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Bluebirds prefer to live in open grassy areas near a park, golf course, meadow, pasture or even a cemetery. Bluebirds eat large quantities of insects a day. In fact 60-80% of their diet is insects. They like to perch on fence posts or small trees and swoop down to eat insects on the grassy ground. Make sure you have an open, grassy area in your yard with perching spaces. Suspend your use of chemicals and pesticides. A chemical free yard has insects like beetles, grasshoppers and caterpillars that bluebirds love to eat. A backyard that offers natural populations of insects is a welcoming place for bluebirds. When it comes to attracting bluebirds, they cannot resist water. Bluebirds and bird baths go together; Bluebirds are attracted to the sound of dripping or running water. Adding this type of action to your bird bath water helps to keep it clean and attract bluebirds into your yard.
An important factor in bluebird propagation is loss to predators. Cats have been known to crouch beneath nesting boxes and pounce upon adult birds when they prepare to enter the box. Snakes and Raccoons and other predators climb posts to get at eggs or chicks. One way of reducing these losses is to raise the height of the box. Bluebirds will occupy boxes 15 feet or more above the ground. Unfortunately, boxes more than 5 feet high are difficult to monitor and maintain. Go telescopic, I prefer two pieces of conduit pipe 1.5inches inside a 2in. both section 5 to 6 feet in length. Place a pin into desired height.
( Never, Never place a nest box on a Tree, or a Fence Post because you are SURE to loose eggs and chicks. 1'' to1 ½ inch pipe 5 to 6 feet high with A baffle install on the pole to prevent predators from climbing works great! )
Like all other birds during nesting season, bluebirds are territorial. I recommend nest boxes to be placed 150 yards apart. Remember location - location - location is the most important factor to remember when where should I place my nest box.
An important factor in bluebird propagation is loss to predators. Cats have been known to crouch beneath nesting boxes and pounce upon adult birds when they prepare to enter the box. Snakes and Raccoons and other predators climb posts to get at eggs or chicks. One way of reducing these losses is to raise the height of the box. Bluebirds will occupy boxes 15 feet or more above the ground. Unfortunately, boxes more than 5 feet high are difficult to monitor and maintain. Go telescopic, I prefer two pieces of conduit pipe 1.5inches inside a 2in. both section 5 to 6 feet in length. Place a pin into desired height.
( Never, Never place a nest box on a Tree, or a Fence Post because you are SURE to loose eggs and chicks. 1'' to1 ½ inch pipe 5 to 6 feet high with A baffle install on the pole to prevent predators from climbing works great! )
Like all other birds during nesting season, bluebirds are territorial. I recommend nest boxes to be placed 150 yards apart. Remember location - location - location is the most important factor to remember when where should I place my nest box.
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