Bluebirds..Check out the website www.carlislecountryliving.com for more tidbits.

Bluebirds Bluebirds are a favorite Pennsylvanian bird and a great addition to the backyard garden.  These colorful birds’ are surprisingly easy to attract.  To encourage bluebirds - just give them water, food and a place to nest. Food Bluebirds’ diet consists of approximately 75% insects and the rest is composed of seeds and berries. Meal worms are a favorite snack of bluebirds. Live or freeze dried mealworms may be fed in an open feeder or a closed feeder. Closed feeders prevent other larger birds from enjoying the mealworms, but the clear sides still allow the bluebirds to be seen. Bluebirds may be trained to come to a mealworm feeder immediately whenever mealworms are fed. Water Bluebirds enjoy water and will use bird baths for both drinking and bathing.   (Stop in and see the picture of bluebirds using a birdbath). Bluebird boxes Bluebird boxes are the most important element to attracting bluebirds.  The dimensions of the house should be approximately 5-6” wide and 5-6” depth and 10” high with the entrance hole 1.5” diameter. There is no perch required as this will attract other birds that will compete for housing such as wrens and sparrows. The house should be easy to clean and located 4-6’ off the ground. Pipe is the preferred fence post as this will help keep predators from raiding the box.  Bluebird boxes should be located in open areas such as pasturelands and the edges of fields away from pesticide applications and people interference. The hole should be placed away from westerly winds. Since bluebirds do not always migrate, houses should be kept up all season as bluebirds may use houses during the winter to roost. Bluebirds are territorial during mating season, so it is recommended to keep bluebird boxes 100 feet apart. If there is a problem with competing birds, the houses may be placed as close as 25 feet apart. Bluebirds nests are cup shaped and consists of mostly fine grasses with occasional pine needles. After taking 1-2 weeks to construct a nest, bluebirds will lay 4-6 light blue (or white) eggs. The eggs will hatch in two weeks, and the bluebirds will leave the nest after another 2-3 weeks. After the baby birds leave the box, it is recommended to clean out the nesting material. Many times the bluebirds will raise a second brood and build another nest on top of the old nest, leaving baby bluebirds closer to the top making the birds a casualty of predators or falling out the nest.