The Best Type Of Bird To Attract To Your Yard For Natural Pest Control

Birds can be amazing to watch in a backyard setting, especially when they're bright and colorful. If they can help you cut down on pesky insects that tend to ruin your outdoor fun and wreak havoc in your garden, that's even better. Since most birds are omnivores — meaning they eat insects as at least part of their diet — attracting them to your outdoor spaces can prove to be beneficial. That's certainly true with bluebirds since they consume lots of insects including grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, various beetles, ants, termites, and even flies. They eat so many different types of insects that in fact, they're one of the birds that can help you solve your wasp problem. And when they're nesting, the number of insects they glean for sustenance goes even higher than normal since their babies require an abundance of protein. 

There are several different types of bluebirds across the United States: eastern bluebirds, mountain bluebirds, and western bluebirds. Of the three, mountain bluebirds are all blue (albeit paler on their breasts) while eastern and western bluebirds have some rusty red and white coloring on their throats and breasts in addition to bright blue heads and wings. All of these beautiful birds have the same likes and dislikes when it comes to dinner habits and how they nest, so no matter where you reside, there's a chance you can lure them into your yard.

Since bluebirds are definitely among the types of birds you want in your yard, taking steps to attract them makes sense. One of the best ways to get bluebirds to visit is by adding a nesting box since pairs of breeders will readily use them for more than one brood each year. Be sure to select a box in an appropriate size for this type of bird and plan to place it in a partially wooded area well ahead of the nesting season. Adding guards to keep other animals from stealing eggs or killing young birds is also a good idea whether you buy a nesting box or DIY one.

You can also attract bluebirds with food, but not standard birdseed. Using an open or table style feeder, you can offer them dried or live mealworms instead. However, don't make a harmful mistake when feeding bluebirds by giving them too many mealworms, as that can throw off their nutritional balance. Planting flowering trees that attract insects and bushes that produce berries for off-season sustenance can also keep bluebirds interested in visiting. Your local extension office can help you decide the best selections to grow in your area. Lastly, bluebirds like flowing water, so adding a small fountain where they can frolic and take a sip can also entice them onto your property. Give some of these ideas a try if you'd like to employ bluebirds to help control pests in a natural way.