Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 2/4/2012

Question
i purchased one and meal worms but the birds won't go in the feeder. we have bluebird houses with perches and the are always occupied every summer.  my husband added a perch and made sure the perch location, length and hole size are the same as the house.  here is the feeder i purchased

http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=CSP-SV109

i removed the plastic side, the bluebirds feed but so do the starlings!! i have seen them try to go in but they don't seem to get in.

Answer
Congratulations. You have a great start as Bluebirders.

1. Feeder - That is not a bad design, but the more successful ones have a platform and entrance at both ends. You could probably modify it. I had the same trouble at first, and I also left one side open until the birds started to use it. Also I had the best success in getting the birds to use it by crumbling up suet blocks rather than meal worms. Bear in mind that there is usually little interest in warm weather when insects are available.

2. Houses - you may not have had this problem, but we recommend no perches as they encourage the killer house sparrows.

3. Starlings - I bought the Martin Marketplace wooden starling trap (814-833-7656)- pricey $81, but the best thing since sliced bread. Free catalog - I have no connection but I have used their products for years. I put one on a pole near my Bluebird feeder and some days I took as many as five starlings out of it. In a couple of weeks they quit coming to my yard.
They cuss you out but you have to be strong and eliminate them. I did drill out the escape hole to 1 and 1/2 inches to let small birds escape.

4. I have written a Bluebird book THE HOW AND WHY OF BLUEBIRDING that is a real Bluebird Bible.
More than 2500 copies are out across the U.S. and Canada. I charge $10 + $2.50 S&H, but as Bluebirders it will be the best money you will ever spend. I have a 100% return policy and I have not had to take one back yet. Bluebird Bob Walshaw, 13019 E. 28th Place, Tulsa, OK 74134

Happy Bluebirding!