We feature a variety of bluebird feeders and blue bird feeder kits from Songbird Cedar and Coveside. These wild bird feeders are also known as wooden bird feeders and cedar bird feeders.

During the nesting season, the bluebird's diet consists mostly of ground insects. Later, during fall and winter they switch over to berries when necessary. Their beaks simply are not designed for cracking open seeds and is why they are rarely seen at feeders. The exception may be a feeder that offers hulled sunflower chips in winter but as long as insects and berries are readily available, in all likelihood, they won't visit this type of feeder either.

There are, however, bluebird feeders in which you can place mealworms that the bluebirds will readily accept. Some people just put them in an open plate or platform feeder, but other birds will also scoff these morsels up quickly.

Typical Bluebird feeders will look similar to a house with Plexiglass or slotted sides so the birds can see in, with 1 1/2" entrance holes (like a nextbox) on each end so they can enter and leave easily and will keep most other birds out.    Learn More>>>>

Once spring comes the bluebirds will show up looking for suitable real estate to set up housekeeping in anticipation of their courtship and raising families. In 2005 the first bluebirds in Kittitas County, WA were seen on March 10^th and 11^th when an exploratory hike out along the Watt Canyon Elk Fence was made to check out the conditions of the nest boxes there. One male was already trying to convince a female that he had found the perfect bungalow!

Mid-March is the time frame that you want to be ready for bluebirds, according to the National Bluebird Society.

It’s never too early to go out and check up on your boxes ~ repair, replace, upgrade, add more boxes, relocate to a better location and/or clean (see discussion that follows). Need a new bluebird house? Check out the more popular bluebird houses to the right.  Additionally some more bluebird houses can be found at Birdhousesonly.com.

A few notes on spring cleaning: watch out for enterprising mice and/or chipmunks. They will move into a box and make a nest of finely shredded materials. Use caution; always stand upwind and not in front of the door as you open the box. There is a risk of Hantavirus which is airborne. Some people use dust filter masks and wear gloves as an added precaution. However, one can just try to be very careful about not breathing in the dust. Handi-wipes or an anti-bacterial gel can be used after working at each box. Also, if there is a mouse in the box, it may try to bite or jump out at you!

To clean or not to clean? ~ an on-going debate! Many people that monitor boxes feel strongly that the cleaning is essential for reducing parasites (blowflies that suck blood from the nestlings) and disease. Cornell labs and other science groups’ studies haven’t shown that this really helps, in fact, the data shows that there is often a better survival and success rate with birds who use boxes with old nests in them! Surprised? Part of the reason has to do with the Jewel wasp, a non-stinging parasitic wasp that actually eats the blowfly larvae. When old nests are removed and the boxes cleaned, the Jewel Wasp larvae that hibernate in the old nest material over the winter are destroyed. The studies quoted also showed that Eastern bluebirds overwhelmingly preferred boxes with old nests.

Getting your Nesting Boxes ready for Bluebirds information is courtesy of Jan Demorest of Kittitas Audubon.