Bird Basics

Want to attract
Eastern Bluebirds?

(Sialia sialis)

How to Mount the House

Placement of the House

A Bluebird's Diet

The March return of the Eastern Bluebird is a true sign that spring has arrived.  If you live near a field, or any open area including yards, roadsides and even cemeteries, which contains a mix of open spaces and trees, you have a very good chance of attracting a nesting pair to your property.

Eastern Bluebirds originally nested in tree cavities, but suburban growth has dictated the removal of "snags" or dead-limb trees, reducing native nesting habitat.

All Seasons recommends and sells Peterson-style Bluebird Houses.  The original design was by Minnesotan Dick Peterson, an active proponent of the Bluebird Recovery Project, which at one point was the country's largest statewide organization for bluebirds.

Anchor the house 4-6 feet above the ground, ideally on a post near a small tree, wire fence or fence post (within 100 feet) providing a nice perching site for the initial flight of the fledglings.  The entry should face east or northeast, providing shelter from north- and south-western storm fronts, and the hot midday sun.

You may want to also consider using a predator guard for your house.  Many people use a cylindrical screen around the house's opening to restrict larger birds and squirrels from trying to enter.  All Seasons also offers predator guards for the pole; preventing raccoons from scaling the post in search of eggs.

Bluebirds are territorial and generally will not nest closer than 100 yards to other bluebirds.  For the best results, mount pairs of houses 10 to 25 feet apart.  Sometimes tree swallows will fight bluebirds
so vigorously for a house that you might need to mount the houses back-to-back on the same pole.  Keep the nest box pairs at least 100 yards apart to
encourage more bluebirds to nest.

Eastern Bluebirds are primarily insectivores, ingesting spiders, mealworms, millipedes, caterpillars and other delectable lawn bugs.  It is vital to the ongoing health of the bluebird population to provide a pesticide- or chemical-free yard.

During the early spring and late fall, when insects are less plentiful, the bluebirds will dine on sumac seeds and honeysuckle, as well as several types of berries and grapes.  They also have been attracted to feeders using nut meats, suet and raisins.

Many people have success attracting bluebirds to specific insectivore feeders.  All Seasons offers several types of feeders, and in our stores we sell the mealworms to use in them.  (Sorry, haven't figured out how to ship these yet, but we're working on it!)

Want to learn more?

For more information on the Eastern Bluebird, visit the North American Bluebird Society.