It is not normally necessary to feed Bluebirds; however, many people find they enjoy offering treats to their birds, both to help them through times of difficulty, and to have the opportunity to interact more closely with these gentle, trusting creatures. They eat insects, insect larvae, and berries. Some common native berry bushes that bluebirds enjoy are Flowering Dogwood, Holly, Juniper, Sumac, Mountain-ash, Mistletoe, Hackberry, and Firethorn.  (See Bluebird facts Tab and Native Plants subtab for a complete list of plants.) Another food commonly offered to Bluebirds is mealworms.  They are available as live or dried. The dried are significantly cheaper and easier to store and use. If you use live worms, you will not be able to buy enough as the Bluebirds voraciously consume them. They can be purchased in bulk from several mail-order houses, or obtained locally at bait shops and wild bird supply stores. During the winter months, Bluebirds will come to suet feeders and seed feeders containing sunflower meats. One caution is if you like to feed other species of birds – do not place your Bluebird nestboxes too close to your wild bird feeding area. Feeding seed “blends” containing corn, milo, and millet, or feeding stale bread, rolls, or donuts will attract house sparrows to your yard, and endanger your Bluebirds. Bluebirds also enjoy shallow birdbaths, especially those with a drip/misting feature.