In looking at this feeder you should get a general idea of how a bluebird feeder works. If you are handy with tools you could build one that is similar. Consider buying from NABS. Your purchase will help a worthy cause and have a product that works and should last a lifetime. Although the design is patented, you can build a feeder using the same principles for yourself.
Small wood rods are included to be used as perches. These will insure that the birds will light close to the food and to the entrance holes. When the bluebirds get used to using the feeder, dispose of these perches. The bluebirds do not need these perches and their absence will insure that other birds do not harass the bluebirds while they are inside the feeder.
Update: Until the bluebirds get used exiting the feeder, place a few horizontal strips of electrical tape on the Plexiglas sides. This will insure they find the exits easily.
Much thought has been given to incorporate features to help get the bluebirds to start using the feeder. The end result is a product that starts of allowing any bird to access this feeder and by steps eliminate all birds except the bluebirds.
Put your mealworms or bluebird food in a small lowsided container so the worms cannot crawl out. A container with steep sides so the worms cannot crawl out. A small margarine tub with the sides trimmed down to an inch or so high works well. Place this container so that is easily visible to the bluebirds. It doesn't matter whether it's on the ground, a table or whatever. This step is to get the bluebirds to associate the container with their food.
When they have eaten from it a couple of times, place the container on, or close to the feeder. After the birds have eaten from the container at this location, place the container inside your bluebird feeder, leaving the front, side or whatever you can leave open with a perch within inches of this container, as in the view above, depending on the type feeder you have.
When the bluebirds have eaten from within the feeder a few times, close the swinging door, or replace whatever large opening you removed. Later, after the birds are used to feeding inside and exiting with no problem, replace the 1 1/2" predator guards you removed earlier. so only the bluebirds can gain entrance to the feeder.
The Bluebird Feeder pictured above is one that I spent several years designing and testing.
If you do not have a feeder designed for bluebirds, this feeder will do a good job for you.
Basic Principles of a Bluebird feeder:
Bluebirds are cavity dwellers and have no reservations about going into a feeder. Non cavity birds will not go into a properly designed feeder. I have never observed any other bird using a bluebird feeder other than wrens. Many times I have observed sparrows, finches and other birds that could easily enter, peer though the entrance hole with mealworms or Bluebird Treat inside, but still would not enter the feeder. They must have the same fear of cavities that I have of heights. (:-(
The feeder pictured above has a side door that swings up so that feed can be placed into the feeder. It also has larger holes in both ends covered by 1 1/2" predator guards. Remove the predator guards and leave the larger holes exposed. Swing the side door up. This leaves you with a unit with large entrance holes in each end and one side open.
Getting Bluebirds to use the feeder
This page is under construction, more information will be added in the near future.
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