Written by Linda Hendricks Spence, BirdingBeyondtheFieldGuide.com
Photo of Western Bluebird by Dan Streiffert
Regardless of whether you have Western Bluebirds, Mountain Bluebirds, or Eastern Bluebirds, all will come to a feeder designed and stocked specifically for them. And they will bring their offspring to the feeder in late spring and summer, so you will see entire families. Check the range maps in your field guide to see which bluebird you might have.
Bluebirds love mealworms and here is a link to just about everything you need to know about mealworms from the North American Bluebird Society: https://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/PDF/FAQ/NABS%20factsheet%20-%20Mealworms%20-%2024May12%20DRAFT.pdf Bluebirds also like fruit and seem to be particularly fond of red raspberries.
Something to consider before you purchase a special bluebird feeder and keep a supply of mealworms on hand – do you actually have bluebirds in your neighborhood? Bird feeders can attract birds to your yard that would not always be there. But in my experience, bluebird feeders do not attract bluebirds who are not already right there. If they are in your yard, they should use your feeder. If they are not already in your yard, the feeder will most likely not draw them in. I am not sure why that is. Birds like chickadees, jays, blackbirds, and finches seem to fly around, looking down for feeders, and then passing the word as soon as they spot some. Bluebirds seem to fly around oblivious to feeders but will use them if they stumble upon them. So, look for bluebirds around your yard before investing time and money in a feeder.
American Robins, European Starlings, and wrens also love mealworms and will raid your bluebird feeder. If you have an abundance of these birds in your neighborhood – especially starlings who can empty a feeder faster than you can blink an eye, there are bluebird feeders designed to deter these birds. Here is a photo of one of these types of bluebird feeders that deters other birds. Wrens can still get to the mealworms, but the larger robins and most especially the starlings just do not fit.
Bluebird feeders can be cleaned with hot water and soap and/or vinegar. Use a cloth or brush to get into all the corners and crevices and rinse thoroughly. Air dry.
