Bluebird Perch

In our garden we have some antique statues of geese on the lawn. Today Mr. Bluebird decided to use them as a hunting perch and he looked comical sitting on the head of the goose. Made me think of the myth, "do hummingbirds ride on the backs of geese?" No hummingbirds do not, and neither do bluebirds, but bluebirds welcome anything that is a low perch from which to hunt insects on the ground, even a fake goose. Bluebirds get their prey by sitting and watching the ground then swooping down and grabbing the insect.

So If you want to attract bluebirds to your property, in addition to having the right kind of bluebird house, you also need habitat of open areas of short grass. By placing a perch in the grass, you enhance the ability of bluebirds to get their food. We place wooden stakes, or a tall (like 4-5 ft.) old branch in the ground near our bluebird houses as hunting perches. Other birds, such as Eastern Phoebes and Eastern Kingbirds, use the perches to hunt as well.