Offer Blue Jays Eggshells in Spring to Protect Other Backyard Birds
Backyard birders, here’s a simple wildlife tip that feels downright magical once you try it. During the spring nesting season, Blue Jays sometimes raid other birds’ nests because they’re searching for calcium.
They need this mineral to build strong eggs of their own. One easy bird-friendly solution is already sitting in your kitchen: eggshells!
Instead of tossing eggshells into the compost during spring, rinse them and let them dry, then crumble the pieces and sprinkle them on the ground beneath your bird feeders or around the yard. Blue Jays naturally prefer ground feeding, so this setup lets them gather calcium without pressuring other species’ nests. More calcium for them, fewer lost eggs for everyone else. It’s a true backyard win-win.
Extra Calcium-Rich or Beneficial Offerings for Garden Birds
If you love supporting your garden birds all season long, here are a few more helpful offerings that fill nutritional gaps and help keep peace among your feathered visitors:
Crushed Oyster Shells
A popular option for backyard chickens and wild birds alike. Oyster shell provides a clean, long-lasting calcium source that Blue Jays, Cardinals, and Woodpeckers will appreciate.
Grit or Crushed Gravel
Birds use grit in their gizzards to help digest seeds. Offering a shallow dish of grit reduces stress on their diet and keeps them coming back to your garden.
Mealworms (Live or Dried)
Excellent protein during nesting season and fledging season. Wrens, Bluebirds, Chickadees, and Nuthatches especially love them, and this high-energy food helps cut down on nest predation caused by nutrient stress.
Unsalted Peanuts or Peanut Hearts
A favorite treat for Blue Jays. High-fat foods reduce food competition among bird species and keep birds full, so they’re less likely to raid nests.
Calcium-Enriched Suet Cakes
Some suet blends now include added calcium and insects. These are perfect for Woodpeckers, Jays, and Nuthatches during egg-laying season.
Mockingbird and Robin Treat Mixes
Fruit-based mixes offer hydration and quick sugars for soft-bill birds. Providing varied foods helps prevent aggressive foraging behaviors.
Native Berry Bushes and Seed-Bearing Plants
Berry bushes like Serviceberry, Winterberry Holly, and Elderberry offer natural calcium, antioxidants, and nesting cover. Seed-bearing perennials such as Coneflower, Rudbeckia, and native grasses feed Goldfinches, Sparrows, and Juncos long after the bloom season ends.
A Quick Word on Preparation
Before sharing eggshells with birds:
- Rinse shells lightly
- Let them dry in the sun or a low oven
- Crush them to dime-size flakes
This makes the calcium easier for birds to consume and avoids attracting unwanted pests.
A Backyard Boost for Every Feathered Neighbor
Helping Blue Jays and other backyard birds doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. A handful of crushed eggshells, a scoop of oyster shell, a few native berry bushes, or even a well-placed tray of mealworms can turn an ordinary yard into a thriving mini ecosystem.
By giving birds the nutrients they naturally seek during nesting season, you reduce stress-driven behaviors like egg raiding and create a safer space for every species raising young under Ma Nature’s watchful eye. Small offerings make a big impact, and your garden becomes a haven of harmony, song, and life.
Happy Planting!