Would you like to attract bluebirds to your backyard? The key to attracting bluebirds is having plentiful nesting locations in the right environment. Bluebirds need and prefer open areas, so they can hunt and capture insects, their main source of nutrition.

Bluebird houses are a great way to attract bluebirds. When mounting a bluebird house, be sure to use predator guards and/or baffles to protect bluebirds and their chicks from cats, raccoons, possums, snakes and other predators. Also, realize that other birds like tree swallows will use the house, potentially forcing bluebirds from the house and backyard. Traps are available to capture the invasive birds and relocate them.

Beside providing houses to attract bluebirds berry producing plants, like bittersweet and holly, can be planted to attract bluebirds. Bluebirds eat berries for winter time food. To provide supplemental nutrion, consider offering mealworms. Bluebirds love mealworms, and be sure to whistle or ring a bell when stocking the feeder, because Bluebirds can be trained to respond to calls.

Consider a Bluebird feeder, which requires a bluebird to enter the feeder through a small hole to get to the mealworms. Generally, only the Bluebirds will enter the feeder, conserving mealworms for them and not the other visitors to your yard.

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