Attracting Bluebirds and Wrens
In our last post, Watch Out for Birds! we identified some birds common to Missouri, so now we can focus on how to attract them. Not all birds utilize birdhouses, so we will focus on a couple that do: Bluebirds and Wrens.
Bluebirds
Bluebirds will make their nests in natural cavities, artificial nesting boxes or houses. They will start looking for nests as early as the end of February and through July. Bluebirds prefer a more open area to build their nests. If you live near a wooded area, place the birdhouse near the woods, but not inside. Check out our locally-made Cedar Bluebird House.
Take a look at this video by “Birdman Mel” on attracting Bluebirds to your yard:
A Bluebird is one of the few birds that prefer to go inside the feeder to eat. What do Bluebirds like to eat? Mealworms (live or dried), peanuts, dried fruit, suet, and sunflower hearts. Again, place the feeder in an open area. We have a Post-Mount and a Hanging Bluebird Feeder that work well.
Wrens
The Wren is another bird that will utilize any cavernous spaces. According to the National Audubon Society:
Nest site is in any kind of cavity, including natural hollows in trees and stumps, old woodpecker holes, crevices in buildings, often in nest boxes. May nest in almost any kind of enclosed space (flowerpots, parked cars, shoes, drainpipes, etc.).
If you have your own man-made wren houses, you should put them out early in the spring so they have a chance to check them out before they start nesting in early May. We have a Hanging Cedar Wren House ready to go!
Wrens are insect-eaters, so they may not visit your regular bird feeders. Like Bluebirds, you may entice them with mealworms, peanuts, or suet. They do like water, though, so a birdbath (or multiple water sources) would be a welcoming feature for them. Placing it near dense bushes will give them a place to escape from predators.
Other Things to Consider
If you are trying to attract Bluebirds, you may not want to attract Wrens at the same time. Since they both utilize the same type of house, they will be in competition. The Wren is more aggressive and will destroy another bird’s eggs and take over their nest.
If you don’t see any activity in or around your birdhouses or feeders, be patient. It may take the birds a couple of weeks to find them. If you still don’t see them, try moving them to a different part of the yard.
We hope you have found this article helpful for attracting Bluebirds and Wrens. Please leave any comments or questions you have and remember to like us on Facebook. Thanks for reading and happy birdwatching!
