Bluebird Basics Here’s how to attract and maintain bluebirds in your yard: · Provide suitable habitat. Open or semi-open areas with short or mown vegetation and scattered trees – parks, suburbs, golf courses, schools, farms, and forest clearings – all provide ideal conditions for bluebirds to forage for the insects that make up most of their summer/breeding diet. · Bluebirds are attracted to areas with perches from which to hunt. Consider erecting additional perches using dead tree limbs or garden stakes, etc., throughout your yard. · Set up a birdbath or other reliable source of clean water for drinking and bathing in all seasons. A heating element can keep the water open in the winter. A simple dripper, which birds love, can be created by hanging a hose over the bath. Locate the bath far enough from the brush to protect the birds from predators. · In Virginia, bluebirds do not migrate. When insects aren’t flying during the winter months, they rely mostly on berries. Plant berry-producing trees, shrubs, and vines such as dogwood, cedar, holly, hackberry, hawthorn, serviceberry, winterberry, Virginia creeper, and sumac. · Mealworms can be fed year-round, especially if the bluebirds are habituated to them during the nesting season. They’re available in bulk from sources such as Exotic Nutrition Company. Freeze-dried worms also can be used. Suet with peanut butter and berries can be offered as well as pre-soaked raisins or berries. · Install a wooden nest box on a metal pole prior to the nesting season, but only if you’re prepared to check on it regularly. Suggestions for sitting the box in your yard and design specs/safety information and available at the Virginia Bluebird Society’s website ( virginiabluebirds.org ). If Carolina chickadees, tufted titmouse, Carolina wrens, or tree swallows nest in your box, enjoy them as well. They are native and protected species and their nests must not be removed. · Consider retaining dead trees with woodpecker holes in wooded areas. Bluebirds will nest in unused cavities. · Protect the nest box with a snake guard baffle on the mounting pole. The bluebird society also recommends attaching Noel guards around the entrance hole to protect against animal predators such as raccoons, squirrels, and cats. · Provide winter roosts for the bluebirds by cleaning and leaving the nest boxes up after nesting. Bluebirds will roost together in numbers to conserve body warmth on cold nights. · Bluebirds are generally tolerant of human activity and are not disturbed for long by cars, lawn mowers, and weekly checking of the nest box, etc. However, do try to dissuade curious people from opening the box or children from constantly playing beside the box. Researchers at the College of William and Mary determined that unpredictable noise and movement might stress nesting birds.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 18:32:19 +0000
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