BIRD HOUSES
Attracting birds
to your backyard can be a most fascinating hobby. Bird Feeders are an excellent way to bring birds to your area, and by adding a Bird House or Nesting Box, you can also witness their amazing nesting habits. Over 50 species of North American birds are known to use Bird Houses, so
why not give it a try? Here are some
QUESTIONS to consider, and facts and tips that will help you attract birds to your
Backyard Bird House.
Click "Read More" below answers and more Tips!.
BIRDS THAT USE
BIRD HOUSES TO RAISE THEIR BABIES:
Chickadee
Nuthatch
Wren
Woodpeckers ? may prefer to excavate their own.
Finch
Sparrow
Blue Birds
Owl
Purple Martin
Swallow
Robin and Mourning Dove ? may use a nesting shelf.
Bats are also attracted to nesting boxes. Selection of Quality Bird Specific Bird Houses
Wild birds like to survey the property before
they move in. Fall is a good time to
put out a clean birdhouse so as they do their fall feeding frenzy, they can get
accustomed to the new digs. If you are
waiting until spring, make it Early Spring, as you may not see the birds before
it is nesting season. Some species nest as early as February.
Place at a height
that is convenient for you to see and to clean.
Houses mounted on
a pole are less vulnerable to predators than ones attached to tress trunks or
hung from branches. A smooth and
slippery pole discourage predators.
Don?t put nesting
boxes near bird feeders.
If possible, place
bird house near a berried bush or other natural habitat.
Don?t put more
than one box in a tree, unless the tree is extremely large or the boxes are for
different species.
If you have very
hot summers, face the entrance holes of your boxes north or east to avoid
overheating the box.Place entrance hole away from prevailing winds and storms in your area.
Place where
predators, including house cats, are least likely to disturb.
Use no more than
four small nest boxes for any one species or one large box per acre.
Choose a Quality
Bird House that is built for effective nesting, and not just because it is
cute. If the bird house has these
features and is attractive or decorative, all the better.
1.
Size
of Entrance Hole ? Most common hole-nesting birds can use an entrance hole 1?
inches in diameter. A hole this size
will help keep out Starlings and other predators. See chart below for specifics.
2.
No
Perch ? Birds do not need a perch outside their ?door?. They may attract House Sparrow or other
birds to take over their nest.
3.
Dimensions
? The inside floor dimensions of the box should be at least 4 by 4 inches so
there is room for the young to develop.
4.
Box
Height ? The distance from the floor to the bottom of the entrance hole should
be at least 5 inches to keep the young well down in the box and away from
predators that may approach the entrance hole.
5.
Ability
to Open ? An opening from the front, top or side helps you to monitor the
progress and to clean out the box at the end of each season.
6.
Ventilation
? Holes or slits at the top of the box somewhere lets hot air out when the sun
warms the box during summer.
7.
Drainage
Holes ? Holes at the bottom help to drain out water.
8.
Attaching
the Box ? Look for a way to attach the nesting box such as a pole attachment,
brackets, holes or a hook for hanging.
9.
Materials
? If the box is wood or similar material, it should be at least ? inch thick to
provide insulation from heat and cold. Purple Martin houses can be made of
metal.
10. Roof Overhang ? The roof can provide an
overhang of 1 to 2 inches to shade the entrance and help keep the rain out.
BIRD HOUSE ENTRANCE HOLE SIZE CHART
If you are trying to attract a specific species to a Bird House, use
these guidelines for the size of the entrance hole:
Nuthatch (1-1.25 inches)
Chickadee (1.125 inches)
Titmouse (1.25 inches)
Beswick?s Wren (1.25 inches)
Downy Woodpecker (1.25 inches)
Bluebird (1.5 inches)
Carolina Wren (1.5 inches)
Swallow (1.5 inches)
Hairy Woodpecker (1.5 inches)
Crested Flycatcher (2 inches)
Red-Headed Woodpecker (2 inches)
Purple Martin (crescent shape)
Flicker (2.5 inches)
Mourning Dove (half side of gourd open)
Barn Swallow (half side of gourd open)
Phoebe (half side of gourd open)
Robin (half side of gourd open)
Evict House Sparrows and Starlings.
Many birds are protected by federal and state laws, so it is unlawful to
harm or harass species such as hawks, owls, falcons, crows, grackles, jays and
shrikes in some areas.
If snakes or squirrels are threatening the nest, use a baffle or guard
on the pole or over the entrance hole.
Some suggest covering a metal bird house pole with PVC, and then
smearing the PVC with Vaseline and cayenne pepper. Do not use automotive grease, as it can be lethal to
wildlife.
If insects infest the nest, clean the bugs out, then soap the inside
top of the box. Do not use chemical
sprays!
Some birds don?t use the bird house for raising baby birds, but may use
it only for roosting. If you notice
activity, but no nest, they may be using it to spend the night, especially in
cold winter nights where their body heat inside the nesting box protects them
from severe cold.
Purple Martins are dependent on manmade homes, a phenomenon that has
evolved over the years due to generational imprinting. It can be a great benefit to attract the
Purple Martin to your area because they are prolific bug eaters. Some say: ?Purple Martins by day, and Bats
by Night? to make a noticeable difference in the amount of bugs. By providing them with a suitable nesting box,
you benefit in the bug department!
Hummingbirds do not share the responsibility of nesting with their
mates. The female hummingbird goes it
alone as she builds the nest, lays the eggs, incubates the eggs, raises the
baby birds and defends her territory.
She even chases the male hummingbird away from the nest.
The Mourning Dove is one species of bird that shares the task. They both build the nest and raise the baby
birds. The female builds the nest with
material the male brings her.
Incubation responsibilities are divided up equally, the male usually
sitting during the day and the female during the night.
Purple Martins and Bats raise their young with the help of a community
of others in their species.
The Tufted Titmouse will often feed their young with the assistance of
offspring from an earlier brood.
Some birds pass their total responsibility of raising the young on to
other ?parents? as does the Cowbird.Provide
nesting material for birds near your nesting box such as yarn in 8 inch
lengths or less, lint, hair, used dryer sheet or string. Purchase
nesting material such as Best Nest Builder Nesting Material.
Who can resist the antics of our feathered friends as they choose a
territory, display unusual and sometimes comical behavior to attract a mate,
then proceed to move in to a space that we have provided for them to build a
nest and raise their young? Great Bird
Watching Entertainment!
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