The Eastern Bluebird population has severely declined in the 1970's because of competition in nesting sites from the House and European Sparrows. In 1978, the North American Bluebird Society was formed and they have placed Bluebird nesting boxes all over the country. They feed on insects and come to feeders in search of peanut butter mixes, mealworms, berries and raisins. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher lives in woods, swamps and shrubby areas. They actively search trees and crevices for insects, their eggs and larvae, and spiders.
Juveniles are a grayish brown.
They come to feeders looking for suet and seed, and forage for insects, spiders, snails, salamanders, earthworms and garbage. Introduced into New York City from Europe in 1890, they have since spread across America. To reduce competition from starlings for birdhouses, make sure the entrance hole is one and one-half inches or less in diameter, making the holes are too small for starlings to enter. They are fond of eating bees and wasps, and will raid their nest. The Scarlet Tanager and Summer and Summer Tanager are aggressive towards one another where their range overlaps.