Feeding bluebirds

[Staff]

FEEDING BLUEBIRDS
by Linda Janilla Peterson

Feeding Bluebirds by Linda Janilla
excerpts from above:

In 1991, I received a research grant from the Minnesota Bluebird Recovery Program to attempt to develop a food that would be acceptable and nutritional for Bluebirds. A secondary purpose of the study was to evaluate commercial "Bluebird Foods" that are on the market today and determine what style of feeders work for bluebirds.

Why feed bluebirds? Don't they eat insects? Bluebirds do normally eat insects and wild fruits and berries. Sometimes, they eat food put out for other birds. Situations arise when natural foods are not available. Insects become inactive at and below 40 degrees. Wild fruits and berries can be covered with snow and ice. Late winter snows and storms can all make the bluebirds' natural foods unavailable. Wild fruits and berries are stripped by starlings and other birds. Here, in Minnesota and other upper mid-west states in 1990, late spring snows stressed bluebirds who had nestlings. There were many nestling deaths and abandonments. In all these instances, feeding bluebirds an acceptable food can help the birds survive. It is also fun to feed bluebirds! It can bring the birds closer to you for observation and enjoyment...