal foraging grounds for breeding birds. Shorter vegetation will make the grasshoppers, crickets and other insects more visible to the Bluebirds.
- Put up foraging perches made from garden stakes or dead tree limbs throughout your property. Bluebirds generally forage along the edges of forests or shrubbery where they can perch and spot the insects on the ground. The foraging perches will provide the Bluebirds with new feeding areas throughout the open space in your yard.
- Providing water no more than 2 inches deep will give Bluebirds a place to bathe. Enhance the water's attractiveness by surrounding the bath with tree branches and placing flat rocks in the water. Adding a Dripper will make your water feature irresistible!
- Provide fruiting plants or trees including sumac, flowering dogwood, multiflora rose hips, Viburnum species, Japanese honeysuckle and greenbrier.
- Use a Bluebird Feeder. Try providing crumbled suet, mealworms, Dogwood berries and chopped, soaked raisins. Bluebird feeders are designed to keep mockingbirds and starlings out and only allow Bluebirds in to feed.
Find many more great tips and information in the Bird Watcher's Digest booklet Enjoying Bluebirds More or in the Stokes Bluebird Book. See our entire selection of Bluebird Products by clicking here!
Let us know what works for you by posting your tips in the Wild Class Blog. We would love to hear your stories!
