Any point to putting out bluebird feeder if already have tons of bluebirds? (1 Viewer)

[otherchuck]

Greetings all!

I live in a rural area north of Santa Barbara, California, USA. We are blessed with a ton of western bluebirds, fortunately. Twenty-five yrs ago, as a house warming gift, my brother gave me a decorative birdhouse he made that was probably the wrong dimensions for bluebirds, but I put it up anyway. It remained (as far as I know) vacant for decades until a few yrs ago, I blocked up the original entry hole and drilled in an entry hole of the correct dimensions (and got rid of the perch). Well, that did the trick: The house was occupied last season, and I just saw a female bluebird go in it and not come out for as long as I watched.

So then I think, "well, maybe it would be nice of me to provide the new residents with a feeder." And I am happy to do so, but since we have tons of bluebirds around anyway, they obviously have more than enough stuff to eat. So what are your thoughts? Let them make do with the natural forage, safe in the knowledge they won't starve, or really nurture the heck out of them by putting a feeder nearby? I suspect they can find food all year round around here, but I could help them out by putting out a feeder just during winter.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts!

Otherchuck

 

[KC Foggin]

Bluebirds are a good thing so I would put out a couple of more feeders.

 

[otherchuck]

Okay, I will figure out what they like to eat and put out a feeder for them. They will love me!

Otherchuck

 

[Tired]

Bird feeders are mainly to bring the birds to where you can easily see them. The best way to help any species of bird is to plant things that either produce their food, or attract things they eat. Human feeding of wild animals should never go to an extent that boosts the population of the animals past what the area can normally support. The only time it should be a significant part of their diet is in unusual climate swings, like unseasonal freezes.

The best way to help the bluebirds is plant native plants that benefit them. If you want to add a feeder so you can watch them eating, go right ahead! But recognize that the main benefit is to you, not the birds. Though I'm sure they appreciate the snacks.

Bluebirds really like mealworms. You can get big bags of dried mealworms and put out a dish feeder with some of those, and hopefully they'll come for it. A practically guaranteed attractant is live mealworms, but that gets real pricy to maintain.