Bluebirds are beautiful songbirds with brightly colored plumage that can add joy and life to any yard or garden. If you live in the United States and want to attract these lovely birds to your outdoor space, there are several effective techniques you can try. With a little effort, you can turn your yard into a bluebird paradise. In this article we talk about How to Attract Bluebirds to Your Yard In US.
Offer the Proper Nesting Boxes
The first step to bringing bluebirds to your yard is giving them a place to raise their young. Bluebirds nest in cavities, traditionally old woodpecker holes in trees. However, suitable natural nesting sites have become scarce due to development and competition from invasive bird species. You can provide vital breeding spots for bluebirds by installing customized nest boxes created specifically for their needs.
When shopping for or building a bluebird house, make sure it has the following features:
- Dimensions of around 5x5x9 inches
- 1 1⁄2 inch diameter entrance hole halfway up the front
- No perch or ledge for predators to stand on
- Ventilation holes near the top
- Removable side, top, or front for easy monitoring and cleaning
Also ensure your nesting boxes are made of a durable, weatherproof material like cedar, redwood, or exterior plywood. Install boxes at least 5 feet off the ground, facing east or southeast towards the morning sun. Add a predator guard below the entrance and baffles on the mounting pole. Space multiple houses 100-150 feet apart to reduce territorial battles. Properly constructed and well-placed nest boxes offer bluebirds critical nesting sites in your yard’s mini ecosystem.
Provide Open, Short-Grass Foraging Areas
In addition to nesting spots, bluebirds need suitable places in your landscape to find the insects that make up the majority of their diet. Shorter grass allows them to easily spot food on the ground. Open areas give them room to swoop down and grab crawling and flying bugs.
You can establish prime bluebird feeding zones by adjusting your mowing and planting:
- Allow certain sections of lawn to grow only 2-4 inches tall. Keep ground vegetation trim underneath bird feeders.
- Remove dense brush and thickets. Thin out vegetation along woodland edges.
- Plant native wildflowers and flowering plants that attract insect prey. Avoid pesticide use.
- Place flat rocks, gravel, mulch beds, or low platforms of sand/dirt where bluebirds can perch-hunt for meals.
By providing the ideal balance of open visibility, low grass, and insect abundance, your yard can become a 24-hour bluebird buffet!
Offer Clean, Fresh Water Sources
Like all wildlife, bluebirds need a reliable supply of clean water for drinking and bathing. Making fresh water accessible year-round is an excellent way to entice bluebirds to linger in your yard even longer.
Some great water sources you can add include:
- Birdbath with shallow areas
- Dripping water fountain or mister
- Garden pond with gradual slope entry
- Water garden with lily pads or other shallow wading plants
- Moving water from landscaping waterfall or stream
- Low dish, tray, or pot saucer filled with pebbles and clean water, refreshed daily
Position water sources near trees or shrubs to give bluebirds shelter while they bathe and rehydrate. Adding a water feature will satisfy a critical bluebird requirement while adding tranquil beauty to your garden.
Offer Supplemental High-Energy Foods
While bluebirds naturally prefer protein-rich insects, you can provide supplemental energy-packed foods to help them thrive. Offering backyard bird feeders stocked with high-fat suet cakes or mealworms is an excellent way to support nesting and migrating bluebirds.
Make high-calorie foods easily available by:
- Hanging small mesh bags or cage feeders filled with live mealworms
- Embedding large suet cages in the ground or mounting on trees/posts
- Topping fence posts or other flat surfaces with trays or pans of mealworms and softened suet
- Setting up hopper-style feeders designed to dispense suet nuggets
Just make sure to situate feeding stations in open areas 10-15 feet from dense bushes or trees where predators may hide. Delicious supplementary foods will reward visiting bluebirds with fuel for all their active hunting, singing, nest-building and parenting of chicks.
Offer Nesting Materials
You can further entice bluebirds to take up residence by providing natural materials they use to build warm, cozy nests. Bluebirds carry grass, pine needles, stems, hair, feathers or other soft items into nest boxes one small bit at a time. Supplying these resources can help conserve the energy of your yard’s bluebirds for egg-laying and raising multiple broods per season.
Set out a shallow basket, old flower pot, tray, or bin filled loosely with nest-making ingredients like:
- Dried grasses, straw, hay stems
- Shredded coconut coir or jute fibers
- Pet fur, human hair clippings
- Feathers
- Cotton balls or natural unspun cotton
- Shredded paper strips
Attach the container to a fence, tree, or post just below your nest boxes. Refill it as needed through the season so your resident bluebirds always have a ready supply of nest materials nearby. Don’t use synthetic fabrics, plastic, tinsel or dyed materials which could harm birds or nestlings. With the right organic fibers on hand, you’ll have one less thing your bluebirds need to worry about as they build their nurseries and raise their young in your backyard habitat.
Follow Bluebird Behavior Guidance
Finally, be sure to adhere to ethical bluebird attraction and monitoring principles. Follow these best practices from reputable wildlife conservation groups:
- Never disturb active nests. Observe boxes from a distance using binoculars or scopes.
- Carefully open and inspect boxes only before each breeding season and after young have fully fledged in the fall.
- Clean out old nests and debris with hot water and non-toxic soap. Never use chemicals.
- Keep monitoring records but avoid visiting nests more than once per week.
- Only open nest boxes when female bluebirds are away feeding. If they alarm call, leave the area immediately.
- Let nature take its course – don’t interfere with eggs or baby birds unless injured.
- Keep cats indoors so they don’t disturb or prey on fledglings.
- Follow reporting guidelines and acquire permits if required in your state.
If challenges arise with non-native species like house sparrows attempting to take over boxes, work with conservation groups to identify humane deterrent solutions. Proper nest box practices and stewardship will maintain your bluebirds’ trust so your yard remains part of their migratory habitat for years to come.
Transform Your Yard into a Bluebird Bonanza
With the right combination of open grassy areas, insect abundance, clean water, sheltering trees, high-energy foods, nesting boxes and ethical oversight, you can convert your yard into the perfect all-inclusive habitat for bluebirds. By catering to their specialized needs for breeding, feeding and taking refuge, you’ll enjoy the sight, sound and activity of these stunning songbirds for seasons to come. Soon, flashes of brilliant blue will be regular visitors to your transformed outdoor sanctuary. So try these proven methods to roll out the welcome mat and enjoy watching beautiful bluebirds make themselves at home. I sincerely hope you find this “How to Attract Bluebirds to Your Yard In US” article helpful.