Bird Houses - Tips to Choosing, Cleaning and Maintaining Placing
Choose the Right Bird House
Choosing bird houses, whether for Bluebirds, Wrens, or Nesting Shelves for Robins, shouldn't be done without some thought.
Not all birds nest in man-made boxes and not all are built the same.
The information below will help you select the best type for the bird or birds you want nesting in your backyard.
Nest boxes should be designed and built for a particular type of bird. While it may be tempting to buy that cute one with multiple openings, don't do it.
Most wild birds do not nest near others of the same species. Except for Purple Martins, a birdhouse should be for a single nest.
Unless your decision is just to decorate your yard or garden, stay away from nesting boxes built for multiple birds, (duplexes, triplexes).
Most likely you won't get any birds to nest in these homes, or worse, you may get non-native species that harm native species which causes a decline in native species.
Birds can be very territorial during the breeding season. The size of the territory varies with each species.
Unless you live on several acres, it's unlikely you'll be able to attract more than one pair of a particular species to your birdhouses.
No need to be discouraged. The idea is to attract a variety of different species of birds to nest in your yard.
Using several nest boxes of different sizes with varying entrance holes will give you the best chance of filling your yard with nesting birds.
There are about fifty species of North American birds known to be cavity nesters.
Some of the more common ones are Eastern Bluebird, House Wren, Chickadee, several Woodpecker species, Nuthatch, Purple Martins, and Tree Swallows.
Some bird species can be attracted to your yard by using nesting shelves. Unlike birdhouses, nesting shelves are not fully enclosed boxes but usually have a roof, back, bottom, and open front with narrow side walls.
Birds that can be attracted to nesting shelves are American Robin, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, and Mourning Doves.
Entrance Hole and Floor Size Dimensions of Bird Houses
The entrance hole is very important to consider as not all are created equal. If deciding to attract Wrens or Black-capped Chickadees, the entrance hole can be as small as 1 1/8 inch.
This will help keep House Sparrows out which you never want nesting in your houses.
House Sparrows will kill native species. Bluebirds and Tree Swallows need an entrance hole that is 1 1/2 inches.
This size of opening allows House Sparrows access so you'll have to monitor the nest box.
Floor sizes are also important as some birds may raise 6 or more babies. You can find all the sizes for cavity-nesting birds on our Building Birdhouses page.
If you purchase your nest box from folks who know birds, you shouldn't have much to worry about.
Cleaning And Maintenance Of Bird Houses
As important as picking the right house for the right bird, so too is the maintenance of the nest box.
If a bird species raise more than one brood a year, as Wrens and Bluebirds do, it's a good idea to clean the house out between broods.
Parasites, blowflies, and other insects can cause harm to future broods. Some birds that raise second broods will not reuse a nest.
Others, like the Eastern Bluebird, will use the same birdhouse for up to three broods each season.
The best time for a once-a-year cleaning is late fall or early winter. Be sure to do a thorough cleaning.
When choosing to purchase or build a birdhouse, make sure that there is an easy way to clean it.
Most quality birdhouses are built to be cleaned by having sides or floors that either swing or slide out for easy access.
Either way, you don't want one you have to disassemble to clean.
It is best not to paint your birdhouse. Personally, I prefer nest boxes made from cedar.
Cedar weathers to a nice natural silvery gray and blends in with nature. Dark paint colors can absorb heat so you don't want them in the sun all day.
Today, many birdhouses are made with recycled materials.
Where And When To Place Bird Houses
If at all possible try to get your nest boxes up by late summer or early fall.
Birds tend to be attracted to birdhouses that have a more weathered look. This is one more good reason not to paint your nest boxes.
If you are unable to get your boxes up by fall, try to get them up as early as possible in the winter.
Don't wait until you see the birds in your yard before you mount or hang your nest boxes. No matter what, just get them mounted.
Even if you don't get any birds this year, your birdhouse will have time to weather and be waiting for them next season.
If you are in need of a specific nesting box or more information, you may wish to browse the huge selection Amazon offers here: birdhouses.
Should Birdhouses Be in the Shade?
If you know where you have some afternoon shade keep this in mind. How much shade you have is important to many birds.
But dense shade is not recommended. Most birds prefer a sunny open space with some afternoon shade.
It is best not to mount birdhouses on the sides of trees where squirrels, snakes, cats, and raccoons have easy access.
While there is no way to guarantee predators won't get to your nesting birds, there are steps you can take.
Consider mounting your nest boxes on posts or poles, using squirrel baffles, (devices that detour squirrels) or hanging bird houses from limbs for House Wrens.
Bluebird homes should be placed on a post about 5 - 6 feet off the ground. Predator guards around the opening will help keep raccoons from reaching inside.
Bird or Deer netting, available at places like Lowes, Home Depot, or online, should be wrapped around the post to protect against snakes climbing the pole. (snakes are excellent climbers)
Grease will not work at all. A baffle above the netting at 4 feet will keep critters from climbing and should be used with the netting. A baffle will not stop snakes.
Nesting Shelves which will attract Robins, Mourning doves, and Phoebes to nest, should be placed under overhangs and eaves.
Always monitor your birdhouses for undesirable birds and to protect them from predators.
