Some of our customers have reported seeing Eastern Bluebirds in their yards recently! They (the birds, not the customers) normally are south at this time of year and return in early spring. So if you’re lucky enough to host a few, treat them right! Given their choice, bluebirds eat insects and worms in the warmer months and fruit, nuts, and berries in the colder months. The Rock Pile offers mealworms as well as Bluebird Nuggets. The nuggets contain rendered beef suet, roasted peanuts, raisins, corn, and oats, meeting many of the bluebirds needs in a single feed. Many birders have also reported success with raisins and small berries such as cranberries.
Many first-time bluebird feeders have trouble getting the birds to notice the food. This is because bluebirds are not used to eating from feeders, and are simply not aware that it’s there for them. Once they figure it out, they’ll eat it all season long. And since it’s the adults who teach the young what to eat, the rewards for you, the viewer, are long-term. An easy way to do this is to put small amounts of the food out a couple times a day, at the same times every day if possible. Make sure the feeder is within view of their normal perching spot to start with (you can move it later). If using an enclosed feeder (as opposed to an open dish), start by putting food on top of the feeder; they’ll figure out in a short while that the good stuff’s inside, too!
