Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird

It’s about that time of year when we will begin to see the Eastern Bluebird around town. And yet, some of us who have bluebirds are among the lucky. Why is that? Unlike many of our backyard birds, they don’t eat seed. Bluebirds have a diet of insects and berries. Major prey include: caterpillars, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers and spiders. In the fall and winter berries are the food of choice including blueberries, black cherry, wild holly, dogwood berries, honey suckle and more. Bluebirds have also eaten salamanders, shrews, snakes, lizards and tree frogs, but only rarely. So how do you attract these birds to your feeding stations? One of many ways is to offer meal worms.

Unfortunately offering meal worms may not be enough to get bluebirds to come to your back yard. Habitat and nesting availability are major factors in bluebird visits. Eastern Bluebirds live in meadows and openings surrounded by trees that offer suitable nesting. They will build their nests in natural cavities typically excavated by woodpeckers or they will use nesting boxes. With more people offering proper bluebird habitats, you may be able to see them along roads, field edges, golf courses and other open areas. They may be perching on wires, posts and low branches scanning the ground for prey or gulping down berries.

Keep a look out for these beautiful spring visitor!

Press play to hear the Eastern Bluebird

________________________________________________

Podcast: Play in new window