I have a “woodsy” area around my house also. The bluebirds nest in the box and seem to find an endless supply of grubs and insects in the natural surroundings. I tried to feed the mealworms also but I stopped when (1) the didn’t take any from the feeder and (2) they seemed to do well on their own feeding the 2 or 3 broods of 5 hatchlings and themselves each year.
As the others have said – do clean the box now. It is better to clean in now while we have a bit of mild weather while they are roosting. Even if it takes a day or 2 for the box to dry out they will return. You are not evicting them forever. Nature has way of keeping them healthy.
David
David
Stafford, VA